Queensland rugby captain James Horwill believes their upcoming matches at Ballymore may be a test case for not only the Reds but also A-League outfit the Brisbane Roar.
Horwill can not hide his excitement over the Reds returning to their spiritual home for two matches – Friday’s trial against the Crusaders ahead of a Super 14 clash with the Blues on February 27.
And he believed more Reds games should be held at Ballymore rather than their regular homeground Suncorp Stadium – if the two matches proved a hit.
“It’s a very special place for Queensland rugby, and I think it would be good if we got a number of games back here,” he said.
“You remember growing up and coming to Ballymore.
“I think it is something the crowds will look forward to, and I hope they get a taste for it.”
A-League club the Roar also uses the 52,000-capacity Suncorp Stadium as their homeground, but have attracted less than 6,000 fans to some games.
It is believed Football Federation Australia have taken over negotiations in a bid to secure the Roar a better tenancy deal with Suncorp Stadium.
But Horwill believed the Roar may also sit up and take notice if the Reds games at the 24,000-seat venue are successful.
“Definitely. It (more Ballymore games) is something we will have to look at (if it is successful),” he said.
“We will see if we make a profit from it, if the fans come out, and how logistically it works with the traffic – I know that could have been a problem previously.
“So that’s some things we have to work out.”
Horwill said of their current Suncorp Stadium homeground: “We don’t dislike it – it’s one of the best rugby grounds in the world.
“But it’s a 50,000-seat stadium, and if you have only got 20,000 in there it does look a bit empty.
“But if we had 20,000 here (Ballymore) they would be hanging from the rafters.”
However, a more permanent move to Ballymore by either the Reds or the Roar appears a long way off with the venue’s facilities needing a major overhaul.
The QRU have development applications before the Brisbane City Council regarding a $100 million upgrade.
But it obviously has a special place in the heart of rugby fans – even former NSW Waratahs prop Ewen McKenzie, who is now the Reds coach.
“Ballymore is one of my happiest hunting grounds – as a Wallaby I never lost a Test here,” he said.
“And no doubt, it’s very near and dear to a lot of Queensland supporters.
“The inter-state rivalry we slugged it out here – literally – on many occasions.
“They were great encounters and any opportunity to revisit those traditional derby matches is a great occasion – I am looking forward to it.”
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
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January 27th 2010 @ 8:02pm
JamesI said | January 27th 2010 @ 8:02pm | Report comment
If public transport to Ballymore is perceived as a problem (although as BoundaryRider points out, Wilston train station is only 800m away) then why doesn’t the QRU should spend money on shuttle buses to and from Paddington or the city, to get people from and back to the pubs? I haven’t lived in Brisbane for 20 years but I’m guessing the closest pubs to Ballymore are still the Newmarket and Normanby – both quite a hike.. Surely that would be a small cost compared to the lease costs of Suncorp.
January 27th 2010 @ 8:12pm
mudskipper said | January 27th 2010 @ 8:12pm | Report comment
Ballymore is ld rusted and a dump… Why for god sake do you wont to take your fan base there?
Let it go it is history ballymore is not what it was and can never be that again. This is cow-tailing to the QLD rugby romantics who can’t look to the future let alone the present Reds fans base. QLDRU should sell the land and get a State Government plan to build a fresh sporting / Rugby venue…
Get over it gentleman, history is in the past and you can’t visit it on weekends
January 27th 2010 @ 9:03pm
reds fan said | January 27th 2010 @ 9:03pm | Report comment
This is always a tough issue to talk about. Ballymore has a lot emotion attached to it. And that is not to be scoffed at. However, times have changed and so have the standards of people heading out to any sporting event.
Even if Ballymore was re-developed, it is still constrained by its location. Back in the day when drink-driving was a national pastime, it was great to drive down to Ballymore, open the boot or tailgate, get a barbie going, sink heaps of XXXX, watch a great game of rugby and then drive home. Those days are long gone.
People want a night out as much as a game of union/league/AFL. What Suncorp’s location offers is just that. You have Caxton Street and the newly developed Barracks on one side, and Given and LaTrobe Terrace the other side. There is everything from Tha Cacko Hotel through to Montrachet. You can get a train from anywhere to Roma St or closer still to Milton St station. They are numerous bus routes and there are plenty of taxis (yes i know the lines get long but try getting one in Herston after a game!). The suburb is set up for big crowds and events.
Ballymore has none of these things. Getting a bus in there is just as bad as driving, its virtual gridlock. There is nowhere to go after the game and getting out is worse than getting in there.
Dont get me wrong, I love going there a few times a year to watch a trial or see a GF or something. But if you add the hassle of Ballymore with a perennial loser I would suggest crowds would be even lower than they are now. It would certainly test my patience. However in Paddington, you can combine it with dinner before a game, drinks with friends, even a movie now.
A football ground will not improve the Reds performance’s. However the Reds performances can improve any percieved lack of atmosphere at Suncorp.
Despite this, I will watch them wherever they play. And I hope they do what is best for them financially. I just hope that financial decision isnt influenced by the romanticism of a bygone era.
January 28th 2010 @ 7:57am
Jeb said | January 28th 2010 @ 7:57am | Report comment
Totally agree Reds fan. The lack of surrounding pubs, places to eat etc is often ignored when talking about ballymore.
It would be even worse for football fans. They don’t have the collective memory of going to ballymore and they have no historical links to the ground. Combined with a losing team the crowds would be smalller than they are now.
January 28th 2010 @ 2:31pm
mudskipper said | January 28th 2010 @ 2:31pm | Report comment
Well said… I’m respectful of Ballymores history but its a new era… no point driving new fans away…
January 28th 2010 @ 10:48am
reds fan said | January 28th 2010 @ 10:48am | Report comment
Another factor at play here, is the role of the state government. If they provide the grant needed to get Ballymore up to standard, they effectively remove two tenants (Reds and Roar) from Suncorp Stadium, which they also run. They are quite conflicted in this. The misuse of government funding being investigated further complicates things.
Any move out to the airport precinct would spell certain death. who the hell would want to travel out there???
January 28th 2010 @ 3:05pm
mudskipper said | January 28th 2010 @ 3:05pm | Report comment
They be better subsidising the Reds at Suncorp… Or the Reds sell Ballymore and using the cash to pay extra coast at Suncorp while they build a new venue in a more accessible location… winning games brings the fans back not an old rundown stadium past its prime…
January 30th 2010 @ 3:45pm
ROY said | January 30th 2010 @ 3:45pm | Report comment
I don’t think the reds can actually sell ballymore.. I think they have a lease arrangement with state gov.. if they pack up and go.. the gov can then take it over and do what they want.. would be a great spot for housing precinct. which would defeat the purpose of the locals who protest about the increase traffic and reduction of green space etc they’ll get in the area if there’s a redeveloment.