Suncorp Stadium Makes History New Venue Of NRL 2021 Finals Series

Editor’s Note: As of 30 September 2021, QLD’s NRL Grand Final will be played to a capped crowd of just 39,000 fans due to updated Covid-19 restrictions. Refunds will be issued to the final 25% purchases made in each Grand Final selling allocation. For more details and updates, please follow the NRL Facebook page.

Milton’s Suncorp Stadium is set to make history after being chosen as the venue for the 2021 NRL grand final, in the league’s first time to play the finals series outside of Sydney in 114 years.


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The game is usually held at Sydney’s Stadium Australia but because of the ongoing spread of the Delta variant in NSW, the grand final is set to relocate to Queensland and will remain there until the end of the regular season.

In a press conference earlier this month, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed the Queensland Government made an agreement with the National Rugby League to host the finals as well as a number of regional games.  

Photo credit: NRL – National Rugby League/Facebook

“Never in my lifetime did I think that we would have an NRL grand final here in Queensland, and finally, that’s happened… So well done Queensland,” Premier Palaszczuk said.

Because of Queensland’s efforts for helping the league afloat this year, it did not have to bid for the right to host the final series. Around 4.6 million had been spent on securing the finals series whilst the event is expected to bring in $19 million to the Queensland economy.

As Queensland cements itself as the new home of the rugby league, it’s anticipated that more rugby games will be played in the state in the coming years, according to Sports Minister Stirling Hinchcliffe.

“This is an unprecedented venture into regional Queensland by the NRL. We’re also working with the NRL on a Centre of Excellence at QSAC for women’s rugby league which complements the Palaszczuk Government’s investment in women’s sport,” Mr Hinchcliffe said.

“Queensland is a nursery for rugby league talent, and it makes sense to work with the NRL on ways we can support our future stars,” he added.

About the Suncorp Stadium 

Photo credit: Suncorp Stadium 

Over 50,000 die-hard Rugby League fans are expected to descend at the Suncorp Stadium, as Queensland’s outdoor stadiums can now have 100 percent capacity.

Photo credit: Suncorp Stadium/Facebook

Also known as Brisbane Stadium, Suncorp Stadium plays host to many major events each year, from rugby leagues and rugby unions to concerts and boxing events. The state-of-the-art, world-class stadium features 52,500 seats across three levels, 75% of which are covered to the drip line of the stadium roof. 

NRL Grand Finals

Photo credit: NRL – National Rugby League/Facebook

The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final will take place on Sunday 3 October 2021.

The finals series kicks off with two elimination finals and two qualifying finals spread out over three days before the semi-finals and preliminary finals over successive weekends leading up to the premiership decider.

Mackay will host the semi-finals on Friday, 17 September and Saturday, 18 Sept with the preliminary finals to be played at Suncorp Stadium on Friday, 24 Sept and Saturday, 25 Sept 2021.

In line with state-wide mask requirements, fans are asked to wear masks at all times, including when seated. Visit Suncorp Stadium’s website for more information on buying tickets and health protocols when inside the venue.

Super Pfizer Weekend to Roll Out For Footy Fans

In a bid to boost the vaccination rate among Queensland residents, a Super Pfizer Weekend will be rolled out at all vaccination hubs during the NRL preliminary finals weekend at the Suncorp Stadium. Over 100,000 eligible footy fans aged 12 years old and above can walk in and get the jab.



The move to conduct the Super Pfizer Weekend walk-in vaccinations also comes as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the over 60s may get Pfizer jabs at any of the 80 clinics beginning Saturday, 18 Sept. Previously, the over 60s were offered only AstraZeneca jabs.

Queensland received 189,400 doses of Pfizer on Monday, 13 Sept, and the premier has vowed to use the lot as soon as possible. Many people, including the over 60s, have been holding out for this vaccine as stashes of AstraZeneca doses remain unused at GPs and pharmacies.

Following the walk-in vaccination announcement, hundreds of footy fans lined up during the  NRL elimination finals in Rockhampton. In the coming weeks, more pop-up hubs will be opened near where the fans are expected to troop for the games. 

Meanwhile, this will be the first time Suncorp Stadium is hosting the  NRL grand finals in the game’s 114-year history. Queensland won the right to host the event following the COVID outbreak in Sydney. 

“This year we will create history, playing the grand final in Brisbane for the very first time,” Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys said in the press statement. 

“This will be a historic moment for the city and a reward for the support the Queensland community has given us throughout 2021.



“This year will always be remembered as the year Queensland hosted all of our major events; All Stars, Magic Round, three State of Origins and the grand final.”

Before moving to the Suncorp Stadium, two weeks of the finals will be played in Mackay. 

Tickets Out for First Nitro World Games in Australia

A major sports event that’s usually held in the U.S. is coming to Australia for the first time. Nitro World Games, an Elite action BMX, skate and scooter competition, will be staged at the Suncorp Stadium in Milton.



