News Gabba Upgrade & Olympics News

[BrainOfMorbius]

Someone was telling me about a rail line option that sounded like it was a connection from the Springfield line circling around to the Ipswich line.

Wouldn't help with the whole 'getting back to the city' thing per se but would provide a two way line option ref BHA...

That's definitely on the cards, but it will take ages to construct, and is one of the more long-term projects out Springfield way. Optimistic to think it might be in place by the time we'd be playing senior games there. It took years to get the line from Darra to Springfield operational.

 

[Cubs2Lions]

My strong preference is Springfield if it means the club can financially set itself up long-term, which seems to be a likely outcome. I think the RNA is going to be dogshit, so if all the options are not ideal may as well pick the option that gives us some longterm benefit.

As a non-QLD member, what would be the capacity if it hosted AFL games during the GABBA rebuild though?

Surely the club wouldn’t operate playing home games with 10,000 crowd max for 4-5 years, would they.

 

[M Malice]

As a non-QLD member, what would be the capacity if it hosted AFL games during the GABBA rebuild though?

Surely the club wouldn’t operate playing home games with 10,000 crowd max for 4-5 years, would they.

IIRC it would be upgraded to cater for circa 20,000 fans, would have to include a decent upgrade of toilet and catering as well, I do not think they would go for temporary grandstands for that length of time either.

I also wonder if the lighting is of the required standard for nationally televised regular season AFL footy... broadcaster facilities? Not to mention road/rail/pedestrian/entry/exit infrastructure.

My preference is the RNA.

 

[Elixuh]

As a non-QLD member, what would be the capacity if it hosted AFL games during the GABBA rebuild though?

Surely the club wouldn’t operate playing home games with 10,000 crowd max for 4-5 years, would they.

I thought there was some suggestion they could get it up to 20 if they wanted to (eg via further investment or temporary stands).

Imo 20k capacity is fine if that is doable.

 

[dlanod]

I also wonder if the lighting is of the required standard for nationally televised regular season AFL footy... broadcaster facilities?

This is the one part I think they're ok with. Remember they plan on it being the AFLW location long term, and it's not like the broadcasters are any less precious regardless of gender.

 

[Walshawk]

Surely the fact that cricket won’t be able to use BHA means it won’t be there, otherwise they will also need to upgrade Allan Border Field.

Although if it is BHA, at least you will be able to use it in 2032.

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

bit more politics going on with this, as it should be imo.
I mean , what a 25 year build is ready for demolition, what a waste of everything.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

bit more politics going on with this, as it should be imo.
I mean , what a 25 year build is ready for demolition, what a waste of everything.

Struggling to think of the last time someone said more politics is a good thing. At least in this country.

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

Struggling to think of the last time someone said more politics is a good thing. At least in this country.

lol , what was I saying ,I must of been a bit tired this morning.
Bloody government.

 

[Dom PC]

Going to the ekka on the weekend, I saw that they weren't even using the food stalls under the stadium. They just put food trucks in front.

Thought it was a bit sad, but made me think that RNA ground desperately does need a massive renovation. It makes so much sense to renovate that stadium into a boutique 20k seat stadium. Could easily see a second T20 cricket team in Brisbane playing out of there and even other football clubs - would be perfect size for Brisbane roar games.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

Could easily see a second T20 cricket team in Brisbane playing out of there and even other football clubs - would be perfect size for Brisbane roar games.

I've seen a few people suggest it would be good for the Roar. While I agree that the capacity would be spot on for them, soccer in Australia is moving away from playing in round venues in favour of rectangular venues. It's unlikely to find much support from soccer honchos unless it's remodeled again, which seems unlikely to be considered.

 

[Thomasno]

Surely the fact that cricket won’t be able to use BHA means it won’t be there, otherwise they will also need to upgrade Allan Border Field.

Although if it is BHA, at least you will be able to use it in 2032.

