Suncorp Stadium can’t legally host 6pm Friday night game
PAUL MALONE @PMalone_CMailThe Courier-Mail
PROPOSED NRL games scheduled for Suncorp Stadium at 6pm on Friday night are not just unpopular — they’re illegal.
Stadium management say they cannot lawfully take a booking for the new timeslot being put forward as part of Fox Sports’ new broadcast deal because Suncorp requires full public transport capacity under the conditions of the ground’s development application.
Effectively, the state government will not allow 35,000 Broncos fans arriving by public transport on a Friday night as the CBD is emptying at peak hour for the weekend.
A letter explaining this was sent to the NRL on Thursday by stadium general manager Alan Graham.
Stadiums Queensland advised the NRL that games in the timeslot would not be able to be played at either Suncorp Stadium or Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium.
The 6pm kickoffs, which would probably become 5pm during daylight saving periods in NSW, would not permit the number of dedicated train and bus services to move enough people into Broncos home games, who have averaged about 33,000 for each of the past two seasons.
“There are genuine concerns about this potential impact on patrons, the ability of Suncorp Stadium, Cbus Super Stadium and (Townsville’s) 1300SMILES Stadium to service patrons, the impact on hirers and also the heightened pressures on transport services,’’ a Stadiums Queensland spokesman said.
While Channel 9 would want most Broncos home games for one of its Thursday or Friday night telecasts during the next rights period, the NRL insisted in August that it had taken back from Nine the right to schedule its own fixture list.
Graham said Suncorp Stadium events were obligated to be staged at times when a public transport plan can be effectively put in place, with tickets carrying a right to free public transport travel.
“It makes it difficult to put the event on legally otherwise,’’ he said.
“The transport operators are telling us of their ongoing commitment to post-school and peak-hour commuters.
“We have pointed out (to the NRL) what all the practicalities and the legal circumstances are which we are required to have so they can make an informed decision on this.
“For a Friday night game, 85 to 90 per cent of people come by public transport. If you can’t provide public transport you can’t get the spectators here. ‘’
Like the three Queensland clubs, Stadiums Queensland and Graham say they know about plans for the timeslot only what they have read in the press.
These reports spoke of the 6pm matches for proposed Fox Sports telecasts being played in Brisbane, Auckland and Townsville — but not Sydney.
“We have been in touch with (Broncos CEO) Paul White because it’s important they know what our view is,’’ Graham said.
As well as the NRL clubs having flagged seeking compensation from the NRL if the new timeslot is introduced, stadiums and contracted caterers may also want compensation from the NRL.
The SQ spokesman said a 6pm kick-off at any of the three NRL venues in Queensland would “actively discourage patrons from attending’’.
“Even in Townsville, there is still a reliance on the a shuttle bus services to get Cowboy fans to the venue from the CBD and other parts of the city,” he said.
“Stadiums Queensland has let the NRL know of the issues this proposal will create at the three venues (Suncorp Stadium, Cbus Super Stadium and 1300SMILES Stadium) and subsequent impacts on hirers.’’
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