In a major headache for two of Queensland’s biggest sporting franchises, state minister Phil Reeves admits it will be “touch and go” if Suncorp Stadium will be ready for action in the next month.
A submerged Suncorp Stadium was one of the poignant images of the flooding that ravaged Queensland’s south-east last week.
Sports Minister Reeves said restoring the hallowed turf formerly known as Lang Park was the “easy fix”, but he couldn’t put a time frame on when the rest of the stadium could be repaired.
“Yesterday we had to water it because it was too dry – it will be fixed but it is the inner workings of the stadium that are the issue,” Reeves said.
“We have to be honest, it (when Suncorp Stadium will re-open) is a bit of an unknown at this stage.
“We will do whatever we can but the assessment is still occurring but I must say there is no guarantee that it will be a quick fix.”
High profile tenants – A-League frontrunners Brisbane Roar and Super Rugby surprise packets Queensland Reds – were the first to express their sympathy for the city’s residents who had suffered due to the catastrophic flooding.
But they were clearly alarmed about the disruption Suncorp Stadium’s damage could cause to their seasons.
Roar coach Ange Postecoglou is sweating on a Football Federation Australia decision on where they will play the rest of their remaining home games.
The runaway A-League leaders are scheduled to play three of their last four matches at home.
But they have had their January 26 game against Wellington postponed and their rescheduled January 30 showdown with Melbourne Heart has already been ruled out.
“And obviously it is touch and go for (the Roar’s) February 12 (clash with arch rivals Gold Coast),” Reeves said.
Gold Coast’s Skilled Park, Queensland Sports and Athletic Centre, Ballymore and Toowoomba’s Clive Burghofer Stadium are all in the mix to host the Roar’s final home games.
However, Postecoglou wasn’t relishing the prospect of relocating to Skilled Park, described as the A-League’s worst surface.
“I just want a good surface – if Skilled Park can provide a good surface fine and well,” he told AAP.
“If it isn’t, it is going to make it even harder for us because of the kind of game we play.”
The floodwaters receded below Suncorp Stadium’s surface last Friday, but Reeves said there had been structural concerns as well as problems with the venue’s electronics.
Still Reds coach Ewen McKenzie was hopeful that their Super Rugby opener against Western Force on February 20 would be played at Suncorp Stadium.
“We are quietly confident with all the resources that the government has got the stadium will be in the right shape when we play there,” he said earlier on Tuesday.
“Seeing it (underwater) was symbolic but it can be symbolic another way – if they get it sorted in time which we expect that’s great.”
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