Is it time for Brisbane to get a BIG capacity stadium?

[Set piece magic]

Suncorp Stadium.

The very incredibly good

A world class venue
Modern
Perfect sight lines
right up close to the game
rectangular
good beer pouring facilities
Right next door to two major trainstations, one with direct access to all lines
bus terminal in the stadium complex
concourse
easy entrance / exit

Slight downside:

Expensive food
capacity: 52500


now let's think about capacity, It may not sound like a problem, but think about how many would have gone to the grand final If it was unlimited capacity? It sold out in 45 minutes, I think we could have got 90000 people to that game If it had a big enough stadium. Same with the A-league final, the SOO.

In fact, suncorp stadium has had 7 sell-outs (or very close to sell-outs) this year. And that's not including the upcoming bledisloe cup game which is a guaranteed sell-out no matter what. If the Broncos host a final or two they will pull sell-outs and the roar's re-match with central coast might go close.

That's more than 10 sell-outs in one year.

How many times does ANZ stadium sell out each year?

As of 2010, once.

Wallabies V All Blacks got 70k, SOO got 66k and 60k respectively.

Granted It will be two this year, would have been three if not for PDV the clown.

So is it time for Brisbane to have a BIG capacity stadium.

Where should it be (note, to give the 'corp any extra seats requires a total roof re-fit) (should it be a new stadium)

How big should it be

Ways of getting there?

OR

Do we really need it? Is it better to have suncorp full every week and just have a medium crowd size for big games?

Thoughts

 

[Godfrey]

I don't think you move up to a 90,000 seater when you've had a few sellouts. I think it would just wreck the atmosphere for the 95% of games that don't sell out.

 

[chief]

There's a definite case for a bigger stadium no doubt about that. Particularly with Origin and a Bledisloe every two years (?).

However structurally Suncorp will not allow a cheap addition of 10000 more seats. 90000 is beyond ambitious.

So, not happening, especially with the QLD government's finances

 

[Ruggo]

Suncorp has that funny shape about it where the 4 corners of the top level have nothing. extending that top level so it goes 360 around the ground would add a fair bit to the capacity without detracting from the magnificent facilities that are there. An uneducated guess would be that you could get 70,000 out of the same location with that addition which would be ideal.

Hardly a priority though.

 

[Gnostic]

Having been to top level games at ANZ (STadium OZ or whatever they have named it this year), SFS, MCG, Suncorp, Concord and Ballymore I can unequivocally state that bigger is not better.

-ANZ is shit. In the upper reaches one can get a nose bleed and can't see shit of the game.
- MCG is only good for cricket and that silly game where blokes run around in tight shorts and funny shirts.
Concord and Ballymore were and remain great club venues to go on a bright winters afternoon to watch the boys run around with a beer in one hand and a pie in the other, seating optional and only prefered if it becomes inclement.
- SFS is great when the Tahs are playing well and when they had tests. Just a bastard to get to
- Suncorp is my favourite - even in the top levels the view is great, the surrounding pubs good and Brisbane is a pleasure to drive around in.

Big is not better, in fact for Rugby IMHO the two jumbo stadia I have watched Rugby and other events in I wouldn't bother going to again.

 

[Slim 293]

I agree with Gnostic that bigger is not necessarily better...

AAMI Park in Melbourne is the best rugby stadium I've been to in the country... the atmosphere is great with just a half filled stadium...

 

[Ruggo]

Off topic but I have been told the MCG is crap for watching cricket. You hear the crack of the willow several seconds after the ball has been hit.

 

[Sully]

Lang park is as good as it gets.

 

[Set piece magic]

Obviously it is off the agenda to pay for it, but perhaps an idea for the next twenty years is to have a kind of mcg - docklands scenario, with Suncorp hosting all normal games of the clubs season, and all blockbuster / international games being played at a brand new 75000 seater.

If it where to happen I would prefer for a new one to be built because I would be worried they would "Break" Suncorp.

Although perhaps there is opportunity to expand suncorp in the next ten years, even if it's only 60 - 65k , I'm sure with population expansion and the right investment in infastructure that crowds will continue to increase and thus continue to fill it up.

Still isn't it good to see suncorp filling up so regularly! If Brisbane league fans could get off their couch's and actually go down and watch the games then they could fill it every week.

If the wallabies do well this world cup rugby could take an even bigger stage in Brisbane and we could start to see some monster average attendances ready to rival the big guns from the suburbs of Melbourne...

I would love to see QRU financial figures for this year, including the money they paid back to the ARU, would they not have made an absolute but-load of money from all the attendances and merchandise?

 

[grievous]

Having been to top level games at ANZ (STadium OZ or whatever they have named it this year), SFS, MCG, Suncorp, Concord and Ballymore I can unequivocally state that bigger is not better.

