Brisbane is home to numerous sporting venues for all organised sports. Our guide to major sports venues in the Brisbane region provides you with some helpful information about four of the biggest:
Suncorp Stadium
Suncorp Stadium was redeveloped on the site of the old cauldron, Lang Park, in 2003. It seats 52,500 people and in addition to being the spiritual home of rugby league in Brisbane, it is the home ground of the Brisbane Broncos National Rugby League Team and the Queensland Roar Football Club. Suncorp Stadium also hosts State of Origin and other international and local sporting events.
Where is it?
Suncorp Stadium is located in Milton. Pedestrians can enter the stadium from Milton Road, Castlemaine Street or Caxton Street. See a map of the area.
How do I get there?
If you're driving, don't forget that the area surrounding Suncorp Stadium has a fifteen-minute (P15-min) parking time limit restriction that applies inside the designated Traffic Area in all streets from 12 noon to 10pm.
Public transport is the way to go. Ticket holders are entitled to free travel on all regular network wide Brisbane Transport bus and QR city train services on the day of the event. Free shuttle buses will run from the city and South Bank before and after Suncorp Stadium games. Use TransLink to plan your journey.
An elevated walkway gives pedestrians access to Milton Rail Station and a 12 bay bus station offers shuttle services to the CBD for events.
Where can I buy tickets? And what about seating?
Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketek. Check out the seating plan.
There are seats and facilities to assist people with a disability and 75 per cent of seats are covered by the roof. Because of the design of the stadium, almost all seats have a great view of the playing field. Seats in the front row are only five metres from the action.
Is food and drink available?
There are more than 50 food and drink outlets inside the stadium.
You are welcome to bring homemade food (eg. sandwiches) as long as they aren’t packed in prohibited containers (ie. glass). You can’t bring in food that you’ve bought from take-away outlets. If you’ve got questions about what you can and can’t take into the stadium, read the stadium’s FAQs.
And after the game?
You can head out to the dozen or so bars and restaurants in Caxton Street, Paddington. There are more food options in Park Road, Milton and there is a major take-away chain just next door to the stadium in Milton Road.
For more information visit Suncorp Stadium's website.
The Gabba
Formally known as the Brisbane Cricket Ground but called ‘The Gabba’ by everyone, this venue is the spiritual home of cricket in Queensland. During the summer months, the Gabba hosts the Queensland Bulls and the Australian cricket team. In winter, the Gabba becomes the home of aussie rules in Brisbane and is the home ground to the Brisbane Lions Football Club.
Where is it?
The Gabba is located between Vulture and Stanley Streets, Woolloongabba. Hence, the Vulture Street end and the Stanley Street end referred to in cricket commentary.
See a map of the area.
How do I get there?
There isn’t much parking close by as there are parking restrictions in the Gabba zone.
TransLink provides full public transport information for Gabba matches.
Where can I buy tickets? And what about seating?
Tickets for AFL matches are available from ticketek three weeks before the game. Book early as Brisbane Lions games are extremely popular and often sell out.
Tickets for international cricket matches are available from ticketmaster7.
Tickets to domestic cricket matches can be bought from the Gabba box office on the day of play.
See the Gabba seating plan. (.pdf)
There are over 200 wheelchair positions and 80 per cent of seats are covered by the roof. Redevelopment in 2005 increased seating capacity to 42,000.
Is food and drink available?
There are almost 50 food outlets and bars at the Gabba.
You can take you own food and non-alcoholic drinks but remember that any bags, eskies or other personal belongings have to fit under your seat.
Don’t take any items which are regarded as offensive or which can be used as a projectile. You can’t take your own alcohol, seats, stools or musical instruments. Be prepared for your bags and eskies to be searched – you may be denied entry to the grounds if you refuse.
And after the game?
Celebrate or commiserate (depending upon the result) at the hotels and restaurants nearby on Main Street (heading towards the Story Bridge) - this is where you’ll find major take-away places too. Or you can walk west along Stanley Street and find a selection of pubs, take-aways and restaurants. South Bank, with dozens of dining places, is a 15-minute walk away.
For more information visit The Gabba website.
Skilled Park Stadium
Location
Stadium Drive, Robina (near Robina train station and the Robina transport hub)
Skilled Park is the home of the NRL Gold Coast Titans.
Seating
27,000 maximum capacity
Public transport
Train and bus services will service the stadium before and after events at Skilled Park.
Patrons in possession of a pre-purchased event ticket will be able to travel to and from Skilled Park for free. Detailed information is available from Translink.
What's allowed inside?
Like most stadiums, glass, open drink containers and loud hailers are banned. Food from commercial outlets (ie take away foods) can’t be brought into the stadium area. Bags and backpacks may be searched.
Read the detailed conditions of entry for more information.
Accessibility
Disabled seating and toilet facilities are provided.
For more information visit the Skilled Park website.
The Sleeman Sports Complex
The Sleeman Sports Complex is comprised of a number of venues, including:
- the Chandler Aquatic Centre, an indoor aquatic centre including a 50 metre Olympic pool and 25 metre diving pool with platforms and diving boards;
- the Chandler Arena, an indoor multi-sports arena;
- the Chandler Velodrome;
- a 1500 seat capacity theatre;
- a gymnastics training hall; and a
- water fun park.
The Chandler Arena is an 1,800 seat sports arena hosting indoor soccer, volleyball and badminton.
The Sleeman Sports Complex is often abuzz with activity as it is home to more than 20 local, state and national sporting clubs and associations.
Where is it?
The Sleeman Sports Complex is located on the corner of Old Cleveland and Tilley Roads, Chandler. See a map of the area. It is two minutes drive from the Gateway Arterial Freeway, 17 kilometres south of Brisbane city.
How do I get there?
There are 2,000 car parking spaces on site. See a map of the parking areas.
There is also a taxi rank.
Bus is the best public transport option. Find which bus route by using the journey planner from TransLink.
Seating
The indoor Chandler Arena has grandstand style seating for 1,800 people. See a seating plan. (.pdf)
The velodrome can seat 3,500 for cycling events and 4,300 people can see diving and swimming action at the Aquatic Centre.
Is food and drink available?
All Sleeman Sports Complex venues have a kiosk. Only the corporate areas are licensed.
You are allowed to bring food and non-alcoholic drinks to the venue but commercial take-away meals are discouraged. Allowances for eskies and other food containers depend upon the type of event.
Patrons are invited to use the free picnic and barbeque facilities on the 40 hectare, bushland site.
And after the game?
The restaurants and eateries next to Carindale Shopping Centre, approximately five minutes drive away, are the closest facilities for a meal before or after an event at the Sleeman Sports Complex.
For more information visit the Sleeman Sports Complex website.
