Brothers aims to bounce back as the best
BROTHERS Leagues Club will lay claim to being Queensland’s best entertainment and sports facility when its doors finally reopen to the public.
The Kirwan venue is on track to complete a range of major upgrades by the end of the month, including its new “1919” rooftop bar and “Victory” bar and grill.
New bar service areas have already been installed and its kitchen area will soon start being fitted out with new equipment.
Club chief executive Justin Wilkins said the club was determined to give residents something they have never experienced before when COVID-19 restrictions are finally lifted.
“We’re giving people in the suburbs something they don’t have at the moment,” he said.
“We believe we’ll have Queensland’s best sporting and entertainment venue when we’re back up and running.
“There was a bit of a delay (with work) because of the weather, but the whole project will be finished by late May.”
The expansion project, which started in November last year, has a budget of about $3 million.
Brothers Leagues Club is located next to 1300SMILES Stadium, which is no longer hosting Cowboys games, but Mr Wilkins said the venue was moving forward into an exciting new chapter.
Among the new installations will be a 4.5m by 2.5m TV in the new-look garden bar.
“It’s going to be one of the biggest outdoor TVS in Queensland,” Mr Wilkins said.
“Hopefully people will be soon watching the NRL from our big screen.”
The venue is also home to local rugby league sides Townsville Brothers and the Townsville Blackhawks, which have been out of action since COVID-19 measures kicked in last month.
Upgrades have already been completed to the venue’s change rooms, and a new toilet block was finished on Monday.
Main groundsmen Sion Leysley and Warren Scott have been working hard to ensure the venue’s two main fields are in top shape once footy returns, with TDRL games a possibility in July.
“Getting some consistency with the turf is the biggest thing,” Mr Leysley said.
“It’s a lot of hard work and you have to understand the science behind it to get things right.
“Attention to detail is very important, it’s about getting the one-percenters right.
“We had four TV games (for the Blackhawks) being played here this year, so it was a bit disheartening when that all got cancelled.
“We just need to get some footy, but the club has a very big future.”