Ballymore needs to be redeveloped
Roar Rookie
By chief, 15 Dec 2009 chief is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Ballymore, football, NRL, Queensland rugby
Ballymore is the home of Queensland rugby and it should remain that way. I think that Queensland desperately needs another large stadium to accommodate the rapid sporting population.
Ballymore’s presence is simply amazing. The stadium needs an expansion, a rapid expansion.
When the Federal Government knocked back the grant, it was disappointing, as it would have helped rugby in Australia with the new academy which could host Schoolboy Championships, and minor international matches – say, games like Samoa verses Fiji, where a bigger crowd would turn up than if it was in Samoa.
When we finally get a provincial competition in the next five or so years (I assure you, we will get one), it would host games there.
Not only that, but with the Football World Cup coming around, it would boost Australia’s chances of getting it if the Queensland government redevelops.
Ballymore could host State of Origin.
It would soothe the tension between the major codes, which is currently occurring. The Queensland government could offer the NRL a place at Ballymore for that years’ series as an alternative.
If this redevelopment occurs, the stadium could be increased to around 45,000. It’s no Suncorp, but it does offer a slight solution for one year.
From next year the Brisbane Roar Football team will probably move to Ballymore, due to their dwindling crowds. The new Super 14 competition, which runs through June and July, could have games at Ballymore.
The NRL games could be played at Ballymore during the Football World Cup. Rugby Union games could be held there, too.
Really it’s up to the Queensland government to ensure that all of the codes can some way reach a solution.
This is the probable way.
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- Explore:
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Dom ROmeo said | December 15th 2009 @ 7:20am | Report comment
Since its owned bu RU, that is the only reason they havent moved there yet. Its better to pay the government for a stadium than pay RU. In return They get better government support
Justin said | December 15th 2009 @ 7:27am | Report comment
I wonder if JON is looking to put that government proposal back on the agenda now that Rugby has the green light into the Olympics?
Paul J said | December 15th 2009 @ 7:55am | Report comment
Ballymore is not near a train line making it harder for people to get to that Suncorp. Every rectangle field code should look to play at Suncorp as much as possible.
Comrade Bear said | December 16th 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Wilston Station is actually closer To Ballymore than Roma St is to Lang Park.
Suncorp is a sen-say-shonal stadium, but it simply costs too much if the crowd support isn’t there.
I would love to see a redeveloped Ballymore to host Roar and Reds games – redeveloped apart from the hill.
The Reds coffers are getting drained by maintaining Ballymore – but playing at Suncorp – not a good situation.
Andrew B said | December 15th 2009 @ 8:02am | Report comment
Chief, I totally disagree. Yes, Ballymore needs work, but do not turn it into a 45,000 seat stadium! Its beauty lies in the fact its a smaller ground, 22,000 from memory, and you are crammed in close to the action. I’ll take sold out games, great atmosphere in a small ground over a half full Suncorp any day of the week.
Hoy said | December 15th 2009 @ 8:12am | Report comment
I LOVE Ballymore so much more than Lang Park. It was so easy to get in and out of at Ballymore, even when it was full as a goog. The crowd there is smaller, but so much better for atmosphere. You didn’t need some dickhead on the microphone saying “lets get behind the QR Reds”, eveyone used to cheer and hoopla anyway. It was such a great place to be watching a game.
There is no doubt that the place needs a facelift. I for one would get rid of that hideous Castlemaine Stand opposite the Hill, and if they want, they could probably increase seating by fixing up both grand stands, but I would love them to keep the Hill.
To my understanding, plans are before council for approval of the development, and recently there was a bit of a blow up about Dan Herbert’s wife being a real estate agent with that area as her region.
Harry said | December 15th 2009 @ 10:18am | Report comment
100% Agree Hoy – smarten it up, knock down the Castlemaine Stand and keep it at around 20,000 capacity. Play some of The Roar games there, AND at least two S14 games*, including one Sunday afternoon game (watch that sell out very quickly, marketers) and offer it as a venue for some Pacific Island games.
When does Jon’s S15 kickin – 2012 or 2011? When that happens, at least four games a year in the S14 at Ballymore.
So you would have – with the club grand final – around 10 games a year for rugby, and perhaps 5 for soccer. Imagine that would be viable to keep the ground properly maintained and humming.
Brissy is already well served with the superb Lang Park venue for big (50,000) crowds, along with the Gabba for the soccer world cup – if per chance it comes.
formeropenside said | December 15th 2009 @ 8:18am | Report comment
Why is less tension between codes a good thing? What rugby fan wants (or even cares about) a soccer world cup?
And what does the useless State Government have to do with anything? The QRU owns Ballymore.
Ballymore should have a good clean and light redevelopment – some paint and new seats perhaps and it should be ready for the Reds to come home. I do agree a few Pacific Island games would be good to have on their.