I don’t think cricket really factors in to it, and I’m not sure why they’re getting mentioned that much in the decision making process. We’re just not going to get any international games for a few years, right? Like even if they went RNA, CA are never in a million years going to host a test there, they’ll probably move any games that were slated for Brisbane to Hobart. The bulls already play at AB, so you’re taking the cricket consideration for… the Brisbane heat? Who the **** cares, they already play a few of their matches out of Carrara.

 

[BRAB]

Heritage Bank Stadium is not off the table at all apparently.

 

[Tom14]

Heritage Bank Stadium is not off the table at all apparently.

Easily the worst option. (sorry to all Nerang based Lions fans)

 

[mighty_lions]

Easily the worst option. (sorry to all Nerang based Lions fans)

yeah I won't be driving from Sunshine Coast to there for 4 years, not to mention parking there is also shit, I went to the covid Gold Coast games and that's alright as a few once offs but not every game for 4 years, no thanks

 

[M Malice]

Heritage Bank Stadium is not off the table at all apparently.

I think you should declare your vested interest BRAB.

You are a paid lobbyist for the Nerang Cultural Association right?

 

[Nunez]

There is zero chance I'd go to Nerang every second week for footy. Not due to the distance, but I don't trust the likes of BRAB and his weird Nerang cult.

 

[Mighty Lions]

There is zero chance I'd go to Nerang every second week for footy. Not due to the distance, but I don't trust the likes of BRAB and his weird Nerang cult.

The club knows full well that a big chunk of supporters (& players) dislike playing down there so I am sure it will be avoided wherever possible.

Worth noting, the BRAB hairy hasn't got a huge role to play as most people down there have more than just bad heads.

 

[Viceregal]

I think you should declare your vested interest BRAB.

You are a paid lobbyist for the Nerang Cultural Association right?

Well I suppose there technically is a 'Nerang Culture' ... but since the entire Gold Coast is often considered a bit of a cultural wasteland and Nerang is a hinterland township finally enveloped by the encroaching coastal fraternity not sure it is much of a blip.


Anecdote from decades ago ... my parents used to go to balls down in Melbourne (gowns, long white gloves etc) and moved up to the Gold Coast. One day they saw an advertisement for the 'Nerang Ball' and called up to check out the parameters. Well when they found out that they preferred people to not wear thongs (the footwear version) and that the normal dinner was cherrios in a thermos ... let's just say that they reluctantly passed on the opportunity to expereince said culture! The then Gold Coast Show was also a bit of a culture shock compared to the Royal Easter Parade and celebrations...

 

[The Flying Belgian]

I'm sure I saw Swanny at some stage in the last week shut down the idea of Carrara. "We're not the Gold Coast Lions" was the quote I believe.

 

[Mighty Lions]

I'm sure I saw Swanny at some stage in the last week shut down the idea of Carrara. "We're not the Gold Coast Lions" was the quote I believe.

The internal rivalry we have with The Suns is the one that is by far the biggest. Swanny & the coaching staff play a big part in that rivalry hence why they dont like going down there if they can avoid it.

 

[Nunez]

The club knows full well that a big chunk of supporters (& players) dislike playing down there so I am sure it will be avoided wherever possible.

Worth noting, the BRAB hairy hasn't got a huge role to play as most people down there have more than just bad heads.

You underestimate the power of BRAB my friend.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

Shots fired by soccer

Hot on the heels of the hugely successful FIFA Women’s World Cup, the sport’s governing body in Australia has launched a broadside at the Queensland government’s “bias” against the code as it called for a major infrastructure boost.
In a submission to a federal inquiry into Australia’s preparedness to host the Olympic Games, Football Australia called for a feasibility study into an upgrade of Perry Park into a 10,000- to 15,000-seat stadium and improved facilities across the state that could be used as Games training venues.

