AFL Opening Round - 2025

[leeroy*NRL*]

Or a gather round in Brisbane alternating with Sydney for round one.

I think that would work even better than Opening round with 1 game.
need multiple stadiums though, i doubt they would play all at the GABBA

3 stadiums like adelaide
1 big one 2 smaller ones.

i could see it working.

[Fred]

Well you have Gold Coast and Gabba - and Springfield so could easily work - also stands up at Southport sharks would be an option. Plenty of suburban grounds actually to throw a temp stand around with grounds used in qafl of AFL required playing standard. Also lions seconds play at Springfield I think and women.

[leeroy*NRL*]

Well you have Gold Coast and Gabba - and Springfield so could easily work - also stands up at Southport sharks would be an option. Plenty of suburban grounds actually to throw a temp stand around with grounds used in qafl of AFL required playing standard. Also lions seconds play at Springfield I think and women.

i heard they are upgrading Southport Sharks Stadium too.

The Southport Sharks are in the midst of an ambitious upgrade plan to transform their Gold Coast base into a premier sports, leisure, and entertainment precinct. This includes a new boutique stadium designed for 8,000 to 10,000 spectators,
with the extension of a 30 year lease from GC Council.

[Fred]

Well you have Gold Coast and Gabba - and Springfield so could easily work - also stands up at Southport sharks would be an option. Plenty of suburban grounds actually to throw a temp stand around with grounds used in qafl of AFL required playing standard. Also lions seconds play at Springfield I think and women.

i heard they are upgrading Southport Sharks Stadium too.

The Southport Sharks are in the midst of an ambitious upgrade plan to transform their Gold Coast base into a premier sports, leisure, and entertainment precinct. This includes a new boutique stadium designed for 8,000 to 10,000 spectators,
with the extension of a 30 year lease from GC Council.

Didn’t know that. It’s already pretty good re the restaurants ans bars, has a hotel with a great roof top bar (half price Wednesday food), and a great ground - can’t really see the need for an 8 to 10000 person stadium though - a small stand yeah - but 8 yo 10 thousand????

[leeroy*NRL*]

Well you have Gold Coast and Gabba - and Springfield so could easily work - also stands up at Southport sharks would be an option. Plenty of suburban grounds actually to throw a temp stand around with grounds used in qafl of AFL required playing standard. Also lions seconds play at Springfield I think and women.

i heard they are upgrading Southport Sharks Stadium too.

The Southport Sharks are in the midst of an ambitious upgrade plan to transform their Gold Coast base into a premier sports, leisure, and entertainment precinct. This includes a new boutique stadium designed for 8,000 to 10,000 spectators,
with the extension of a 30 year lease from GC Council.

Didn’t know that. It’s already pretty good re the restaurants ans bars, has a hotel with a great roof top bar (half price Wednesday food), and a great ground - can’t really see the need for an 8 to 10000 person stadium though - a small stand yeah - but 8 yo 10 thousand????

yeah unsure, they have put it to council? and wanting funding for it.

to be used for other sports also, im not too sure..
i dont think there fields ever get used for anything other than AFL

[Fred]

Yeah - it’s just for AFL and you have a rugby ground just behind it and an Olympic standard hockey field across the road from that. Maybe they play cricket on it? But I have never seen it used for that.

[leeroy*NRL*]

Yeah - it’s just for AFL and you have a rugby ground just behind it and an Olympic standard hockey field across the road from that. Maybe they play cricket on it? But I have never seen it used for that.

The Southport Sharks plans to develop their Gold Coast base are progressing, following Council support for the masterplan and a 30-year lease extension.

the plan's centrepiece is a purpose-built boutique stadium at designed to accommodate 8,000 to 10,000 spectators.

Also included in the Fankhauser Reserve development are purpose-built facilities for female sport, live outdoor music and events and additional community recreational facilities with an aquatic centre, outdoor basketball and netball courts, up to three residential towers providing 260 apartments, multi-level carpark and allied health and sports studios.

The venue will house the Sharks' senior VFL and QAFLW teams and junior football programs, while also offering the Gold Coast region a much-needed boutique stadium for various sports.

The Club said via its website, "We are thrilled to receive the support for our Masterplan from the GCCC’s lifestyle committee, following the vote in favour of a 30-year extension on our current lease of the reserve land surrounding the club.

"This is a significant step for the club’s long-term tenure, and for realising our vision of delivering generational infrastructure for the northern Gold Coast region.

"The process from here, will now be for the recommendation to be put forward to full council for approval."

Southport Sharks CEO Dean Bowtell has described it as “a crucial community facility” that will serve both sporting and broader community needs.

Designed by urban design firm Urbis, the stadium would deliver a distinctive event-day experience while integrating seamlessly with nearby infrastructure, including the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct and Smith Collective Village.

The site’s accessibility via light rail and bus networks, enhanced by the legacy of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, is a key advantage.

https://ministryofsport.com/southport-s ... -precinct/

[Fred]

Great news - good for my house valuation too lol. Interesting theee residential towers …. Well needed in the area. Look forward to it but probably living in port Douglas and Bali/Thailand by the time it’s done.

[makingnrlfansgowacko]

It appears to be all happening on the Gold Coast


The City of Gold Coast has revealed plans for a new $480 million indoor arena, with Southport chosen as the home for the indoor arena and event precinct.

Seen as key to plans the city’s events economy and potentially provide essential new infrastructure for the Brisbane 2023 Olympics, the council has forecast that new venue could add $700 million into the economy over a decade by attracting more sporting and entertainment acts.

Looking for support for the concept, the City is calling for public submissions on the proposal, planned for a site at Carey Park overlooking the Southport Broadwater.
https://www.ausleisure.com.au/news/plan ... old-coast/