Matching funds support upgrade of Brisbane’s Ballymore Stadium

The Queensland Government has announced that it is to provide $15 million to the project to reconfigure Brisbane’s Ballymore Stadium as a high-performance training venue, matching monies pledged last year by the Federal Government.

With the Queensland Government’s Stadiums Queensland Taskforce Final Report having recommended in late 2018 that the venue be demolished, the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) has sought to have the 18,000-capacity Stadium redeveloped as a new National Rugby Training Centre.

QRU has also suggested that the venue, in the Brisbane suburb of Herston, could be used as a training venue for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and as the host venue for hockey events in Brisbane’s candidature to host the 2032 Olympic Games is successful.

Commenting on the funding commitment, Rugby Australia Chief Executive, Rob Clarke stated “it's great … regarding the future development of Ballymore and we thank the Palaszczuk Government for their continued support of our game."

While Super Rugby and internationals won’t return to the venue, Clarke advised “the National Rugby Training Centre development at Ballymore would be transformational for rugby in Australia, securing a new home for our women's 15-a-side program and a world class facility for the Qantas Wallabies ahead of Test matches in south east Queensland.”

Architecture and design firm Blight Rayner had been lined up to work on the project.

Images: Concepts for the redesign of Ballymore Stadium. Courtesy of Blight Rayner.