The Game Future NRL Stadiums part II

[NWQRabbit]

Optus Oval was closer to $1.8b when all was said and done (this includes infrastructure costs).

It was a project estimated/tendered for pre-2014 and built between 2014-2017.

Construction industry costs are a completely different animal now. It costs more to build in QLD. There’s also heavier unionisation in QLD. Both are factors.

Olympic stadium will get its use via 2 immediate tenants. One in winter, one in summer. Then all the exhibitions and concerts held at the ground there on after.

Suncorp has major upgrade construction issues.
Upgrading that Lang Park footprint between 2001-2003 is a galaxy away from upgrading the same footprint in 2027/8/9 and beyond. It can be done but it’ll be extremely costly and cause immense commuter disruptions along ICB & Milton Road (which will also affect Western Freeway some 7kms away as it serves as the main connection entry towards inner city).

In a nutshell, what makes Suncorp great location wise is also its main problem from constructibility and budgeting points. The other factor is the time line. Suncorp would have been better served looking for an upgrade pre-Olympics bid. In that sweet zone between Magic round kicking off and QLD state gov bidding for the Olympics. But hey Covid.

Ultimately, Suncorp will get its upgrades. Upgrades that were factored in when it was originally designed and built all those years ago. They should’ve happened mid 10’s. Maybe after 2015 and in a parallel universe where Broncos won that GF maybe they get it. Maybe if Brisbane 2/Dolphins/Firehawks/Jets/Bombers got its expansion anpproved earlier. What if.

The fact it’s getting any upgrade at all in the current climate is a win, even if people cannot see it. There’s been a shit load of lobbying to get this far.

All the points your making might be more valid if the government weren't ignoring the very same cost/social issues and spending a minimum $4 BILLION DOLLARS on a stadium that doesn't serve the interests of the vast majority of qlders.

 

[Red&BlackBear]

Stadium that’s half full all year at best with one tenant in summer and one tenant in winter when Suncorp has 2 nrl clubs, reds and roar

Plus origins magic and finals

And yeh the last govt was going to have the opening and closing ceremonies at Suncorp

You would guess the one billion would’ve been a total rebuild of one stand

Few hundred million is better than nothing but it’s a fob by the premier to show he’s done something for league

I’m not debating that Suncorp has more tenants. That is pretty clear. However, you said that the Olympic stadium would be a white elephant and I told you why it wouldn’t.

That statement has nothing to do with what Suncorp has or doesn’t have. It was a response specifically for the statement you made.

As for everything else, now it’s left to c**ts like me trying to get as much for RL off these mongrels who constantly make poor decisions (either side).

 

[NWQRabbit]

No, it is a green field site. By all definition.

You’re acting like LNP are the ones who chose to bid to host the Olympics? It was ALP. The Victoria Park proposal, amongst other proposals, was forward by ALP. Don’t let history slip you by. So they changed their mind about where they were building the stadium along the way. Who gives a flying ****. Gabba has its own issues, times passed on that. QSAC would be a nightmare Hamilton is laughable, Kingsford Smith is horrible at the best of times.

How will the city’s infrastructure be unbalanced? Victoria Park sits with the borders of Brisbane biggest hospital in RBH and a university in QUT.

The north end Clem-7 exit will be the major entry point.

Clem-7 is the junction where Pacific Motorway, Gateway Motorway, ICB, Legacy Way, Western Freeway, Ipswich Motorway, Centenary Highway, Airport Way all end up converging via their multiple respective connections along the way.

There’s reason why it was chosen there. For every argument posed, there is a counter argument available.

I’d love for Suncorp to have had its billion dollar upgrades but no one acted on it when it should’ve been acted on. Then politics got love bitten by Olympics. Now we are here.

The lnp won the election on a promise of 'no new stadiums', in particular the victoria park site.
But backroom politics, corruption, call it what you like got involved and now we get the worst possible outcome at the most egregious cost. Best of all the afl gets an absoloute gift of a stadium in a place they actively claim to take over, whilst rugby league gets shafted.

