Queensland Government considers doubling of concert events at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium

The Queensland Government has released a survey asking the community if it would consider allowing up to 12 music concerts a year at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

Seven years after the cap on non-sporting event days was lifted, feedback is invited on a proposal to double the number of concerts at the Milton venue which has been hosting major concerts since 2006.

Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the survey aimed to understand whether local residents and businesses would support a temporary increase in the maximum number of concerts permitted to 12 for the years 2023 and 2024.

Explaining that many artists were keen to return to touring after the pandemic and wanted to put Brisbane on their itinerary, Minister Hinchliffe stated “we need to make sure we can flex our capability to respond to that re-emergence and the numbers that can come and provide great event opportunities for our visitor economy."

Suncorp Stadium is currently permitted to host up to a maximum of six concerts per year under the Major Sports Facilities Regulation 2014, which also outlines strict conditions for transport management, operational hours and noise requirements.

Adding that the Queensland Government was not "rushing to turn this into a permanent concert venue", Minister Hinchliffe noted "Suncorp Stadium is one of world's best rectangular football fields and it's important we get the local community's views.

"It's really important we continue to accommodate what we need with the venue."

With Guns N' Roses, Ed Sheeran and Red Hot Chili Peppers among the seven major concerts scheduled to happen at the stadium in the next six months, Brisbane City Council Deputy Mayor Krista Adams said she supported the proposal to increase the number of non-sporting events.

Commenting that there was "pent up demand" from artists and Queenslanders to play and attend concerts in the city, Deputy Mayor Adams stated "I think it's a good idea to have a temporary increase in the number of concerts at Suncorp Stadium and obviously this may not have to be permanent if we get a new Brisbane Arena ahead of the Olympics.”

Harvey Lister, Chairman of ASM Global Asia Pacific, which operates both the Brisbane Entertainment Centre at Boondall and Suncorp Stadium, said the survey was a "good thing" for Brisbane.

Declaring that the sheer number of artists wanting to tour over Australia's summer meant they were considering stadiums as well as indoor arenas, Lister commented “these guys needed to get out and work, they're going into stadiums but they're also filling all the arenas.

"This summer we can't get runs in indoor arenas because they want to play multiple acts."

Lister said demand for Ed Sheeran was so huge there would be three shows in Brisbane, adding "I'm sure the opportunity is there for a sensible state government to look at what a big grown up city should have.

"(Concert) limits do exist in some cities around the world although they're normally not as low as for Suncorp Stadium, but bands love Suncorp Stadium, they're not worried about pitch."

Image: Concert at Suncorp Stadium.