Lancaster Park - or AMI Stadium as we knew it until 2011 - has now been effectively written off by all concerned with the Christchurch rebuild with the government likely to bowl down the heavily damaged ground in the earthquake prone east side of the city and build a fixed-roof stadium like in Dunedin, in the new CBD.
Here are some of the greatest sporting moments ever at Lancaster Park.
1985 Ranfurly Shield - Holders Canterbury may have lost 23-28 to Auckland, but this game will always be remembered not for the result but for the contest and the attention it got - this was provincial rugby at its very finest and best and the game here hasn't seen better since that glorious Saturday afternoon.
2002 Nathan Astle's double ton - Simply one of the greatest test innings by a New Zealand batsman ever. Forget that again, the home side lost to the tourists, England. On the final day of a test that was going to England anyway, Nathan Astle entertained his local Christchurch crowd with some terrific attacking batting that you'd expect to see in one day internationals and Twenty20s.
It seemed at one stage that Astle was almost going to deliver the impossible. Alas he fell short but cricket fans worldwide will never forget this innings.
2005 British & Irish Lions walloped by All Blacks - A heavily hyped up Lions side came to Christchurch confident of upsetting the All Blacks in the 1st test of the series. The test got off to a controversial start with Brian O'Driscoll tipped in the tackle rather carelessly by Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu and breaking his shoulder in the process and ending his tour. Even with O'Driscoll, I doubt the Lions would have had any answers to an imperious All Black effort in cold, wet conditions as they romped home 21-3.
2006 Super 14 Final - this game will forever be remembered not for the result or the contest but for the weather. It was a shame that the fog rolled in to ruin what was set to be a terrific all New Zealand final between the Crusaders and Hurricanes - and ruin it for many of the fans sat high in the former Paul Kelly Stand who were forced to watch the game on the big screen.
2008 Super 14 Final - this game will be remembered for being the last time the Crusaders won Super Rugby - their record 7th title and comfortably the most successful team in Super Rugby. It was an apt finish for both coach Robbie Deans and Reuben Thorne and possibly the end of a dynasty with the Crusaders still looking for their 8th title.
And two special mentions for
2010 Crusaders 40-22 Brumbies - last ever Crusaders game at Lancaster Park
2010 All Blacks 20-10 Australia - last ever All Blacks game at Lancaster Park
2010 Canterbury 33-13 Waikato - last ever Canterbury and NPC game and Final at Lancaster Park
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