Unveiling its new Totally Workwear Stadium Brisbane Tigers advise of plans to secure 18th NRL licence

Rugby league side the Brisbane Tigers have unveiled their new Totally Workwear Stadium, using the event to announce their intention to pursue an 18th NRL club licence.

Opening the $10 million upgrade to their Langlands Park home in the Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo, the Queensland Cup side believe that the Stage One upgrade can be a step towards joining the NRL.

Raising the capacity of the venue to 4000, the venue upgrades include new gender-inclusive change rooms, a boardroom, corporate suites and boxes, media room, medical room and meeting rooms available for use by Tigers sponsors, partners and community groups.

Set to begin later this year, Stage Two works will provide additional seating and the relocation of heritage buildings, such as the original 1933 grandstand.

Stage Three, planned for 2024, adds more seating, a commercial gymnasium and accommodation for rehabilitation facilities.

Speaking at yesterday's opening, Brisbane Tigers Chief Executive, Brian Torpy advised “the change rooms and gymnasium are female-participant compliant and will encourage more women to play rugby league, providing more inclusive pathways to our BMD Premiership team.

“NRLW also will play at least three games at Totally Workwear Stadium during the 2023 season, including the Round Four double-header featuring the Broncos, Eels, Cowboys and Wests Tigers. Langlands Park has been our home for more than 70 years and will be one of Australia’s best boutique, gender-inclusive rugby league stadiums available to our community.

“Totally Workwear Stadium is regularly used by NRL teams for training when playing in Brisbane, such as the recent Magic Round, as well as Queensland Maroons and Australian Kangaroos, and will now provide an even better facility for Queensland rugby league matches.

“Our NRL bid will leverage our great club’s 90-year-old history of legendary players and coaches, premierships and Queensland spirit to become the go-to team of Queensland’s fastest growing region.”

Having lost out in the NRL’s most recent expansion process, placing as runner-up behind the Redcliff Dolphins, should they secure an NRL licence, the team would use Suncorp Stadium as their main venue.

As reported by Fox Sports, the Tigers bid has $25 million in cash reserves and a net-asset base in excess of $57 million.

In competition, a Pasifika franchise based out of Cairns, understood to be in line for significant funding from the Australian Government, and a Perth-based bid are also looking to be the 18th NRL team.

Brisbane Tigers NRL bid Chairman, Shane Edwards noted “Southeast Queensland fans are craving more high-quality rugby league, with our four existing Queensland based teams still leaving our fans wanting more.

“Suncorp Stadium has the capacity to support another NRL team. This year’s 27 rounds of the regular season will see nine weekends where no game is played at Lang Park. With the strong attendance and audience figures we are seeing the Dolphins achieve in their debut year, we believe the Brisbane Tigers can provide a similar stimulus in the southwest corridor that takes in the Logan and Ipswich regions.”

Based in Brisbane's inner south, the club has had several names since it was established in 1917, including Coorparoo and Eastern Suburbs Tigers. They rebranded as the Brisbane Tigers in 2020, keeping their traditional orange and black colour scheme.

Images: Brisbane Tigers NRL bid Chair Shane Edwards and club Chief Executive Brian Torpy open the new Totally Workwear Stadium and announce licence interest (top) and the new venue (below). Credit: Brisbane Tigers.