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With its sleek good looks and easy-to-use yet powerful functionality, Envibe is the premium fitness club software for the Australasian leisure, recreation and fitness industry. We are the most…
read moreTownsville’s 1300SMILES Stadium hosted its final event last Thursday, with the North Queensland Cowboys defeating the Bulldogs in front of 15,141 fans.
Last week's game coincided with the first seat being installed at the North Queensland Stadium – the Cowboy’s new 25,000-capacity stadium that they will play in from the 2020 NRL season.
While the club has confirmed will continue to operate from the Kirwan site in 2020 as its training and administration base - until its new headquarters open at the new stadium, the future of 1300SMILES Stadium beyond that is uncertain.
There has been interest from from local rugby league teams the Brothers Leagues Club and Ryan Catholic College, which have submitted a joint proposal in taking over the facilities, although, as yet, specific details are yet to be revealed.
1300SMILES Stadium, as its currently known, has been at the centre of rugby league in Townsville Rugby League since 1995, the year that the Cowboys joined the competition.
Construction started on converting the Willows Sports Complex, a trotting track, into a Rugby League stadium in 1994, with the main work being to remove the elevated trotting track and create earth mounds for spectators on the north, south and eastern stands.
The site already had a 750-seat grandstand, bars, restaurant and two basic changerooms, among many other essential facilities.
The building effort had strong community support, with Cowboys players even chipping in to get the job done - laying 12,000 metre² of turf and labouring work during construction.
The venue opened as Stockland Stadium, due to a naming-rights deal with the Cowboys and its first game was played in front of a sell-out crowd. The venue was later known as Malanda Stadium, Dairy Farmers Stadium, and then 1300SMILES Stadium as of 2013.
In 2005 the eastern terraces were extended, a new replay screen invested and the lighting facilities were upgraded for night time broadcasts.
The following year saw the eastern, northern and southern grandstands upgraded with extra seating and the eastern terrace was extended completely taking over the eastern hill.
While the Cowboys have always been the main tenants and attracted decent crowds, the venue also was home to A-League club North Queensland Fury during their time in the competition, and also hosted Rugby World Cup matches in 2003, concerts and other major events.
4th September 2019 - New training and recreational space for NRL Cowboys House
2nd September 2019 - First seat installed at new North Queensland Stadium
30th August 2019 - Local firm to grow turf for North Queensland Stadium
30th August 2019 - Indigenous NRL All Stars match secured for Cbus Super Stadium
5th July 2019 - Townsville’s Riverway Stadium the 48th venue to host an AFL match
30th June 2019 - Naming rights partner sought for North Queensland Stadium
28th June 2019 - Ticketmaster sells North Queensland Stadium’s first ever tickets
26th April 2019 - NRL Magic Round sees eight clubs commit to community engagement events
21st March 2019 - NRL looks to relocate financially troubled clubs under new licensing agreement
1st March 2019 - Growing digital revenues drive NRL to $46 million profit
29th September 2018 - Construction advances at North Queensland Stadium in Townsville
12th September 2018 - Figures show NRL as Australia’s most watched sport of 2018
7th February 2018 - North Queensland Cowboys a key part of jobs initiative
27th August 2017 - AFL fans bid farewell to Perth’s Subiaco Oval
23rd October 2014 - North Queensland Cowboys memberships donated to Townsville volunteers
8th July 2013 - Innovative technology to reduce queues at 1300SMILES Stadium
20th February 2013 - 1300SMILES takes on Townsville Stadium naming rights
14th May 2010 - Three New Stadiums central to Australia’s World Cup Bid
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