Super FNQ fans fire up
FIREBIRDS fans Anessah Oakley, from Brinsmead, Charlotte Jonsen, from Mooroobool, and Samaya Oakley, from Brinsmead, cheered the Queensland team to victory on Sunday when Cairns greeted the Super Netball weekend with a special atmosphere. The pop-up stadium at the old Bunnings proved a big hit as COVID-safe crowds enjoyed the top-class sport.
CHECK OUT THE PHOTO GALLERY AT CAIRNSPOST.COM.AU
THE repurposed Bunnings building as a pop-up stadium has been heralded a winner following Super Netball fixtures at the weekend.
The state government spent $2.65m on retrofitting the former Bunnings building to ensure the Cairns Taipans had a home court during the Cairns Convention Centre upgrade.
But netball was the first to use the venue, where Cairns Leprechauns goalkeeper Charlotte Jonsen was courtside on Sunday to see Queensland Firebirds take on the Vixens.
“It was absolutely incredible. You don’t usually get a chance to get to games, so them coming up north was really great,” she said.
“It was such a fast game and you learnt a lot, and they are all really big inspirations.”
She said to see the Firebirds beat the Vixens was the icing on the cake.
Cairns MP Michael Healy also checked out the new venue to see Saturday’s Indigenous round double header.
He was positive about how the building operated.
“The majority of people I spoke to were really impressed by it, and there is a lot of confidence in the facility,” Mr Healy said. “I am hoping we will get a lot more use out of it.”
He said Super Netball chief executive Chris Symington’s response to the venue was equally upbeat. “He can’t fault the stadium. He said it was terrific,” Mr Healy said.
The Cairns MP said a 1000person capacity under a COVID-safe plan meant the venue had potential to host other large-scale events.
See the gallery at cairnspost.com.au