Suncorp Stadium: Why Is It So?

[RedsHappy]

From rugby.com.au 19 July 2010:

Returning hooker Stephen Moore says Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium has become the Qantas Wallabies' spiritual home and it's imperative they capitalise on starting their Bundaberg Rum Tri-Nations series there on Saturday.The former Lang Park isn't even the traditional or spiritual home of Queensland Rugby, let alone its headquarters, but Australia's Test success there has been such that it's far and away the Wallabies' favourite ground. They have lost just three of their 17 Tests at the 52,500-capacity Brisbane venue in the professional era, including a significant 5-0 record over the Springboks who return on Saturday. With their only win in the 2009 Tri-Nations coming at Suncorp Stadium, an upset 21-6 triumph over South Africa, Moore believes there's no better place to start this year's tough campaign.​

This win-loss ratio for the Wallabies at Suncorp is pretty remarkable, especially when compared to the overall Wallabies w-l since 2003. We have played many of the best Test teams there. It's surely beyond statistical error, there must be a reason(s).

Why is it so?

 

[Scarfman]

Well, it must be the most tightly-packed and loudest rugby stadium in Australia.

What's the % of Kiwis and Saffers in Brisbane? Got to be lower than Sydney or Perth.

 

[Ruggo]

It is a brisbane thing. Brisbane people love their sport in general. All the codes draw big crowds and they know how to create an atmosphere. Other rugby crowds attend in a manner as if they were attending a funeral.

 

[meatsack]

Well, it must be the most tightly-packed and loudest rugby stadium in Australia.

What's the % of Kiwis and Saffers in Brisbane? Got to be lower than Sydney or Perth.

Not sure about that:
"In 2008–09 19.6 per cent of permanent and long-term New Zealand citizen arrivals stated they intended to live in New South Wales, 45.0 per cent in Queensland, 17.4 per cent in Victoria and 14.5 per cent in Western Australia."
http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/17nz.htm

Yeah the above doesn't take into account other years, but QLD is certainly popular for the Kiwis at least.

 

[DPK]

It is a brisbane thing. Brisbane people love their sport in general. All the codes draw big crowds and they know how to create an atmosphere. Other rugby crowds attend in a manner as if they were attending a funeral.

Love of sport = Moonshine induced stupor

 

[Reddy!]

Well, it must be the most tightly-packed and loudest rugby stadium in Australia.

What's the % of Kiwis and Saffers in Brisbane? Got to be lower than Sydney or Perth.

I went to Suncorp for the Tri-Nations decider vs the All Blacks in 2008. Half the crowd (or maybe more) were All Blacks supporters. It was a very frightening experience to be in as a Wallaby supporter. That's probably why the All Blacks win there, it's a home ground advantage for them.

 

[cyclopath]

I went to Suncorp for the Tri-Nations decider vs the All Blacks in 2008. Half the crowd (or maybe more) were All Blacks supporters. It was a very frightening experience to be in as a Wallaby supporter. That's probably why the All Blacks win there, it's a home ground advantage for them.

Like the bad old days in the 80s at Concord - went to a Bledisloe there once with about 60% or more Kiwis - the Wallabies were booed as they came on, and a few did a big double take, as did I in the crowd. We lost.

 

[Scotty]

Not sure about that:
"In 2008–09 19.6 per cent of permanent and long-term New Zealand citizen arrivals stated they intended to live in New South Wales, 45.0 per cent in Queensland, 17.4 per cent in Victoria and 14.5 per cent in Western Australia."
http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/17nz.htm

Yeah the above doesn't take into account other years, but QLD is certainly popular for the Kiwis at least.

I think there is a lot that go to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts though.

 

[David]

I went to Suncorp for the Tri-Nations decider vs the All Blacks in 2008. Half the crowd (or maybe more) were All Blacks supporters. It was a very frightening experience to be in as a Wallaby supporter. That's probably why the All Blacks win there, it's a home ground advantage for them.

I too went to that game and can recall the crowd chanting "All Blacks" over and over. Asking one of the players several days later whether it was noticeable, the reply was yes, very. I think its a pity that can happen at home, but I think the kiwi's are just so passionate that they get in first for tickets. You can't blame them for wanting to watch the team they support.

 

[RedsHappy]

I too went to that game and can recall the crowd chanting "All Blacks" over and over. Asking one of the players several days later whether it was noticeable, the reply was yes, very. I think its a pity that can happen at home, but I think the kiwi's are just so passionate that they get in first for tickets. You can't blame them for wanting to watch the team they support.

Actually David and Reddy!, what happens in that the Aus and NZ tour companies package up remarkably cheap trips with game tickets for ABs supporters to come over to BNE from all over NZ. This time is low-season for a lot of local hotels here so they're at their cheapest, the weather is much warmer and sunnier than NZ in winter, the Kiwis stay for a long weekend and go off on a side trip to the Gold Coast. All in all, a very attractive way to support the ABs in a pleasant environment (btw not suggesting Sydney is not, Tahs fans!). So, the number of AB supporters at Suncorp can be large, when added to the Kiwi locals. I wouldn't say they overwhelm the Aussies there though, I've been to the last 2 Wallabies v AB Suncorp games., the atmosphere is electric.