Also, the ARU should stop allocating tests to rugby wastelands like Melbourne and Perth, and shift those tests to the heartlands of Brisbane and Sydney. Then Ballymore might get some proper use.
Justin said | December 15th 2009 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Stuck in the past a bit arent you? Lets keep rugby to Brisbane and Sydney, absolute genius…
formeropenside said | December 15th 2009 @ 11:10am | Report comment
We can always play a few tests outside the heartlands, but not the big ones.
Tell you what: when places other than Brisbane and Sydney start actually producing some rugby players (and I will concede Melbourne has produced 2 or 3) then they can host some real tests. But for 10+ years the ARU has scheduled tests in the desert for zero return. Get rugby strong in Brisbane and Sydney again before we waste money and effort trying to convert the heathen.
Hoy said | December 15th 2009 @ 8:28am | Report comment
I have heard a rumour that QRU makes a fair loss by playing at Lang Park, knew they would make that loss, and still shifted there. What possible justification can they have to accommodate such a loss? QR as a sponsor wanting more rail users?
Harry said | December 15th 2009 @ 10:23am | Report comment
5 years on the move to Lang park of all Queensland S14 games can safely be labelled a dud. Clearly it makes sense to move at least a couple of S14 games back to Ballymore, I’m hoping the QRU didn’t sign the games future away when they agreed the deal about Lang park – though given the lack of transparency and business nous of that organisation this decade, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn there is some arrangement in place that isn’t fully disclosed. Can one of The Roar journalists actually ask this question to the QRU and publish the response please?
Glen said | December 15th 2009 @ 9:48pm | Report comment
The QRU are hamstrung. Their sponsorship is conditional on Reds games being played only at Suncorp.
The QRU loses money hand over fist every time they play there. The fans hate it, the QRU hate it, the players are not fussed either way (most are just soldiers of fortune with no allegiance to anyone or anywhere) and there is no worse sight than a half-empty stadium for anything! Watch them jump back to Ballymore as soon as this farce of a sponsorship is finalised.
BTW… I also agree with formeropenside. Sydney and Brisbane (Ballymore) are the spiritual homes of Rugby in Australia. All this Melbourne/Perth nonsense has not added one positive in terms of new followers or players. The vast majority of the crowds are ex-pat Kiwis, Safas, Qlder’s and Blues with a handful of curious locals thrown in.
The Bledisloe in Melbourne… what a disgrace. We will never convert Vics whose club allegiances are multi-generational and the only truly tribal game left in Aust. Let them live in blissful ignorance and reward the true rusted-on diehard fans at home I say!
Westy said | December 15th 2009 @ 8:38am | Report comment
Well for a start the QRU could ask for the $200000 taken by Queensland University club for their own purposes specifically granted by Queensland State government as part of $4.2 million for the redevelopment of Ballymore.
For politicians to query the trustworthiness of the QRU says it all. Even when the relevant minister is sympathetic to rugby QRU or forces in Queensland rugby bite them. The QRU is faction riven and does not act in games interest.
Nothing is more obvious to an outsider .
Queensland continues to produce the best depth in elite rugby juniors but struggles to put the most competitive team on the park. Something is rotten in the Sunshine state.
chief said | December 15th 2009 @ 9:13am | Report comment
Ballymore is easy enough to get to. It is only about 2km from a train station. Shuttle buses could indeed be on hand, to just take people there and take them back. Also the northern busway is about a 15 minute walk from Ballymore.
Glen said | December 15th 2009 @ 9:57pm | Report comment
Shuttle buses were always on hand immediately outside Ballymore. One only had to look for the club to return to (all clearly marked and grouped) or which hotel/nightclub to party on at afterwards…. try that from Milton train station.
And if you drove, there were always the Sat afternoon picnics in the carpark. Sadly lost for all time.. but that was sport was once about, a social event, not a cynical marketing exercise in how to squeeze the most dollars out of the patrons with the minimal amount of “product” as all sports are now called.
Vented Relief said | December 15th 2009 @ 1:57pm | Report comment
It should be noted that the Reds will be playing one game there next year in the S14.
I’ll be there with bells on and just hope that its a sell out, with a great carnival like atmosphere. That should show the QRU (and ARU) just how good a venue it is in comparison to the usually dour and boring Lang Park. I love Lang Park for test matches where there is a sell out, but to watch a S14 game there with only a third capacity is very counterproductive to the idea of developing our game and enticing the kiddies.
I too also hope they don’t get the idea that developing Ballymore means getting rid of the hill. Development should mean increasing capacity on two side stands (the Mclean and the Eastern stands from memory), but retaining everything that ensure people love the place – the hill, the bars, the close distance of play to the spectators.