Ticket sales for this event, with more than 60 competitors around the world, will go up on Sunday, 7 Feb 2021 via the official site. The exclusive two-day passes will be released until 11 Feb 2021. 

Spectators can expect exciting matches and exhibitions from world-class athletes in Freestyle Motocross, BMX, Skateboarding and Scooter.

“Nitro World Games at Suncorp Stadium is predicted to deliver more that $20 million to Queensland’s tourism economy, attracting up to 76,000 visitor nights,” Tourism and Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said. “That’s a spectacular and welcome boost for accommodation and transport providers, cafes, restaurants and local tourism businesses.”

Photo Credit: Queensland Government

The State Government said that this is a major coup for Australia’s sporting capital, validating the effective COVID-19 measures adopted in Queensland.

“Nitro world Games is a destination event that will bring visitors to South East Queensland and support local jobs for Queensland’s economic recovery,” Mr Hinchcliffe added.

“The hard work of Queenslanders on COVID-19 means we’re able to enjoy safe, elite action events like the World Nitro Games. “



Andy Edwards, the President of Asia Pacific for Thrill One Sports & Entertainment, said that it feels good to have this anticipation for the first-ever Nitro World Games outside of its usual venue, the United States, following the games’ cancellation in 2020.

Mr Edwards said that they’ve been receiving an unprecedented pre-sale ticket demand in the last week. 

“[It] just makes the prospect of staging this unique event in front of a packed Suncorp Stadium of screaming fans all the more exciting.”

The games will run from 23 to 24 Oct 2021. 

Additional Tickets Released for Pacquiao vs Horn, Battle of Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium, Milton

Due to the magnitude of the event, Suncorp Stadium is increasing the audience capacity to 60,000 for the Battle of Brisbane fight between Queensland local Jeff Horn and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.

The bout, scheduled on Sunday, 2 July 2017 will be a huge international event that will be aired live to 180 countries. Suncorp Stadium officials were initially hoping to see a crowd of up to 55,000, but it is looking to surpass the record audience of 58,912 people when the Broncos won the 1997 Super League at QEII Stadium.

Queensland tourism minister Kate Jones told Courier-Mail that “the huge national and international interest in the Battle of Brisbane means we had no other option but to expand capacity at Suncorp Stadium.”

Purpose-built seats will be provided for the additional tickets released. Almost 50,000 tickets have already been sold for the event.

Photo credit: The Boxing Analyst/Facebook

Event Times

Gates Open 8:30 a.m
Bout A: 9.10 a.m.
Bout B: 9.40 a.m.
Bout C: 10.10 a.m.
Bout 1: 11.10 a.m.
Bout 2: 12.00 p.m.
Bout 3: 12.40 p.m.
Main Event: 1.30 p.m.

 

Get tickets here


Battle of Surprises

Since the announcement of the fight, Jeff Horn, dubbed Brisbane’s Fighting Schoolteacher, has been catapulted to international stardom, with many in the western hemisphere wanting to know more about the fighter. And while the Pacman is still the overwhelming favourite to win, the element of surprise is on the side of Horn.

Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton told Fox Sports Australia that Pacquiao has not yet encountered a fighter like Horn. Rushton added that it would be difficult to fight someone like Horn because you would never know what’s coming at you.

“He can turn southpaw like Manny, he can hit you with right hand leads and he can move and fight from angles that Manny hasn’t encountered before,” Rushton said.

Photo credit: Pound 4 Pound TV/Facebook

Rushton is counting on the “broken rhythm pressure” technique that he invented to demolish the current WBO welterweight champion.

Horn will come into the ring with a record of 16 wins, 0 loss and 1 draw, with 11 of his wins via knockout. While his record is impressive, it is dwarfed by Pacquiao’s record of 59 wins, 6 losses and 2 draws. Pacquiao won by 38 knockouts during his career.

The Filipino boxer’s trainer Freddie Roach is not underestimating Horn. “We can’t take Horn lightly. He’s got everything at stake here in the fight. A win for him would be tremendous for his career and we just can’t let that happen,” Roach told On the Ropes Boxing Radio.

Fight promoter Bob Arum said that fighting before a home crowd could give Horn the boost he will need. Arum told the Courier-Mail that “if his fight with Pacquiao was in Vegas or Madison Square Garden in New York, I wouldn’t give him much of a chance because I think nerves would take over.”

“But the fact that Jeff is going to be fighting in front of so many of his countrymen will calm his nerves and I think he will give a great account of himself.”

Pacquiao is flying to Brisbane on Saturday, 24 June, with 200 of his family and friends.

Thousands of Filipinos and boxing fans from all over the globe are also expected to come to Brisbane to watch the title bout at the Suncorp Stadium.