 

[DPK]

Actually David and Reddy!, what happens in that the Aus and NZ tour companies package up remarkably cheap trips with game tickets for ABs supporters to come over to BNE from all over NZ. This time is low-season for a lot of local hotels here so they're at their cheapest, the weather is much warmer and sunnier than NZ in winter, the Kiwis stay for a long weekend and go off on a side trip to the Gold Coast. All in all, a very attractive way to support the ABs in a pleasant environment (btw not suggesting Sydney is not, Tahs fans!). So, the number of AB supporters at Suncorp can be large, when added to the Kiwi locals. I wouldn't say they overwhelm the Aussies there though, I've been to the last 2 Wallabies v AB Suncorp games., the atmosphere is electric.

Ah yes, the old joke. They might beat us, but we dont have to go back to New Zealand, do we...

 

[DPK]

Actually David and Reddy!, what happens in that the Aus and NZ tour companies package up remarkably cheap trips with game tickets for ABs supporters to come over to BNE from all over NZ. This time is low-season for a lot of local hotels here so they're at their cheapest, the weather is much warmer and sunnier than NZ in winter, the Kiwis stay for a long weekend and go off on a side trip to the Gold Coast. All in all, a very attractive way to support the ABs in a pleasant environment (btw not suggesting Sydney is not, Tahs fans!). So, the number of AB supporters at Suncorp can be large, when added to the Kiwi locals. I wouldn't say they overwhelm the Aussies there though, I've been to the last 2 Wallabies v AB Suncorp games., the atmosphere is electric.

Ah yes, the old joke. They might beat us, but we dont have to go back to New Zealand, do we...

 

[David]

Actually David and Reddy!, what happens in that the Aus and NZ tour companies package up remarkably cheap trips with game tickets for ABs supporters to come over to BNE from all over NZ. This time is low-season for a lot of local hotels here so they're at their cheapest, the weather is much warmer and sunnier than NZ in winter, the Kiwis stay for a long weekend and go off on a side trip to the Gold Coast. All in all, a very attractive way to support the ABs in a pleasant environment (btw not suggesting Sydney is not, Tahs fans!). So, the number of AB supporters at Suncorp can be large, when added to the Kiwi locals. I wouldn't say they overwhelm the Aussies there though, I've been to the last 2 Wallabies v AB Suncorp games., the atmosphere is electric.

I never knew that, makes a lot of sense though. The atmosphere is always great, not doubting that for a second I just wish the aussie supporters out voiced the kiwi supporters.

 

[chief]

I think its because its the only Rectangular stadiums constantly used for Rugby tests. ANZ Stadium is a shit rectangular venue. I hope the NSW Events and NSW Government have some sense in making it solely rectangular, especially with the possible revamp of it for the FIFA WC (if we get it).

 

[#1 Tah]

Sydney crowds have no idea how to build an atmoshpere. QLDers do. Thats why I went to Wallabies V Boks in 07 (49-0) in 09 (21-6) and this year.

 

[Scarfman]

I've been to a heap of games at Ballymore and Suncorp, and I reckon the Brissy rugby demographic is a bit different to Sydney's. The SFS is stacked with blokes in ties and blazers, while Brisbane is more of a mix of people.

Anyone want to shoot down Scarf Theory #2?

 

[chief]

I've been to a heap of games at Ballymore and Suncorp, and I reckon the Brissy rugby demographic is a bit different to Sydney's. The SFS is stacked with blokes in ties and blazers, while Brisbane is more of a mix of people.

Anyone want to shoot down Scarf Theory #2?

You got a great point. Went to a Tahs game last year. Most of the families look like they'd just had dinner at the set of restaurants nearby and were just making a night out of it all. This is also the case in Brisbane, I sometimes have dinner at the nearby Paddington but there are no where as many people in Brisbane that do it then people in Sydney it looked over 30% of what I saw at the SFS. I've also been to ANZ Stadium lets just say it's nothing compared to SFS there's nothing nearby!

 

[RedsHappy]

I've been to a heap of games at Ballymore and Suncorp, and I reckon the Brissy rugby demographic is a bit different to Sydney's. The SFS is stacked with blokes in ties and blazers, while Brisbane is more of a mix of people. Anyone want to shoot down Scarf Theory #2?

Scarf: I've lived in both places over the last 10 years (and was just at ANZ on June 19), and, I agree with you! The Brisbane/Suncorp crowd is more a mix of all types and sizes so to say, and I would definitely agree the crowd up here is more noisy and high on intensity in Walls support than what I've seen at ANZ....BUT, and this is a big but, gee, I found ANZ an awfully mood-dampening place for top rugby (unless 100% full), and that may be a key factor in all of this (Sydney outcomes v Brisbane). Suncorp as you know was designed solely for mungo, dive, rugby and concerts, that's it, and IMO it works sooo much better for these rectangular games and great crowd support because of it.

Btw, you and Ruggo are the only ones to have invented some theories so far. Of course, it's a 'sideline' thread here I know, but also quite serious as if the general Wallabies w-l % in Oz was replicated also in Brisbane, our overall position would be a whole lot worse. And it's way beyond co-incidence.

 

[DPK]

Waratahs vs Brumbies felt as though we were in a cavern of ice, haunted by the echo's of the dead.

 

[Scotty]

You got a great point. Went to a Tahs game last year. Most of the families look like they'd just had dinner at the set of restaurants nearby and were just making a night out of it all. This is also the case in Brisbane, I sometimes have dinner at the nearby Paddington but there are no where as many people in Brisbane that do it then people in Sydney it looked over 30% of what I saw at the SFS. I've also been to ANZ Stadium lets just say it's nothing compared to SFS there's nothing nearby!

I normally have dinner in Paddington as well. But mine consists of an amber liquid at the fine establishment the Paddo tavern.