Published Sunday, 05 October, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
“Bring the GF to Brisbane,” Bligh tells NRL chief
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has told the National Rugby League to “bring the Grand Final” to Brisbane.
“Queensland is emerging as a rugby league capital and it’s time for the NRL to make league a truly national game by giving other cities the right to host the Grand Final,” she said.
NRL chief executive David Gallop is reported today saying that Brisbane will be in the hunt to host the decider from 2013.
The NRL's deal with the NSW government to hold the Grand Final at Homebush expires in 2012.
"We'll certainly be looking at interest from other venues and we all know what a great rugby league venue Suncorp Stadium is. We also know the great following the game has in Queensland," Mr Gallop is reported to have said.
He adds: "Although it would be a massive change to tradition, Queensland has set the benchmark for crowd support for the big games for a few years now so we would certainly be looking at it closely."
Ms Bligh – who spoke with the NRL CEO on Friday - said this year’s Queensland crowd numbers supported a change.
“The Brisbane semi-final attracted more than 50,000 fans while the two Sydney semi finals collectively had just on 60,000.
“If I was sitting on the NRL Board those figures would be telling me something,” she said.
“Bring it to Brisbane.”
She said that there needs to be Super Bowl-type allocation as happens in the United States where cities bid and plan in advance for not just the game, but major lead-up events as well.
“Given the support here in Queensland and our popular facilities like Suncorp, Skilled and Dairy Farmers stadiums we are well placed for the game and any State-wide pre-game exposure,” she said.
For the record Ms Bligh is still supporting the Melbourne Storm in this afternoon’s decider against Manly given the Storm has five Queenslanders in the starting 13.
Media contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
“Queensland is emerging as a rugby league capital and it’s time for the NRL to make league a truly national game by giving other cities the right to host the Grand Final,” she said.
NRL chief executive David Gallop is reported today saying that Brisbane will be in the hunt to host the decider from 2013.
The NRL's deal with the NSW government to hold the Grand Final at Homebush expires in 2012.
"We'll certainly be looking at interest from other venues and we all know what a great rugby league venue Suncorp Stadium is. We also know the great following the game has in Queensland," Mr Gallop is reported to have said.
He adds: "Although it would be a massive change to tradition, Queensland has set the benchmark for crowd support for the big games for a few years now so we would certainly be looking at it closely."
Ms Bligh – who spoke with the NRL CEO on Friday - said this year’s Queensland crowd numbers supported a change.
“The Brisbane semi-final attracted more than 50,000 fans while the two Sydney semi finals collectively had just on 60,000.
“If I was sitting on the NRL Board those figures would be telling me something,” she said.
“Bring it to Brisbane.”
She said that there needs to be Super Bowl-type allocation as happens in the United States where cities bid and plan in advance for not just the game, but major lead-up events as well.
“Given the support here in Queensland and our popular facilities like Suncorp, Skilled and Dairy Farmers stadiums we are well placed for the game and any State-wide pre-game exposure,” she said.
For the record Ms Bligh is still supporting the Melbourne Storm in this afternoon’s decider against Manly given the Storm has five Queenslanders in the starting 13.
Media contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500