-ANZ is shit. In the upper reaches one can get a nose bleed and can't see shit of the game.
- MCG is only good for cricket and that silly game where blokes run around in tight shorts and funny shirts.
Concord and Ballymore were and remain great club venues to go on a bright winters afternoon to watch the boys run around with a beer in one hand and a pie in the other, seating optional and only prefered if it becomes inclement.
- SFS is great when the Tahs are playing well and when they had tests. Just a bastard to get to
- Suncorp is my favourite - even in the top levels the view is great, the surrounding pubs good and Brisbane is a pleasure to drive around in.

Big is not better, in fact for Rugby IMHO the two jumbo stadia I have watched Rugby and other events in I wouldn't bother going to again.

SFS is hard to get to??? From Melb maybe.
Lets see the Reds packout Suncorp next season, then we can talk.

 

[Gnostic]

SFS is hard to get to??? From Melb maybe.
Lets see the Reds packout Suncorp next season, then we can talk.

Have you tried to get to it from the F3 (North) or from the Western Suburbs on a Friday night? Trying to get anywhere in Sydney is a nightmare at the best of times, throw in a major event and it is a real shit fight. Luckily when I go down there for Rugby I usually stay somewhere close so I don't have to ruin my good day with traffic, a nice counter meal at my favourite establishment (across the road from Victoria Barracks) and a relaxed stroll to Moore Park. Contrast with Brisvegas I can rock up a few hours before kick off and still get there with plenty of time.

 

[grievous]

Have you tried to get to it from the F3 (North) or from the Western Suburbs on a Friday night? Trying to get anywhere in Sydney is a nightmare at the best of times, throw in a major event and it is a real shit fight. Luckily when I go down there for Rugby I usually stay somewhere close so I don't have to ruin my good day with traffic, a nice counter meal at my favourite establishment (across the road from Victoria Barracks) and a relaxed stroll to Moore Park. Contrast with Brisvegas I can rock up a few hours before kick off and still get there with plenty of time.

I keep hearing Homebush is out of favour because of where it is, Sydneysiders like to give excuses instead of just getting out there

 

[Gnostic]

I keep hearing Homebush is out of favour because of where it is, Sydneysiders like to give excuses instead of just getting out there

Hombush is easier to get to than the SFS, but as I said it is a shit stadium for Rugby, I won't be going there again. I was at the Olympics opening and closing ceremmoies, most of the track and field and for the RWC 2003, so I saw it packed full and still think that.

It also doesn't have the pubs for a meal before/after like Paddo (and Caxton Street) does.

 

[Tahfan]

I keep hearing Homebush is out of favour because of where it is, Sydneysiders like to give excuses instead of just getting out there

It's out of favour cos (A) it's a shit surface, (B) it's nowhere near where the majority of rugby fans live, (C) you are too far away from the action & (D) it basically never sells out so atmosphere is normally crap. The only thing that homebush has as an advatnage is public transport is a lot better (as long as you live near a train line!)

SFS shits all over it though I will take Gnostic's point that if you have to try and get there for a Friday night game from north of the brige it's a real bugger.

 

[Slim 293]

It's out of favour cos (A) it's a shit surface, (B) it's nowhere near where the majority of rugby fans live, (C) you are too far away from the action & (D) it basically never sells out so atmosphere is normally crap. The only thing that homebush has as an advatnage is public transport is a lot better (as long as you live near a train line!)

SFS shits all over it though I will take Gnostic's point that if you have to try and get there for a Friday night game from north of the brige it's a real bugger.

So the answer is to build a stadium somewhere near the north shore/northern beaches?

Strict dress code...

 

[chief]

Aren't they talking about building more light rail from SFS?

 

[grievous]

So the answer is to build a stadium somewhere near the north shore/northern beaches?

Strict dress code...

they still wouldnt come if it was wet

 

[DPK]

they still wouldnt come if it was wet

Or cold.

 

[TOCC]

The philosophy behind public arenas like stadiums is changing.. For Brisbane it's unlikely we will see another major stadium built, at best we can hope for a expanded Lang Park(as suggested previously, might reach 70'000ish).

Boutique stadiums are the new vogue(AAMI, Skilled Park, etc), if another stadium is built in Brisbane, it will be a 25'000 seater in the Western Suburbs(possibly Logan) likely tied in with some new NRL team bid.

 

[liquor box]

I think there were plans submitted to make Lang Park 65000 so we could get the Soccer World Cup, so it must be possible, and relatively cheap as this would require government funding for a one off tournament. I think this is the best solution at the moment.

I dont think Lang Park should have even been upgraded when it was, there should have been a brand new stadium built at the Exhibition grounds, there was an opportunity to build a better ground that was bigger and had its own train station. Lang Park was only redone to please the Labor Party and was a political idea. If it was known then that the Stadium would sell out for Rugby and not for League then I doubt it would have happened. Terry Macenroth ensured his links to the Broncos was solid by spending millions