Stadium works its magic for the city

Events bring jobs, cash

QUEENSLAND Country Bank Stadium has worked its mojo for Townsville, with bums on seats in turn putting heads into beds and customers into local businesses.

Economist Colin Dwyer said the stadium had boosted the city as an international events destination, with the venue able to pick up a raft of major games due to scheduling changes forced by Covid-19. He said the 2016 federal election was the turning point for QCB stadium.

“A host of Townsville organisations advocated for the new stadium, including governments, TEL, Chamber of Commerce, Townsville Bulletin and some election candidates,” Mr Dwyer said. “The power of preferences in that election played a small but influential part in achieving our stadium and the jobs that came with it.

“The community wasn’t always behind it and an economic impact study suggested it was a marginal project. Poor job conditions, low confidence and a depressed economy forced a change at the 2016 election for the better.”

QCB Stadium has generated more than $70m in value-added activity and more than 16,000 hours of work for Queenslanders, according to Mr Dwyer.

“In addition in an otherwise sluggish tourist accommodation season, the stadium events have filled hotels, motels, Airbnbs and encouraged plans for new accommodation facilities,” Mr Dwyer said. “The additional expenditure, (putting buyers in local businesses) is estimated to have generated over $37m so far this calendar year.”

Mr Dwyer said if the crowd could get as close to a sellout as possible this weekend, Test rugby could return to Townsville in the future as Covid continued to ravage major Australian cities.

He added the chances of it returning would be boosted further by financial assistance.

“Having the opportunity to capitalise on Covid disruptions in other locations means this weekend’s double-header Rugby Championship event will be seen by 45 million viewers worldwide,” he said.

“Rugby is huge around the world and having the best teams in Townsville is a great opportunity to encourage future Super Rugby and internationals.

“The stadium has been in the right place at the right time in 2021 to capitalise on Covid conditions. Next year and future years will be different. We need to adapt.

“If a regional stadium is to attract elite football, rugby, NRL and top bands, it needs an events attraction fund to compete with major cities on a level economic playing field.”