 

[Red&BlackBear]

The lnp won the election on a promise of 'no new stadiums', in particular the victoria park site.
But backroom politics, corruption, call it what you like got involved and now we get the worst possible outcome at the most egregious cost. Best of all the afl gets an absoloute gift of a stadium in a place they actively claim to take over, whilst rugby league gets shafted.

You people need to get over this political debate. Both parties messed up. LNP and ALP.

One party backflipped and the other party had absolutely no plan and couldn’t make a decisive decision for the life of them.

Picking a side and arguing who is in the right, is your first problem.

 

[Wb1234]

I’m not debating that Suncorp has more tenants. That is pretty clear. However, you said that the Olympic stadium would be a white elephant and I told you why it wouldn’t.

That statement has nothing to do with what Suncorp has or doesn’t have. It was a response specifically for the statement you made.

As for everything else, now it’s left to c**ts like me trying to get as much for RL off these mongrels who constantly make poor decisions (either side).

Work on your mate ikin to get some more and get him to get Pvl on the case

This Olympics is a once in a lifetime chance for qld to get the rugby league stadia it deserves

Honestly I’ve given up on a rebuilt Suncorp pre Olympics that ship has sailed

But in the next two decades qld is going to need a 70 to 85k rectangular stadium

Whether that’s on the existing site or a new site elsewhere

Having a 3rd Brisbane nrl side will help this

 

[Suitman]

What the Qld govt needs to realise is that football (soccer) is one of the most highly attended sports in the Olympics.
It needs to be played in a rectangular stadium and a rectangular stadium that has a decent capacity.
Sydney 2000 shared football games around the country, but the final absolutely needs to be played in the host city, and 52500 just isn't big enough.

 

[Desert Qlder]

No, it is a green field site. By all definition.

It was euphemistically posed as such in Quirk's report. And you can repeat it ad nauseum.

But as publicly owned inner urban parkland already master-planned as a cultural and heritage asset for Brisbane, it's contestable.

The LNP-led Brisbane City Council themselves described it as an 'iconic parkland' and a 'precious greenspace' with 'rich cultural heritage'.

So they changed their mind about where they were building the stadium along the way. Who gives a flying ****.

Misleading. You love these euphemisms - 'changed their mind'. They were always developing Victoria Park because it is what their donors were demanding. They simply lied to the public in the campaign.

That's not an unimportant detail.

Gabba has its own issues, times passed on that. QSAC would be a nightmare Hamilton is laughable, Kingsford Smith is horrible at the best of times.

'Best of a bad bunch' is not a strong argument. QSAC would have been fine for athletics.

How will the city’s infrastructure be unbalanced?

Our most popular sport will be left with ageing and inadequate infrastructure.

I’d love for Suncorp to have had its billion dollar upgrades but no one acted on it when it should’ve been acted on. Then politics got love bitten by Olympics. Now we are here.

Agreed. The NRL and QRL were extremely lax in their lobbying efforts while their competitors read the political winds much better.

Anyhow, they've won and got what they want and I'm glad you're happy. Sad for our sport and urban greenspace in Brisbane though.

 

[Wb1234]

It was euphemistically posed as such in Quirk's report. And you can repeat it ad nauseum.

But as publicly owned inner urban parkland already master-planned as a cultural and heritage asset for Brisbane, it's contestable.

The LNP-led Brisbane City Council themselves described it as an 'iconic parkland' and a 'precious greenspace' with 'rich cultural heritage'.

Misleading. You love these euphemisms - 'changed their mind'. They were always developing Victoria Park because it is what their donors were demanding. They simply lied to the public in the campaign.

That's not an unimportant detail.

'Best of a bad bunch' is not a strong argument. QSAC would have been fine for athletics.

Our most popular sport will be left with ageing and inadequate infrastructure.

Agreed. The NRL and QRL were extremely lax in their lobbying efforts while their competitors read the political winds much better.

Anyhow, they've won and got what they want and I'm glad you're happy. Sad for our sport and urban greenspace in Brisbane though.

To be fair to red bear I suspect he’s had a role in getting some funding for Suncorp

 

[Desert Qlder]

To be fair to red bear I suspect he’s had a role in getting some funding for Suncorp

What funding?

