Ballymore Redevelopment

[JRugby2]

It'll never happen. They don't have the facilities for corporates. Would be good for some preseason games, they do need to make sure they have enough staff on though. Can't have people waiting for half the game to get a drink.

You'd hope some of these challenges could be solved in stage 2

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

It'll never happen. They don't have the facilities for corporates. Would be good for some preseason games, they do need to make sure they have enough staff on though. Can't have people waiting for half the game to get a drink.

Sick people love Brookvale.....

 

[Wilson]

You'd hope some of these challenges could be solved in stage 2

Ideally it'll never be workable for the Reds to play proper super rugby games out of Ballymore, at least when Suncorp is available. Even fully redeveloped it won't have the capacity and corporate facilities to compete with the sort of crowd averages we should be hoping to see - around 25k or more. It should still have plenty of use for Super W, Wallaroos, pre-season and touring matches, age grade rugby, etc and maybe the occasional Reds game when Suncorp is otherwise occupied (e.g. the Ed Sheeren concert). If there is a Suncorp redevelopment that needs to happen for the Olympics then it might get a season worth's of top flight use too, but I can't see that being anything beyond temporary.

This is all predicated on our crowd numbers continuing to improve before the rest of the redevelopment has been done, but with an average of 14.5k this year I think it'd already be pushing it to make Ballymore worthwile for an in seaosn Reds game once corporate take up is factored in. It's hard to know exactly where that turning point is from the outside though.

 

[Adam84]

with increasing use of Suncorp via Dolphins, and government approving a permanent lift in number of major concerts it can host, there’s every chance Reds might be forced to Ballymore one or two games a year regardless. It’s not a bad option, helps maintain those nostalgic connections also, which is an underrated aspect of any sporting team.

 

[Wilson]

with increasing use of Suncorp via Dolphins, and government approving a permanent lift in number of major concerts it can host, there’s every chance Reds might be forced to Ballymore one or two games a year regardless. It’s not a bad option, helps maintain those nostalgic connections also, which is an underrated aspect of any sporting team.

That's the only way I see it happening reliably, and possibly with some sort of deal/discounted negotiated with stadiums Queensland for the inconvenience. It might be more like every second year though, alternating with trips up to Townsville.

 

[JRugby2]

In the next decade I feel there will be more and more need for Brisbane to have a smaller rectangular field to use. NRL is a good chance expand to 3 teams in Brisbane before the Olympics (unless NZ gets the team), and I can't see how long term that Suncorp is able to support 3 teams and Super Rugby (Accor has the Dogs and Rabbits full time while Allianz has the chooks and Tahs) - although this could be one of the factors working against a 3rd Brisbane Club.

While I love Ballymore but it's a hard sell without reliable transport options to and from the ground.

 

[Ignoto]

One problem that come to mind straight away is, how many ticketed members have pre-assigned seats at Suncorp and is that more than what's currently available at Ballymoore?

 

[Adam84]

One problem that come to mind straight away is, how many ticketed members have pre-assigned seats at Suncorp and is that more than what's currently available at Ballymoore?

In current form, yeah there are only 3000 allocated seats in the McLean stand not including the podium level of the Eastern Stand, but this conversation would be 'if' the Eastern Stand is redeveloped, which would come with a further 4-5k seats. Regardless, it would need to be a detail captured in the membership application at the start of the season somehow.

 

[Wilson]

One problem that come to mind straight away is, how many ticketed members have pre-assigned seats at Suncorp and is that more than what's currently available at Ballymoore?

Simplest method is just the same as they did when the Reds went to Townsville the last couple of years - those games are excluded from membership. There would then be a discount for members buying those tickets and probably a pre-sale exclusive to them. In time they might do special memberships including Ballymore, but given bums on seats (and most importantly buying concessions) will probably be more of a focus they might want to avoid any tickets going unused when they're just a small part of a larger package.

 

[Adam84]

QLD Labor have promised $1million to develop business case for Ballymore and Eastern Stand development.

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LNP never matched this during the Elections, but it will be interesting to see what the new state government impact has on Ballymore.

Brisbane Roar have shifted their focus back to Perry Park it seems, they’ve made comments about the cost of hiring Ballymore and intent is now to get Perry Park upgraded which is a bit of a blow to the PR campaign for supporting Ballymore.

 

[Wilson]

LNP never matched this during the Elections, but it will be interesting to see what the new state government impact has on Ballymore.

Brisbane Roar have shifted their focus back to Perry Park it seems, they’ve made comments about the cost of hiring Ballymore and intent is now to get Perry Park upgraded which is a bit of a blow to the PR campaign for supporting Ballymore.

