Stadiums Queensland venues hosted record 4.9 million patrons through 2022/23 financial year

October 6, 2023

The newly released Stadiums Queensland annual report for the 2022/23 financial year has reported a record year across the agency’s nine venues hosted 178 major events - welcoming a record 4.9 million patrons - and contributing $1.1 billion in economic benefit to Queensland's economy during the 12-month period.

The annual report also showed that the venues welcomed more than 1.4 million people for community use and achieved a 97% satisfaction rating among survey patrons.

Writing in the annual report, Stadiums Queensland (SQ) Chair, Cathy McGuane advised “the last 12 months … have been busy with events now that the state is finally fully open for the first me in three years.

“The year included one for the history books, the first ever concert at Cbus Super Stadium to farewell one of the greatest rock bands in history, KISS.

“It also involved some huge events for the state including; the T20 World Cup at The Gabba, an event that put Brisbane on the global sporting stage, generating up to $5 million for Queensland’s economy as a major drawcard for both domestic and international visitors; the ‘Battle of Brisbane’ for our NRL teams with the Dolphins taking on the Broncos in a sellout match at Suncorp Stadium; and the Ampol Women’s State of Origin Game II at Queensland Country Bank Stadium with a record crowd of 18,275 fans in attendance. We’ve witnessed a steady stream of concerts including international acts like Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran and The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

“The period has also seen incredible demand from international music promoters, so much so that we’ve worked with Government to temporarily increase the concert cap from six to 12 major events per year to ensure Queensland does not miss out on opportunities to host world-class acts. Live experiences are well and truly back on the agenda, with ticket sales, event attendance and onsite spend all indicating incredible demand for live events.

Patronage at Stadiums Queensland venues in 2022/23.

“This demand has been reflected in record attendance across our venues with more than 4.9 million people coming through the gates in the past 12 months, resulting in a cumulative 80 million people attending SQ venues since the business was formed back in 2001. In the 2022/23 financial year, SQ has hosted 178 major events as well as smaller community events like the Vinnies CEO Sleepout at Cbus Super Stadium, the Variety Club’s Wheels of the World Car & Bike Show at the Queensland Tennis Centre and even learn-to-swim classes and school sport sessions.

“Altogether, SQ venues are estimated to have contributed $1.1 billion to the Queensland economy during the last financial year, directly supporting approximately 4,670 FTE jobs, and an additional 3,741 FTE jobs through flow on activity.

“They’re incredibly impressive figures, which are the highest since inception and reflect our importance in the community and across the events industry. This is backed by our overall fan satisfaction rang of 97%, another great indicator that we are delivering for Queensland. Our newest venue in Townsville, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, has played an important part in supporting the Townsville community, contributing $71.5 million in economic value and supporting 637 FTE jobs both directly and indirectly.

First carbon neutral facility
In the annual report, Stadiums Queensland Chief Executive, Todd Harris advised “we’ve also opened our first carbon-neutral building, the National Throws Centre of Excellence at QSAC, which is hopefully the future of all sports facilities as we upgrade and build new facilities ahead of Brisbane 2032.”

Specific venue highlights included:

• Brisbane Entertainment Centre (BEC) hosted around 550,000 fans and 43 Main Arena performances
• Cbus Super Stadium hosted its first ever concert from rock superstars KISS in front of 13,200 fans
• The Gabba’s internationally famous wicket hosted the world’s best cricketers for Australia’s largest sporting event in 2022, the T20 Cricket World Cup, generating up to $5 million for Queensland’s tourism economy
• Heritage Bank Stadium hosted a record 49,957 crowd at Harry Styles’ only Queensland concert
• Queensland State Athletics Centre (QSAC) completed the construction of the National Throws Centre of Excellence, a sustainably focussed, world class training facility for athletics disciplines like discus, hammer throw, shot put and javelin
• The Queensland Tennis Centre (QTC) hosted the first combined ATP/WTA mixed international teams tennis event, the United Cup
• Sleeman Sport Complex (SSC) hosted more than 600 athletes from 26 countries for the Virtus Oceania Asia Games, a multi-sport competition for elite athletes with an intellectual impairment
• Suncorp Stadium hosted three back-to-back Ed Sheeran concerts, breaking the venue attendance record with a total of 173,387 fans across three nights
• Queensland Country Bank Stadium hosted the first ever sold-out North Queensland Cowboys home NRL Preliminary Final in Townsville.

Stadiums Queensland is a statutory authority of the Queensland Government which manages, develops, uses, operates and promotes the use of Queensland’s major sport, entertainment and recreation facilities.

Its nine venues are valued at $3.7 billion.

Click here to view the full report.

Images: The Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium (top, credit: Suncorp Stadium) and Ampol Women’s State of Origin Game II at Queensland Country Bank Stadium (below, credit: NRL).

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23rd August 2023 - AOC’s Matt Carroll tells Federal Senate hearing that redevelopment of the Gabba for Brisbane Olympics is ‘not required’

22nd August 2023 - NSW and Queensland stadia install mural and statue to acknowledge Matildas’ success

18th August 2023 - FIFA President hails ‘transformational’ Women’s World Cup

13th August 2023 - FIFA Women’s World Cup interest to see new live sites for historic Matildas semi-final

11th August 2023 - 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup hailed as ‘most successful in history’

28th July 2023 - Gabba rebuild prompts Queensland Cricket call for new 10,000 seat stadium at Albion

20th July 2023 - Suncorp Stadium to host Rugby’s British and Irish Lions first Test in 2025

4th June 2023 - Townsville Mayor laments lack of live music acts at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

2nd June 2023 - Populous share memorable moments to mark Suncorp Stadium’s 20 years

30th March 2023 - KOJO secures fan experience production partnership contract for Stadiums Queensland venues

22nd February 2023 - Gold Coast Suns secure Heritage Bank as new home venue naming rights sponsor

22nd January 2023 - Stadiums Queensland trials reusable drinking cups at venues

17th January 2023 - New Venue Manager at Brisbane’s Sleeman Sports Complex

29th November 2022 - Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium gets approval to stage more concerts

5th September 2022 - BCEC creates sensory zones for Great Hall events

9th August 2022 - Rising 2032 Olympics costs could see Gabba redevelopment exceed $1 billion

6th July 2022 - MSL Solutions secures Stadiums Queensland POS contract for The Gabba and Suncorp Stadium

26th May 2022 - ASM Global announces executive management changes at BCEC

25th February 2022 - Toyota Australia continues its partnership with NRL Cowboys

31st December 2021 - Stadiums Queensland reaches 20th anniversary of operations

25th September 2021 - Queensland Country Bank Stadium generates $70 million in economic benefits for Townsville

24th September 2019 - Quayclean to innovate with waste movement and separation with new Metricon Stadium contract

13th September 2017 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre welcomes successful Ariana Grande concert

19th August 2014 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre General Manager wins global excellence award

1st May 2014 - Queensland Tennis Centre welcomes new operators

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