A sod-turning ceremony has marked the countdown to the start of construction on the state-of-the art redevelopment at the Totally Workwear Stadium, Langlands Park in Queensland, Australia, home of the rugby league club Suzuki Brisbane Tigers.
The ‘Brisbane Tigers’ stated that Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick MP performed the sod-turning alongside Brisbane Tigers CEO, Brian Torpy, to celebrate the major milestone.
Construction will begin in mid-February by iQ Construct and is expected to be completed by end-November.
The Brisbane Tigers are a rugby league club based at Langlands Park in the suburb of Coorparoo in Brisbane, Australia. Since 1996, they have competed in the Queensland Cup, having competed in the Brisbane Rugby League from 1934 to 1997, where they won eight premierships.
The 5,000-capacity Totally Workwear Stadium (and formerly Suzuki Stadium) is the home ground of Brisbane Tigers and features a grandstand with undercover seating for 580 which opened in 1999. Additionally, there is bench seating for 1,190 spectators.
The ‘Brisbane Tigers’ further stated that the project is expected to cost $10.2 million, which includes all non-construction costs, with the State Government contributing $1.1 million.
Redevelopment details
- Relocation and refurbishment of the 1937 Heritage Grandstand. The stand will be located behind the goal post at the Southern end of the field. The Western wing of the stand will be transformed into a full wet bar, whilst the Eastern wing will contain amenities;
- The Heritage Pavilion will be relocated between the heritage grandstand and the current scoreboard. Constructed in 1933, the pavilion was the original players change rooms for the Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club. The building will be used as a community meeting room and will be available as a corporate suite on matchday;
- Gymnasium extension and refurbishment. The current gymnasium will be extended and will include a new ticket box and ground entry. The current home change rooms will be converted into a 45-person theater, which will be used as a training room. The building will also include a kitchenette and a laundry;
- A new single-story building on the Western side of the grounds will house new canteen, expresso bar, merchandise shop, and toilets;
- Also, on the Western side of the grounds will be a new double-story building. The ground floor will include 4 x female participation compliant change rooms, medical room and match officials change room. The first floor will accommodate the club’s administration offices, board room (which will double as a corporate suite on matchdays), corporate suites, coaches’ boxes, timekeepers’ box, and a media room. A permanent camera platform will be constructed on the roof to film games and events on the field;
- New spectator seatings will be installed on the Western side on the grounds; and
- A new entry statement, fencing and landscaping, and carparking will be constructed at the Panitya Street entry.
Redevelopment imperative
The redevelopment of the grounds is extremely important for the club and the community. The current change rooms were constructed in the 1960s and 1980s and have served the community well for over 60 years but are now in need of an upgrade to State and national level competition standard.
The provision of a first-class training and playing facilities at the Totally Workwear Stadium will complement the Langlands Park sporting precinct, which will include swimming pools and a 24×7 commercial gymnasium.
The club already has a first-class playing surface, and the new buildings and stands will provide a 4,000-person boutique rectangular stadium, three kilometers from the central business district (CBD) and a stone’s throw from the 42,000-capacity the Gabba in Brisbane.
The Totally Workwear Stadium will be a great facility, not only for rugby league through Statewide competition games, school competitions and carnivals, local games and finals, international university games, interState rugby league games but also for other community sports and events, such as Queensland Gridiron grand finals and community Christmas Carols.
The stadium is frequently used by the National Rugby League (NRL) teams when playing in Brisbane, as well as the Queensland Maroons and the Australian Kangaroos.
The stadium change rooms, including the gymnasium will be female participant compliant and will only encourage more female to play rugby league. The Tigers have fielded female teams at the Totally Workwear Stadium since 2017 and the stadium will be perfect for hosting more female participants.
The new facilities include a theater, boardroom, corporate suites, and meeting rooms which will be available for community groups to utilize.
Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club
Formed by the Tigers in 1971, the Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club (Easts Leagues) is the not-for-profit social arm of the club. The Leagues Club is community-based and has over 35,000 members.
The Leagues Club and the Easts Leagues Foundation provide over $1 million per in funding per annum towards rugby league and other community-based not-for-profit organizations.
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