Queensland’s newest stadium is ready

Greater Springfield’s stadium has shown its potential with another sold-out event, proving it can be a solution for southeast Queensland in the coming years and beyond.

The capacity crowd at last Thursday night’s AFL practice match between the Brisbane Lions and Geelong was another vote of confidence for a venue that has put elite events within the heart of the growing southwestern corridor.

Brighton Homes Arena Springfield Central Stadium is Queensland’s newest stadium. It opened last November with a full house for the AFLW grand final, underlining the public’s support for a venue that is easily accessed.

There are approvals to grow the state-of-the-art stadium to 30,000 seats and this could assist when the Gabba closes for redevelopment in the coming years.

The 127-year-old Gabba is expected to be closed for up to four years to prepare for the Olympic Games, forcing a re-think in how Brisbane hosts major events.

Brighton Homes Arena is open and ready to go without any planning issues or viability concerns beyond the Gabba’s reopening.

It will provide access to events like AFL men’s matches to people who may not have watched the Lions play. Spectators can take a train to Springfield Central station, which is only a few metres from the ground.

It can develop a legacy for the Greater Springfield region even before the Olympic Games arrive.

An upgrade will ensure that Brighton Homes Arena’s capacity reflects average Gabba attendance.

And it will provide a venue suitable for a region growing at a remarkable rate.

Greater Springfield has recorded average annual economic growth of four times the national average.

The wider region is preparing to welcome another 280,000 residents by 2032, increasing demand for quality entertainment venues.

Thursday night’s practice match provided a major boost to the local economy with reports of record trade in nearby areas.

The stadium at Greater Springfield has been a decade in the planning.

The AFLW was yet to begin when Greater Springfield was first floated as a home for the Brisbane Lions.

A $15 million commitment from the Federal Government was put on hold after the 2013 election.

The idea was revived by the Lions in 2017 and their men’s team made it on to the ground on Thursday night for the latest step in the stadium’s journey.

The stadium is now ready for its next stage which will provide obvious benefits for southeast Queensland.