Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
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QUEENSLAND will host the first NRL grand final outside of Sydney with Suncorp Stadium set to stage the decider in 2019.
The Courier-Mail understands Suncorp Stadium is all but certain to host the grand final in 2019 as long as the Queensland Labor Government makes a competitive bid.
It will arguably be the biggest event in the city since it hosted the G20 in 2014.
The NRL will this month open the formal bidding process for cities to host the first non-Sydney NRL grand final.
It is understood the preference at NRL headquarters is for Queensland to host at least one of those grand finals due to its support of the game.
It could yet host two NRL grand finals.
A new ANZ Stadium board was set up last week to oversee the $700 million revamp of the site at Homebush Bay. One of the board’s first tasks is to decide the construction period.
Once the construction timetable is finalised, the NRL will open bidding for the first grand final outside Sydney.
The Courier-Mail has learnt:
● The NRL will start serious talks with the Queensland Government in the coming weeks – with a decision on grand final hosts expected before year’s end.
● It is expected two NRL grand finals will be sold to non-Sydney venues, likely to be 2019 and 2020.
● Queensland will face competitive bids from Perth, Auckland and Melbourne.
● As part of the NRL grand final bid, the Queensland Government will commit to an upgrade of Suncorp Stadium’s big screens and sound system and will also install Wi-Fi.
An NRL spokesman said their priority was to establish what impact the building work at ANZ Stadium would have on the capacity and crowd comfort.
“Only then will we be able to determine the grand final strategy,” the spokesman said.
“But, clearly, if ANZ Stadium is out of action for some time during the redevelopment then Queensland comes into the picture as a possible venue for the grand final.”
Tourism and Major Events minister Kate Jones told The Courier-Mail the State Government was committed to *securing the event.
“We are very keen to host an NRL grand final in Queensland,” Minister Jones said.
“Tourism and Events Queensland are leading discussions with the NRL.
“As soon as we know what grand finals are available we will sit down with the NRL to work out a deal.”
The Queensland Government will have to spend significant cash to book the venue, with the Victorian Government already signalling its intent to do all it can to host a decider.
However, if the NRL booked a grand final at the MCG ahead of Suncorp Stadium, it would be met with outrage in Queensland.
No Cookies | Daily Telegraph
The Courier-Mail understands Suncorp Stadium is all but certain to host the grand final in 2019 as long as the Queensland Labor Government makes a competitive bid.
It will arguably be the biggest event in the city since it hosted the G20 in 2014.
The NRL will this month open the formal bidding process for cities to host the first non-Sydney NRL grand final.
It is understood the preference at NRL headquarters is for Queensland to host at least one of those grand finals due to its support of the game.
It could yet host two NRL grand finals.
A new ANZ Stadium board was set up last week to oversee the $700 million revamp of the site at Homebush Bay. One of the board’s first tasks is to decide the construction period.
Once the construction timetable is finalised, the NRL will open bidding for the first grand final outside Sydney.
The Courier-Mail has learnt:
● The NRL will start serious talks with the Queensland Government in the coming weeks – with a decision on grand final hosts expected before year’s end.
● It is expected two NRL grand finals will be sold to non-Sydney venues, likely to be 2019 and 2020.
● Queensland will face competitive bids from Perth, Auckland and Melbourne.
● As part of the NRL grand final bid, the Queensland Government will commit to an upgrade of Suncorp Stadium’s big screens and sound system and will also install Wi-Fi.
An NRL spokesman said their priority was to establish what impact the building work at ANZ Stadium would have on the capacity and crowd comfort.
“Only then will we be able to determine the grand final strategy,” the spokesman said.
“But, clearly, if ANZ Stadium is out of action for some time during the redevelopment then Queensland comes into the picture as a possible venue for the grand final.”
Tourism and Major Events minister Kate Jones told The Courier-Mail the State Government was committed to *securing the event.
“We are very keen to host an NRL grand final in Queensland,” Minister Jones said.
“Tourism and Events Queensland are leading discussions with the NRL.
“As soon as we know what grand finals are available we will sit down with the NRL to work out a deal.”
The Queensland Government will have to spend significant cash to book the venue, with the Victorian Government already signalling its intent to do all it can to host a decider.
However, if the NRL booked a grand final at the MCG ahead of Suncorp Stadium, it would be met with outrage in Queensland.
No Cookies | Daily Telegraph
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