There's going to be a fair bit of nervous waiting on this I think (and stadiums projects in the south east in general). LNP went in without a policy for the olympic developments beyond a 100 day review, when they do finish that they're in the same difficult position labor was in of having to spend significant sums on whatever path they take at a time when they're trying to avoid 'extravagance'.

Relatively small numbers for Ballymore compared to any equivalent/related projects do still work in our favour though.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Any eastern stand they put in is going to be pretty brutal for afternoon games without a particularly tall western stand. Has that ever been considered? Any good solutions there?

 

[Adam84]

There's going to be a fair bit of nervous waiting on this I think (and stadiums projects in the south east in general). LNP went in without a policy for the olympic developments beyond a 100 day review, when they do finish that they're in the same difficult position labor was in of having to spend significant sums on whatever path they take at a time when they're trying to avoid 'extravagance'.

Relatively small numbers for Ballymore compared to any equivalent/related projects do still work in our favour though.

besides the Gabba/QSAC, I can't see too much deviation from what was already planned; for the most part, what was selected as the logical and most cost-effective option. Any major changes for the smaller venues will come with significant cost and little gain. But who knows, will be an interesting few months

 

[Jets]

It's not something that needs to be cost-effective, it should be looked at as revenue generating. QSAC is a terrible idea and would have a negative impact on the games and peoples perception of Brisbane. The Gabba will generate a lot of bad press, something John Coates is keen to avoid, it also is very limited by space.

100 day review seems like a waste of money, since there was a review earlier in the year. Hopefully they make proper plans after 100 days and things start happening.

I will openly admit that I'd love the Vic Park proposal to go ahead, more likely with the Greens having less power in parliament. I also think that it will attract future sporting events and concerts to Brisbane that will bring in revenue to the state.

 

[Adam84]

I wasn't talking about the Gabba when I said that, I was referring to the other facilities. But on that; cost-effective and revenue-generating are one and the same on the issue.

As someone who lives near Victoria Park, I think it's a bit of a lazy option to build a stadium there, as much as i'd like to be able to walk up to a game. Considering the Gabba train station will open next year, public transport at Victoria Park is much worse off then the Gabba with limited options for rail connections. The terrain of the park will mean extensive earthworks to make it suitable; also, having Suncorp, the new Brisbane Arena, and a new Oval stadium within walking distance of one another would be problematic for traffic management. Dispersing the Gabba to the other side of the river would be more conducive to hosting concurrent events at these stadiums.

 

[PhilClinton]

with increasing use of Suncorp via Dolphins, and government approving a permanent lift in number of major concerts it can host, there’s every chance Reds might be forced to Ballymore one or two games a year regardless. It’s not a bad option, helps maintain those nostalgic connections also, which is an underrated aspect of any sporting team.

I always thought this would be a good thing, but geez I've lived around Suncorp now for a long time (maybe 2kms away) and the Travis Scott gig on the weekend had quite a number of incidents which I'd deem on the higher end of the unacceptable level per discussions i've had with some local business and residents.

Will be interesting what the patience threshold if Suncorp start hosting say 30 concerts a year.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Can use the Moore Park/Paddington area of Sydney as a gauge over the next couple of years since they have lifted it from 6 per year to 20.

Travis Scott does attract a certain crowd of predominantly young blokes and when you put them together the courage and 'confidence' goes haywire. Certain concerts need their risk assessments to include a bit more local crowd control.

 

[LeCheese]

Yeah, not condoning it of course, but the Travis Scott concert was probably an anomaly - not just due to the demographic, but also the mindset his Zoomer/tiktok fans have taken on. It was always a bit like that, but it’s become next level.

It’s a bit ‘old man yells at clouds’, but I’m saying this as a Travis fan who went to the goddamn TBC (rip) way back in 2014 to see him, but avoided this show like the plague…

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

It's a fair point and the organisers should do more in regards to the hiring of police and security when it's this sort of event over an Elton John concert.

Interested to see what QLD does. The Olympics will be here in no time so a decision needs to be made and my thinking is you spend the money to give the people something that will benefit them for the next 25-30 years. A saving now is great for a politician who will likely be nowhere to be seen in the future but could be a regretful decision in 10 years when the reasoning of the Olympics will be gone and any federal support.

 

[Adam84]

That’s why QSAC was such a brain dead option, it saved money in the short term but was still stupidly expensive for what it was, offered no legacy benefit and left Brisbane with an ageing Gabba which will need to be replaced by the 2030s anyways. Long term QSAC was the most expensive option.