Football Australia noted in its submission that Brisbane was the only Australian city that lacked a modern, “tier two” stadium and noted it was getting increasingly difficult for the sport to find room in the calendar to play at Suncorp Stadium.
Seven concerts – Paul McCartney, Def Leppard/Motley Crue, The Weeknd, Foo Fighters and Pink (x3) – are booked for the stadium during the upcoming A-League season.
“With a tightened focus on commercial returns by Stadiums Queensland, availability for football content at Suncorp Stadium is proving ever more difficult,” Football Australia said.
“Concerts offer significantly higher returns that sporting events, meaning access to the facility for sporting events is becoming more difficult for non-tenanted sporting codes.”
Football Australia said without such a boutique stadium, Brisbane Roar and any other A-League expansion team would struggle to attract international investment.
When it came to funding, Football Australia said, the government had disproportionately favoured other codes for many years.
“Historically with respect to rectangular field infrastructure investment, government has appeared to show a bias towards other football codes which are not Olympic sports,” it said.
It was a sentiment that echoed Matildas captain Sam Kerr’s calls for more funding earlier this month, after Australia’s semi-final loss against England.
A spokesman for Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe defended the Palaszczuk government’s investment in the game.
He cited $14 million in pre-World Cup spending at Suncorp Stadium – a multi-use venue – and $2.6 million for six training sites and base camps at south-east Queensland clubs.
“Since 2015, the Queensland government has delivered $42.7 million for football, which is significantly higher than AFL, cricket, rugby union and netball, excluding one-off, co-funded significant infrastructure projects,” he said.
That qualifier did some heavy lifting. The $44 million State Netball Centre at Nathan opened in 2019, while the Brisbane Lions’ new AFL stadium at Springfield received $18 million in state funding and Queensland Rugby Union’s Ballymore upgrade $15 million.
A subsequent request to Hinchliffe’s office for a full breakdown of sports funding went unanswered.
In the immediate wake of the Matildas’ strong World Cup showing, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced an additional $37 million investment into female sport, primarily for inclusive facilities. Of that $37 million, $2 million was allocated to the Queensland Women’s Football Legacy Fund.
With six of the eight proposed 2032 Olympic soccer venues in Queensland, Football Australia said there was a critical lack of suitable training venues in the state.
During the group stage of the Women’s World Cup, Australia played host to 16 national teams, with the other 16 based across the Tasman in New Zealand.
With both men’s and women’s competitions during the Olympics, Football Australia said there could be more than 30 teams – and they would primarily be based in Queensland, with additional sites in NSW and Victoria.
That would require up to 40 training facilities across the three states, as Sydney and Melbourne were also slated to host Olympic soccer matches.
“Across the three same states for FWWC23, FIFA required 15 facilities, which was still difficult at the required standard,” Football Australia said.
In another salvo, Football Australia said it had been “surprised” by the lack of consultation from organisers regarding Olympic infrastructure.
“In a scenario where collaboration and communication are quintessential, the omission of FA’s insights and opinions raises concerns about the tournament’s preparedness for Brisbane 2032 with respect to football.”

Football Australia’s stadium push as it blasts Queensland funding own-goal

 

[Tom14]

Shots fired by soccer


Football Australia’s stadium push as it blasts Queensland funding own-goal

Yeah all of #sokkahtwitter has been angry for years about Springfield. I'm sympathetic to an argument that all governments are too deferential to the AFL and let them get away without putting in their own significant funding, but more so from the perspective of opposing most publlic expenditure on sport.

I get that they want a boutique stadium for football too but outside of Ange managing the roar it hasn't ever really had consistent high crowds.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

Yeah all of #sokkahtwitter has been angry for years about Springfield. I'm sympathetic to an argument that all governments are too deferential to the AFL and let them get away without putting in their own significant funding, but more so from the perspective of opposing most publlic expenditure on sport.

I get that they want a boutique stadium for football too but outside of Ange managing the roar it hasn't ever really had consistent high crowds.

Those people will tell you all about how many participants soccer has in Queensland, which to be fair is impressive, but we're talking here about a spectator venue, and outside of special one-off events the sport has little history of big crowds in Brisbane.

I do agree that we need a mid-sized venue. But as the Roar is a privately-owned organisation and the main beneficiary, the Qld government should be well within its rights to ask it (effectively its parent organisation the Bakrie Group) to contribute towards the cost.

That will never happen of course because the Bakries have no interest in actually investing in the club. Which then begs the question of why anyone else should.