Mad rush to prepare stadium

SUNCORP Stadium staff and officials will go through 24 hours of madness this weekend as they transform the ground from a rugby league venue into a boxing arena.

The conversion for Sunday’s “Battle of Brisbane” between Jeff Horn and Manny Pacquiao will take place as soon as the Broncos’ showdown with NRL leaders the Storm is over on Friday night.

Staff will work through the night and into the early hours of Saturday to have Suncorp Stadium set up and ready to go by that evening – with a mountain of work ahead.

Stadium spokesman Greg Adermann said the staff had done it all before and would have no trouble preparing for the highly anticipated bout.

“Straight after the game on Friday night, we’ll have staff working throughout the night,” Adermann said.

“Once the Broncos and Storm game finishes, our staff will swing into action.”

The ground staff will be tasked with the most important jobs of all: the stadium turf has to be protected from the boxing ring and on-ground seating, with the seriesdeciding third State of Origin rugby league clash to be played there 10 days later.