 

[T-Boon]

The NRL needs to at least get touch footy into the Brisbane Olympics and have as many NRL stars playing in teams as possible. All the Pacific Islands would be competitive.

 

[Perth Red]

Work on your mate ikin to get some more and get him to get Pvl on the case

This Olympics is a once in a lifetime chance for qld to get the rugby league stadia it deserves

Honestly I’ve given up on a rebuilt Suncorp pre Olympics that ship has sailed

But in the next two decades qld is going to need a 70 to 85k rectangular stadium

Whether that’s on the existing site or a new site elsewhere

Having a 3rd Brisbane nrl side will help this

How will having a club from 40km away (Ipswich) help Suncorp?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

How will having a club from 40km away (Ipswich) help Suncorp?

Probably because they'll play some games there, just as the Dolphins from 40km away do.

 

[Perth Red]

Probably because they'll play some games there, just as the Dolphins from 40km away do.

So we’re getting another ‘the’?

 

[Wb1234]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_MRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fsuncorp-stadium-officials-respond-to-venues-physical-shaking-and-rocking-during-brisbane-broncos-preliminary-final-win%2Fnews-story%2F0e740f025c6fa3a0cde28849fad084b5&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=ULTRALOW-Segment-2-SCORE

The Broncos’ incredible preliminary final win against Penrith resulted in a sold-out Suncorp Stadium literally rocking and shaking, leaving spectators stunned. The venue has responded to the incredible scenes.
Travis Meyn
Travis Meyn
@travismeyn
2 min read
September 29, 2025 - 1:47PM
News Sport Network

NRL: The Brisbane Broncos staged an incredible comeback to beat the Panthers, ending Penrith's remarkable run of consecutive Premiership wins.
Suncorp Stadium has responded to safety concerns after Brisbane’s premier venue was physically shaking during the Broncos’ record-breaking preliminary final win against Penrith on Sunday.
The Broncos booked a spot in this Sunday’s NRL grand final against the Melbourne Storm in Sydney after securing an epic 16-14 comeback victory against the Panthers.
The 52,491-strong crowd was the largest for a Broncos game in the stadium’s history since the 2003 ‘Lang Park’ redevelopment and just nine people shy of Suncorp’s 52,500 capacity.
The Broncos looked destined to be knocked out of the title race after trailing the reigning four-time premiers 14-0 at halftime before launching a spirited comeback.
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds slotted a clutch sideline conversion in the 77th minute with scores locked to deliver Brisbane a shot at grand final redemption.
At fulltime as the Broncos’ victory song played, patrons at the venue could feel the stadium shaking and rocking – similar to an earthquake sensation.
Suncorp Stadium’s foundations were literally shaking on Sunday.
Suncorp Stadium’s foundations were literally shaking on Sunday.
But the stadium’s acting general manager Julie O’Keeffe allayed concerns about the stadium’s integrity and said it was designed to move.
“Stadiums, like most structures, are built in a way which allows them to flex,” she said.
“It’s a credit to the NRL, the Brisbane Broncos and especially their members and fans who created such an electrifying atmosphere.”
The crowd was the largest for a non-State of Origin game at Suncorp and only eclipsed by pop singer Ed Sheeran, whose concerts of close to 60,000 include patrons on the stadium surface.
One of Queensland’s top engineers, Professor Dane Miller of Structural Diagnostics, said the stadium’s movement was part of the design.
“What spectators are feeling is the natural vibration of the stadium responding to tens of thousands of people moving in unison,” Dr Miller said.
“Modern stadiums are designed with this in mind, and the rocking sensation is a sign of the structure doing exactly what it was engineered to do.
“Large stadiums are designed to be flexible, rather than rigid. When a crowd jumps or sways together, the structure absorbs and disperses that energy. It’s the same principle that makes tall buildings safe in high winds.
Loading embed...
“It may feel dramatic to spectators in the stands, however it is a predictable phenomenon and load consideration during the design process of this type of structure.
“There are also significant factors of safety built into the relevant codes which govern the prediction of loads and the design of structural elements to carry those loads.”

