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Ballymore Redevelopment

dru

Tim Horan (67)
I am not sure what "High Performance" means in this context. The language in the article seemed to suggest that it meant income so they they can maintain the facility, which is good. But if it means training facility with occasional third party events we are missing an opportunity I think.

As discussed, to be an effective professional game venue, the State needs to invest in elements of transport infrastructure. So to the State of Qld $30m doesn't cut it.

Out of interest, I understand that we own it but the State has responsibilities. When/if this happens, do we still own it or does ownership share with football?
 

Lindommer

Steve Williams (59)
Staff member
This never-ending saga about what to do with Ballymore must be extremely frustrating for the Queensland rugby fraternity. Especially in the light of Rudd's 2007 cancellation of Howard's decision to provide $25m of federal money for an earlier development and to then squander $45m of taxpayers' money on a futile bid to win the right to stage the FIFA World Cup. If I was a federal pollie I'd politely point this bit of history out to the soccer pooh-bahs and advise them Canberra won't give them a red cent for the next 20 years. Let's all hope and pray this latest attempt to do something with Ballymore gets up.

Transport? What about some sort of bus interchange across the creek?
 
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Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
As discussed, to be an effective professional game venue, the State needs to invest in elements of transport infrastructure. So to the State of Qld $30m doesn't cut it.


I think to make that a reality would cost multiples of that figure.

The plan with these sort of venues seems to be just to make them good places for professional sporting teams to be based. Similar has happened with most of the old VFL grounds in Melbourne. Very little in the way of upgrades to the actual stadium infrastructure but plenty done to the high performance facilities such as gym, rooms, etc.
 

Strewthcobber

Mark Ella (57)
This never-ending saga about what to do with Ballymore must be extremely frustrating for the Queensland rugby fraternity. Especially in the light of Rudd's 2007 cancellation of Howard's decision to provide $25m of federal money for an earlier development and to then squander $45m of taxpayers' money on a futile bit to win the right to stage the FIFA World Cup. If I was a federal pollie I'd politely point this bit of history out to the soccer pooh-bahs and advise them Canberra won't give them a red cent for the next 20 years. Let's all hope and pray this latest attempt to do something with Ballymore gets up.

Transport? What about some sort of bus interchange across the creek?

Transport? What about some sort of bus interchange across the creek?
Lots of wealthy residents who already kick up a stink whenever there's a semi-decent crowd.

And pragmatically, Ballymore and the other side of the creek are in two different (Labor held) but marginal electorates.
Minister Lynham will have to think long and hard if he wants a bus interchange running through his residential electorate (spoiler: he won't)
 

Jimmy_Crouch

Ken Catchpole (46)
This never-ending saga about what to do with Ballymore must be extremely frustrating for the Queensland rugby fraternity. Especially in the light of Rudd's 2007 cancellation of Howard's decision to provide $25m of federal money for an earlier development and to then squander $45m of taxpayers' money on a futile bit to win the right to stage the FIFA World Cup. If I was a federal pollie I'd politely point this bit of history out to the soccer pooh-bahs and advise them Canberra won't give them a red cent for the next 20 years. Let's all hope and pray this latest attempt to do something with Ballymore gets up.

Transport? What about some sort of bus interchange across the creek?

Brisbane Metro light rail is planned for Herston. The station is probably a 15-20 walk to the ground.

https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/public-transport/brisbane-metro
 

Tangawizi

Peter Fenwicke (45)
I think it might need Bris City getting into the A-League to happen. The guy heading up their A-League bid is a former State politician who has plenty of property industry contacts. They definitely don't want to play at Suncorp.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
 
T

TOCC

Guest
I think Brisbane City A League may be a sweetener, but I think what will push this over the line will be how it caters to the rise in womens sport and catering for future womens sporting events. Womens Sport is viewed more as a community investment, whereas people would question the use of public funds if this were just a high performance centre for the Reds and a potential A-League team.
 

Jets

Paul McLean (56)
Staff member
Moving the Women's 7's up here or having it as a base for the Wallaroo's would be good. They could even play the National Championships at Ballymore in the future.

Could also be used for a round of the National 7's.
 

Jets

Paul McLean (56)
Staff member
In the future they probably won't get more than 10K at Ballymore so the traffic could be manageable. A one way road through the precinct with numerous bus shelters would be a cheap way of accommodating it, and transporting everyone to Roma St.
 

