AusLeisure

More than 90,000 rugby league fans are expected to flock to Brisbane for this weekend’s NRL Magic Round blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium, with all 16 NRL teams to play eight games over three days at the venue from 14^th to 16^th May.

The venue’s playing surface is in “perfect” condition to host the games, with Suncorp Stadium Grounds Manager, Malcolm Caddies declaring it is in better condition than the last mega weekend of action in Brisbane two years ago.

While Brisbane was rocked by heavy thunderstorms on Wednesday evening, Caddies said the ground itself only copped 9.6mm of rainfall and the sunny forecast for the remainder of the week would produce ideal playing conditions for the eight games of NRL action in three days.

Caddies told NRL.com “we had storms blow through Brisbane last night but it’s sunny in Brisbane today which will dry us out nicely for tomorrow.

“If it stays like this for three days it is perfect for us. Not too warm, not too cold, a bit of breeze, it just keeps the surface nice and dry.

“I think it’s probably better than it was going into the first Magic Round (in 2019).”

Suncorp Stadium hosted last week’s Super Rugby final between the Reds and Brumbies, but Caddies said the ground itself had not required any repair work in the aftermath of the game.

Stadium management conducted traction testing at the start of the week, with the levels well into the acceptable range reported back to the NRL football department and passed on to the Rugby League Players’ Association.

Caddies added “we all know rugby scrums make a bit of damage but there was nothing that needed to be repaired or replaced.

“We did our testing earlier in the week … and the traction readings were great.”

With the event having pumped more than $20 million into Queensland’s economy and booked out 109,000 room nights for the state’s tourism industry in 2019, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is hoping for another strong turnout this year.

Premier Palaszczuk advised “major events pump millions of dollars into our economy and support local jobs. They’re an important part of our plan for economic recovery.

“We worked closely with the NRL to develop the inaugural Magic Round in 2019 because we know events like this drive strong economic outcomes and visitor numbers for our tourism sector.”

Premier Palaszczuk went on to say “COVID-19 has hit our tourism industry particularly hard.

“This year, we’ve delivered campaigns specifically targeting footy fans in NSW and New Zealand to boost the economic impact of Magic Round and support tourism operators here in Brisbane.

“Magic Round will be bigger and better than ever this year.

“Football fans can expect a magic weekend, with about 24,000 visitors from interstate and New Zealand travelling to Brisbane for the event.

“This means more people in hotel beds, eating out at our world-class restaurants and enjoying the many experiences on offer in Queensland’s capital.”

NRL Chief Executive. Andrew Abdo said Magic Round was a major drawcard for rugby league fans across Australia, going on to say “Magic Round is a weekend like no other - 272 players, 16 teams and 8 games all at Suncorp Stadium.

“Magic Round is about the fans. It gives our fans the opportunity to get closer to our players and our activations inside the fan zone will provide incredible insight into our game.

“We’re really excited to be returning to Brisbane as a three-day festival of genuine entertainment on and off the field.”

Image: Suncorp Stadium during the 2020 State of Origin. Credit: Blair Hughes.

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