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The Cauldron
NRL IMAX: ARL Commission signs off on plans to launch state-of-the-art sports bar in Brisbane
Basking in the afterglow of its strongest ever ratings, the NRL is set to launch a cutting-edge sports bar that chief executive Andrew Abdo describes as a “rugby league IMAX experience”.
Peter Badel
Peter Badel
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@badel_cmail
3 min read
October 9, 2025 - 4:00AM
News Sport Network
NRL: Billy Walters was full of praise for his Brisbane teammates after their Grand Final win and got the chance to lift the trophy with them despite missing the game through an ACL injury.
The NRL is launching a cutting-edge sports bar that will see the Suncorp Stadium precinct take over as the entertainment Mecca of Australian sport.
This masthead can reveal the ARL Commission has signed off on plans for “NRL IMAX” to light up Caxton Street as League Central looks to capitalise on rugby league’s triumph as the most-watched sport in Australia.
Three years after the ARL Commission bought their first asset, the Gambaro Hotel, the NRL will transform the site to deliver what they believe will be the “best sports bar in Australia”.
The NRL last year renamed the famous Gambaro site as The Beetson Hotel and the premises will undergo a technological revamp in the coming months with a view to a grand opening ahead of rugby league’s kick-off in Las Vegas in 2026.
The revelation comes as the Broncos celebrate their first premiership in 19 years, and just days after Queensland premier David Crisafulli revealed plans for an upgrade of Suncorp Stadium.
Suncorp is set to be expanded to a 60,000 capacity – and now the NRL is leveraging its net asset base of $322.4 million to deliver an IMAX experience for rugby league and Australian sports fans.
Gambaro Hotel on Caxton Street was purchased by the NRL in 2022. Picture: Supplied
Gambaro Hotel on Caxton Street was purchased by the NRL in 2022. Picture: Supplied
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo confirmed the project as rugby league basks in the afterglow of a ratings bonanza, with 4.46 million fans tuning in to Brisbane’s epic grand final win over Melbourne.
“This will be like a rugby league IMAX experience,” Abdo said of the NRL’s new sports bar.
“If you can’t get tickets to a game, this will be the next best thing.
“We want a great sports and rugby league theme throughout the venue.
“It will be a modern, contemporary sports bar with cutting-edge technology, using modern LED technology to provide a completely immersive experience for fans when live sport is on.
“There will be wall-to-wall screens, great sounds and a great sporting atmosphere for fans and patrons to watch live rugby league and sport.
During the week, it will be a cool sports bar where you can go for great food and a good experience for fans and sports lovers.
“The Commission has signed off on the concept and we are now working to get the right partners to help us with the build, the infrastructure and the technology.
“It’s something we want to prioritise and do as soon as possible, so we’re having conversations with different suppliers, both in design and the kind of equipment we are going to require.
“Hopefully there will be a grand opening ahead of next season.”
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys said the sports bar will be another vehicle in growing the NRL’s exploding supporter base.
“It’s going to be the place to be if you want to watch any sport,” he said.
“We are spending a lot of money on it and we’re going to make the Beetson Hotel the Mecca for rugby league and sports fans.
“It’s all to do with providing the best facilities and entertainment for customers.
“We’re in the design stage and we’ll begin installation and work in the next few weeks.
“It will be the biggest sports bar in Queensland if not Australia.”
The ARL Commission has made a $50 million investment incursion into Queensland, first buying Gambaros in July 2022 before outlaying north of $20m last year to acquire the 81-room Mercure Kawana Waters on the Sunshine Coast.
Abdo believes the NRL’s historic first sports bar, which has yet to be formally named, will be a major attraction for the code’s biggest events of the year.
“We will use it as a destination where we can create great moments, not just at live events,” he said.
“Obviously for our big major events like Magic Round, State of Origin, the finals series, Pacific Championships and we have a World Cup next year, this will be a great venue for fans to enjoy that.
“Whether the game is at Suncorp Stadium or whether you are going to see your team play live somewhere around the world or the country, it will be the place to go.
“We haven’t finalised the name yet, some great ideas are being debated, but it will have a sports and rugby league look and feel about it in terms of memorabilia, menu and the like.
“Whatever live sport is on at the time, whether it’s the Olympics or cricket or other sports, this will be a great place for you to watch it.
“When the season opener starts with Vegas, this will be the perfect venue for Vegas parties and for NRL celebrations and announcements.
“Ultimately, this is about capturing the imagination of our sport and winni
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