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Probably because they'll play some games there, just as the Dolphins from 40km away do.

that perthreds bloke with the internet at his finger tips, still cant use a simple google search to find out info prior to making dumb statements. astounding.

 

[mongoose]

Victoria Park is happening and Suncorp probably won't get any major upgrade for a long time, people just need to accept it.
Victoria Park won't be that great for the AFL though...no entertainment precinct nearby, unless they build one. The Gabba had dozens of bars and restaurants surrounding it including The Pineapple which is like AFL's version of The Caxton. Not sure where people will go before and after games at Vic Park - could be a bit like Homebush in Sydney...

 

[T-Boon]

Victoria Park is happening and Suncorp probably won't get any major upgrade for a long time, people just need to accept it.
Victoria Park won't be that great for the AFL though...no entertainment precinct nearby, unless they build one. The Gabba had dozens of bars and restaurants surrounding it including The Pineapple which is like AFL's version of The Caxton. Not sure where people will go before and after games at Vic Park - could be a bit like Homebush in Sydney...

As with everything the NRL needs to be hyper focused on how to try to turn this into a positive and as big of a win for the NRL/RL as possible including trying to sabotage anything AFL or cricket may get out of it.
Is there a way they can still get it so that Lang Park is the main venue for the Olympics?
If not then what else can they do? Get touch footy into the Olympics. Get women's RL into the Olympics?
Many other things of that nature.
Edit: To go back though, your first paragraph/sentence is atrocious and wrong especially the end bit.

 

[jim_57]

I find that very hard to believe. Surely you would want a few years of sellouts, at least, to justify it.

One Grand Final isn't going to make much dent to a $3 to $4B build.

The Olympics have f**ked RL in Brisbane unfortunately.

They’ve had plenty of sellouts the last few seasons you can add to it to be fair. I think it was about 6 total sellouts this year and all but a couple games sold down to restricted view seats. Days are gone where it is only the Cowboys game selling out regular season. You can book in another 5 events/days for Dolphins V Broncos, Origin & Magic x3 each year, plus any finals, and that’s just NRL.

Suncorp will be used a fair bit for the Olympics anyway so a few hundred mill to expand & update it within its current structure is chicken feed compared to the money they’re spending on some of the other Olympics infrastructure.

It really should have been in any Olympics spend regardless of political party in charge. I feel like all the rectangular sports dropped the ball on this and the NRL is now trying to pick up the pieces, haven’t heard a peep from Union or Soccer.

 

[Wb1234]

They’ve had plenty of sellouts the last few seasons you can add to it to be fair. I think it was about 6 total sellouts this year and all but a couple games sold down to restricted view seats. Days are gone where it is only the Cowboys game selling out regular season. You can book in another 5 events/days for Dolphins V Broncos, Origin & Magic x3 each year, plus any finals, and that’s just NRL.

Suncorp will be used a fair bit for the Olympics anyway so a few hundred mill to expand & update it within its current structure is chicken feed compared to the money they’re spending on some of the other Olympics infrastructure.

It really should have been in any Olympics spend regardless of political party in charge. I feel like all the rectangular sports dropped the ball on this and the NRL is now trying to pick up the pieces, haven’t heard a peep from Union or Soccer.

Union got over 30 million to upgrade the ground they own Ballymore and are now asking for a similar amount to do the other stand

Soccer has been agitating for a purpose built 20k stadia at Perry park and good chance that happens too

League will get Sunshine Coast and cairns so really missed the boat vs every other sport

Attitude seems to be Suncorp is a good stadium

Afl has no shame when it comes to bludging off the public purse whilst league seems to have a conscience when it comes to public money

The only time you hear about hospital and schools funding being crowded out is when league stadia are proposed for upgrades

When it comes to af they have no constraints or shame

 

[i0Nic]

Yes the AFL Oval Brigade seem to think ovals are perfectly amazing for League and rectangular sports and governments dare not spend a cent on new rectangle stadiums or upgrades or the Fumble Pitch Forks come out for thugby. That should only be reserved for AFL stadiums, where budget is no issue and any AFL-funded business case that supports spending bajillions on ovals always makes sense and any measly money going to rectangle stadiums is taking money away from the poor hospitals and schools.