Suncorp Stadium’s seating capacity will increase beyond 52,500 – setting up a showdown with Sydney over the future hosting of the NRL Grand Final.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli revealed Suncorp Stadium’s 52,500-seat capacity would be lifted and the venue’s standard improved to support an expected boom in support for the Brisbane Broncos and ensure the state shines in 2032.
The Premier’s pledge came just 17 hours after victorious Broncos’ captain Adam Reynolds used his grand final speech in Sydney to demand Suncorp Stadium be expanded.
The bold vision for a $2 billion revamp of the MCG has been unveiled, with a new Shane Warne Stand set to feature sprawling skyline bars, sports pubs and family restaurants.
The Herald Sun can exclusively reveal details of the business case and early concept images.
For the first time, fans would be able to gather with friends in 2000-seat pub-style eateries for pre-game meals and drinks inside the rebuilt southern side of the stadium.
It is expected the new dining hubs would help significantly improve the fan experience along with major upgrades to public amenities, rooftop lighting, seating, digital technology, accessibility and pedestrian flow at the home of footy.
The rebuilt stand would have a deeper footprint to create new social dining areas, ease congestion and bring the thoroughfares in-line with the more expansive passageways in the northern section of the venue.
In another major change, the new Shane Warne Stand would provide spectacular 180 degree-views over the south-eastern part of the city overlooking Yarra Park.
Early concept designs show a stunning glass exterior which would replace the current concrete walls.
The major infrastructure project would take between two and three years to complete and boost the venue’s capacity by 5000 to about 105,000.
Greens MPs Vica Bayley and Cassy O’Connor, and independents Kristie Johnston and Peter George, had a 30-minute meeting with AFL officials including COO Tom Harley regarding their concerns.
But the league remains steadfast that a 23,000-capacity roofed stadium must be built for the Tasmania Devils’ license to be granted.
“We had some frank conversations. They were very clear their position is no stadium, no team,” Johnston said.
“We put it to them that might have been the case a few years ago but now we have plenty of evidence that the stadium will have a detrimental effect on Tasmanians.
“It would be unconscionable for them to hold us to that condition of the deal.”
This whole saga is filled with bad faith players - Tasmanian politicians jumping on the no stadium bandwagon to exploit anti-sport voters/votes outside Hobart, the AFL and its administrators essentially blackmailing the state about the provision of a licence being tied to not just a stadium, but an expensive roofed one as well, and expecting government to fund the lion’s share of it. It’s an ugly mess.
Why is there such a fixation on there must be a new stadium? Is upgrading Believe Oval not an option? Yes the new stadium would probably be used for cricket as well but seriously. There seems to be more NIMBYs in Tasmania than there are in Newcastle. No wonder we can’t have nice things.
The problem with bellerive oval is there is no room to expand it on one side with a road and houses there, it’s essentially in suburbia and has no public transport links. The thought was putting it at Macquarie Point allows easier access to it with it being in the CBD.
The Tasmanian Parliament will vote next month on the new stadium going ahead, in what lies as a crucial turning point in the Devils future. But if that falls over, there’s a fresh proposal ready to go, that investors say, ticks all the boxes.
The Mac Point 2.0 proposal will include a new stadium, a private hospital, residences, a hotel and a convention centre.
