Suncorp Stadium

Suncorp Stadium is not just an iconic Brisbane sporting and events arena, it is widely regarded as one of the world’s best sporting venues for players and spectators alike. Occasionally this would not ring true for a visiting football team playing against one of the local sides like The Brisbane Broncos in the NRL (or the Maroons in the State of Origin), the Brisbane Roar in the A-League or in rugby union, the Queensland Reds or a battle between, say, the Wallabies and the All Blacks. Not saying for a moment that the local crowds are at all parochial or one-eyed, but a vocal full-house at Suncorp really lifts the lid. Suncorp Stadium is the spiritual home of football in Queensland and it is through those vocal fans that it gained its accurate nickname, The Cauldron.

Suncorp Stadium is also a fabulous arena for concerts but these were limited to four shows per year up until 2016. The cap has now been increased to six concerts per year, a decision that is sure to please both fans and visiting artists. The major concern was the noise for local residents but 73% of residents voted in favour of more concerts. In 2015 the four concert cap was reached with One Direction, the Foo Fighters, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift, which meant that AC/DC had to find another venue and that would have been a band to really rock the house.

A bit of history. Prior to European settlement the area was pretty swampy with creeks and low-lying waterways. European settlers saw it as a handy place to have a school, a church, a cemetery and a gaol. Up until 1875, this was the principal burial ground for Brisbane. That year it was closed because of concerns about health issues. Over the coming years the graves and memorials were relocated to Toowong and other cemeteries. On the religious side, a lovely little gothic chapel was built for the Anglicans in 1876. It was destroyed by a severe storm in 1890 and, in the following year, the current Christ Church was built.

The area where Suncorp is now was basically a tip – a place where rubble was dumped as building in the city happened. People petitioned council for some recreational facilities and the area was soon fenced off for cricket and football. The area became the legendary Lang Park, a sporting venue that had tennis courts and an oval for athletics and football. It was named after the Reverend John Dunmore Lang, an influential pastor who established the initial cemetery in 1840. Lang Park became the headquarters of the Queensland Rugby League and that baton has been passed to Suncorp.

The stadium capacity is 52,500 and there are 32 public bars and 24 food and beverage outlets. The venue is super disability-friendly with 228 wheelchair positions (with 228 escort seats). Suncorp Stadium is in Milton and it is easy to get to from Rydges South Bank. Here is a link to the official Suncorp Stadium website.