Zero_Cool

Arch Winning (36)
In the future they probably won't get more than 10K at Ballymore so the traffic could be manageable. A one way road through the precinct with numerous bus shelters would be a cheap way of accommodating it, and transporting everyone to Roma St.



I'm not sure about 10k they are talking about having the Women's Football World Cup as well as a potential bid for the RWC. But I wouldn't expect more than 10k regularly. Either/both of those events could see numbers more than 20k. I personally think the aim should be for a max capacity of 25-35k, with a normal capacity of around 20k. If expandable isn't to your taste I think you've got to aim for 25k min.
 

Jets

Paul McLean (56)
Staff member
They are talking about 18K max from memory. It's the WRWC they are talking about bidding for and it would be a good ground for that.
 

half

Alan Cameron (40)
I think Brisbane City A League may be a sweetener, but I think what will push this over the line will be how it caters to the rise in womens sport and catering for future womens sporting events. Womens Sport is viewed more as a community investment, whereas people would question the use of public funds if this were just a high performance centre for the Reds and a potential A-League team.

Not so sure on that.

Hand on heart not the other thing, the Reds should play at Ballymore the stadium hire costs and recent and future crowds to me scream play at a smaller stadium.

Could or would the QLD gov fund say 7 or 8 games a year. I think not. However add another 17 A-League games and thats 24 plus finals and pre season games. Plus womens WC if won.

Add both the codes womens sides and its a goer for a modern 20K stadium.

Again this is what I think, rugby by itself cannot sell it to the gov, but a combined effort between the two codes and there is a good chance.

The trick I feel is not to be overly greedy while soccer also needs a ground they are talking about Perry park as well.

An olive branch and agreed sharing of the new facility, both costs and usage would be a better approach than trying to keep it totally rugby and soccer as ground renter.
 
T

TOCC

Guest
Reds won't move their matches permanently to Ballymore ... even with an upgrade McLean stand it will lack the match day corporate facilities, which are a incredibly lucrative part of their revenue stream .
 

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
Not so sure on that.

Hand on heart not the other thing, the Reds should play at Ballymore the stadium hire costs and recent and future crowds to me scream play at a smaller stadium.

Could or would the QLD gov fund say 7 or 8 games a year. I think not. However add another 17 A-League games and thats 24 plus finals and pre season games. Plus womens WC if won.

Add both the codes womens sides and its a goer for a modern 20K stadium.

Again this is what I think, rugby by itself cannot sell it to the gov, but a combined effort between the two codes and there is a good chance.

The trick I feel is not to be overly greedy while soccer also needs a ground they are talking about Perry park as well.

An olive branch and agreed sharing of the new facility, both costs and usage would be a better approach than trying to keep it totally rugby and soccer as ground renter.

14,000 at Suncorp does not mean 14,000 at Ballymore.

Regardless, it just can't happen. Ballymore is not remotely capable of hosting Super Rugby at the moment. Not until major upgrades are done.
 

half

Alan Cameron (40)
TOCC & RugbyReg

If you had two codes playing their matches their i.e 24 matches per season, add if the womens WC comes, plus both codes womens leagues the upgrades needed both ground and corporate have a reasonable chance of success.

By ourselves, we what can offer what ????.

I will accept local knowledge if you have it up there but to me it just makes sense.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
You're probably talking about a $200m upgrade (at least) to the stadium and the public transport infrastructure around Ballymore before it would be up to standard.

It's probably not a long way off being cheaper to knock it down and start again to produce a modern facility that meets the requirements.

If taxpayers footed the bill and the QRU were left with a productive asset that they could lease out plus also host their own games at then it would be amazing but I think that is a pipedream currently.
 

half

Alan Cameron (40)
You're probably talking about a $200m upgrade (at least) to the stadium and the public transport infrastructure around Ballymore before it would be up to standard.

It's probably not a long way off being cheaper to knock it down and start again to produce a modern facility that meets the requirements.

If taxpayers footed the bill and the QRU were left with a productive asset that they could lease out plus also host their own games at then it would be amazing but I think that is a pipedream currently.

Agree its a pipe dream if it was for rugby only.

If a combined rugby / soccer bid went it, then I humbly suggest its got a reasonable chance. But to get soccer interested you would need to offer them shared equity meaning each code own 50% each.

As I see it, what is costing us money would become an income earner, and things like stadium hire etc reduced. However it means giving up 50% of the ownership. Maybe thats a bridge too far.
 
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