Stadium kicks off with high marks
The revamped Suncorp Stadium has earned a glowing report card from its debut performance, with stakeholders planning only minor changes ahead of next week's State of Origin match.
While the five major areas of the stadium - transport, ticketing, parking, security and food - experienced only minor problems on Sunday, organisers said the smooth opening had exceeded expectations.
Transport officials have declared the stadium opener their greatest public transport victory with 75 per cent of ticket holders using either trains or Brisbane City Council buses.
Queensland Rail moved about 33,000 people to the game - 13,000 via Milton station and 20,000 through Roma St station.
QR claims the Milton station was cleared of commuters by 6pm.
Citytrans general manager Chris Warnock, whose team had been planning the stadium's integrated transport system for 12 months, said the high public transport rate exceeded that of the 2001 Goodwill Games and Brisbane-based events for the 2000 Olympics.
But Brisbane City Council transport chairwoman Maureen Hayes said while the transport arrangements ran smoothly on Sunday, the system was preparing for a bigger challenge tomorrow week when the State of Origin crowds would compete with the peak-hour commuter rush.
Cr Hayes said there were some minor traffic snarls and a few bus queuing dramas but all would be addressed before the next game.
Parking inspectors issued 150 tickets during the game.
Catering arrangements also received a thumbs-up from patrons with a boost in staff and outlets.
Stadium food and beverage venue manager Jim Greene said the new self-serve system where patrons ordered and paid at different points had a smooth debut.
"We didn't run out of anything and at our busiest time the longest it took between patrons lining up for a beer and leaving with it in their hand was one minute and 22 seconds so we're pretty happy with that," he said.
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