Push to increase Suncorp Stadium concert cap
The Queensland Government is seeking to ease restrictions at Suncorp Stadium, including permanently lifting the concert cap and allowing it to host more major events each year.
However, while the easing of restrictions could prove to be a financial gain for the venue and city of Brisbane, it could spell bad news for sport with the playing surface likely to suffer.
The 52,000-seat stadium was previously able to host just six concerts annually, introduced to minimise noise and disruption for local residents and businesses.
Following Covid, in 2022 the cap was temporarily increased to 12 concerts to aid Brisbane’s recovery from the pandemic while there was also strong demand from promotors.
With the two-year increase set to expire this year, the Queensland Government is wanting to retain the current cap of 12 concerts per year, while also counting a series of concerts by the same artist as one, meaning the number of shows could well exceed 12.
In 2023 for example, Suncorp Stadium hosted Ed Sheeran over three nights in February, and this year hosted three sold-out P!NK shows over consecutive nights.
The NSW Government last month announced the lifting of the concert cap for stadiums at the SCG and Allianz Stadium precinct from 4 events to 20 events per year.
Additionally, the government is wanting to change the current prescribed crowd size definition for major sport events from ‘greater than 35,000’ to ‘greater than 45,000’.
Suncorp Stadium is currently limited to holding no more than 24 major sport events per calendar year. Major sport events are currently defined as national or international sporting events with a crowd size greater than 35,000. Last year the venue held 20 events classified as major.
This restriction arose from conditions in the Development Application approval under which the stadium was redeveloped in 2001.
The government believes the restrictions need to be relaxed given Brisbane’s population and the popularity of local teams are increasing and international events, such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2025 British and Irish Lions Tour, leading to larger crowd sizes at Suncorp Stadium.
For something different, it’s raining again!
— Matty Oliver (@MattyOliver87) February 19, 2024
For the record, we received 222.6mm rain on show day Friday ahead of @Pink’s first concert 😳 pic.twitter.com/lVI8BTRQ09
While the easing of concert restrictions will be a boon for Brisbane and Queensland, it could spell bad news for Suncorp Stadium’s tenant clubs, namely the Brisbane Roar.
The A-League club moved back to Suncorp full-time this season and while its enjoying superior facilities, the playing surface has often left a lot to be desired, following concerts and subsequent poor weather in the sunshine state.
An increase in concerts will undoubtably make this a more frequent occurrence, which will likely lead to further calls for a boutique rectangular stadium to be built in Brisbane, with the upgrade of Perry Park a regular cry from the local footy community.
The Queensland Government is now seeking community views on the benefits and impacts of the easing of restrictions at the stadium.
