More concerts at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium?

The Queensland Government is considering the possibility of more concerts being held at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

Under current legislation, the three-tiered rectangular shaped venue – which is in the rapidly populating suburb of Milton – can only host four concerts in a calendar year. As a result, most tours land at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Boondall.

The Government is doing a public survey to get a fix on what Brisbane residents think of the idea. Minister for Sport and Racing Bill Byrne, a self-confessed massive AC/DC fan, said, “The demand for Suncorp is evident from the big names Brisbane has welcomed to the stage such as U2, Foo Fighters, Andre Rieu, One Direction, Bon Jovi, Coldplay, Taylor Swift and Robbie Williams.

“These major concerts help raise the international profile of Brisbane and bring significant economic benefits to Queensland. Suncorp Stadium is a state-of-the-art world-class venue with a seating capacity of 52,500. Last year Suncorp hosted 45 major events hosting over 1.2 million patrons. Since 2006 the venue has hosted 14 concerts.

“Over recent years we have seen an increased interest by Australian music promoters and international artists to bring their acts to Suncorp. But we also know that due to its location, many local residents may have a view about any proposal to increase the number of concerts each year.

“We think it’s timely to have a conversation about what is a reasonable limit. Should it increase or should it stay the same?”

The survey (at getinvolved.qld.gov.au) does not cover sporting and religious events, which are deemed separate from concerts.

It is thought that a lack of complaints following two massive concerts this year, One Direction and Foo Fighters, could have helped the Government be amenable to a review of the legislation.

Member for Mount Coot-tha, Dr. Steven Miles, whose electorate takes in the stadium, acknowledged there’d be different views about the problem of noise and parking, and hence the importance of the public being involved in the consultation process.

“I know how many people value Suncorp Stadium as a really first-class venue, how well it is served by public transport and how they like attending events there,” he said. “I also know how events can impact on residents and the local neighbourhood through increased traffic and noise. It is important for everyone to be conscious of how people in the local area are affected.”

Suncorp Stadium was set up in 2003 as a primarily sporting venue at a cost of $280 million. But, operated by AEG Ogden on behalf of the Government, it’s made a global name for itself for its concerts. In 2013, it was ranked the 63rd most successful outdoor venue in the world in Pollstar magazine’s end-of-the-year list after drawing 61,223 music lovers that year. Last year it was rated #48 in the US-based magazine’s mid-year list after ticket sales of 43,927.

Suncorp Stadium’s biggest acts have been Robbie Williams who drew 104,992 over two nights in December 2006, and U2’s shows on December 8 and 9, 2010, which hit the 84,011 mark.

Other major success stories were 52,497 for Coldplay (Nov 21, 2012);46,835 for Andre Rieu (Dec 3 and 4, 2008); 43,927 for Eminem (Feb 20, 2014); 41, 376 for Bon Jovi (Dec 17, 2013); 40, 520 for Bon Jovi again (Dec 14, 2010); 39,851 for Foo Fighters (Feb 24, 2015), 38,907 for Taylor Swift (Dec 7, 2013), 32, 889 for One Direction (Feb 11, 2015) and 25,391 for The Police (Jan 22, 2008). Taylor Swift plays there this December.