Wanderers Grounds is a sporting complex in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and home to Canadian Premier League professional soccer club HFX Wanderers FC.
The Kitchen[1] | |
 Wanderers Grounds in 2024 | |
 | |
| Location | Halifax, Nova Scotia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°38′40″N 63°35′01″W / 44.6444°N 63.5836°W |
| Owner | Halifax Regional Municipality |
| Capacity | 6,500 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 19th century |
| Renovated | 2018 |
| Tenants | |
| |
The grounds are part of the Halifax Commons. The land was used in the 1880s by the Halifax Wanderers Amateur Athletic Club (WAAC) and was their home grounds for the sports of rugby and lawn bowling. Leased to the club in the 1800s, the club failed to pay its lease fees during the Second World War and the land's use reverted to the City of Halifax (Halifax Regional Municipality) who have maintained it since then.
The Wanderers Grounds was also the home of the Halifax Pelham Canadians of the Nova Scotia Senior Baseball league 1977–2008. Years prior, Babe Ruth made an appearance at the grounds in 1942 during a navy baseball game between Halifax and Toronto. He faced Halifax pitcher Awkie Titus but failed to hit a home run.[2]
The field house, built by the club in 1896, was destroyed by fire. It was replaced by the Navy League Dry Canteen, which was going to be rehabilitated[3] in the 21st century, but was considered too structurally unsound. The plan to build a clubhouse has been put on an indeterminate hiatus.
On August 31, 1957, Wanderers Grounds hosted Canada Soccer's first ever Challenge Trophy match played east of Montreal. The local side Halifax Shipyards lost 8–2 to the eventual national champions, Montreal Ukraina.
On June 20, 2017 Halifax city councillors unanimously approved the construction of a temporary stadium at the Grounds, for a future Canadian Premier League professional soccer team.[4] In May 2018, that team was confirmed to be named HFX Wanderers FC, who began play in 2019.[5]
In 2023 the Wanderers introduced a new plan for a permanent stadium at wanderers grounds which would seat 8,500. They introduced the plan to the Halifax City Council in late 2023.
Sports usage
edit
The field has been used for matches of soccer, cricket, matches of rugby football, baseball and track and field championships among other sports.
Rugby union
edit| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 October 1899 | United Services  |
0–10 |  Ireland |
1899 Ireland Tour | – |
| 14 October 1899 | Wanderers |
3–16 | Ireland |
1899 Ireland Tour | – |
| 16 October 1899 | Halifax |
5–0 | Ireland |
1899 Ireland Tour | – |
| 23 June 2018 | Canada |
17–42 |  United States |
2018 June test | 6,200 |
| 20 October 2018 | Ontario Arrows |
40–14 | New England Free Jacks |
Major League Rugby | – |
| 2 July 2022 | Canada |
45–0 |  Belgium |
2022 mid-year rugby union tests | 4,412[6] |
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Welcome to 'The Kitchen': Wanderers Grounds could be fortress for HFX Wanderers FC". Canadian Premier League. October 30, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ^ Spurr, Bill. "Babe Ruth's excellent Nova Scotia adventures | The Chronicle Herald". www.thechronicleherald.ca.
- ^ "Wanderer's Grounds Field House Rehabilitation Project" (PDF). Halifax Regional Municipality. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 10, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
- ^ "Soccer stadium, team touted for downtown Halifax". TSN. June 20, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
- ^ Shaw, Kyle. "HFX Wanderers unveiled as Canada's newest professional soccer club". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
- ^ "International Test Match 2022". espnscrum. Retrieved July 13, 2022.