New $6.5 million Grandstand Sets Dolphins up for NRL Licence

Published 22 September 2020

Dolphins Stadium.jpg

Today’s unveiling of the third and final stage of Dolphin Stadium completed $24 million stadium means the try line in sight for Moreton Bay Region to secure the NRL’s seventeenth licence.

Mayor Peter Flannery said the team was ready to enter the big league and was joined by a team of heavy hitters to celebrate the milestone: Dolphins Chairman Bob Jones, Petrie MP Luke Howarth, and Redcliffe MP Yvette D’Ath.

“Touring this brand new, boutique 10,000-seat grandstand today I could just imagine the roar from fans, the seats are so close to the field you’re practically part of the action,” he said.

“Moreton Bay Regional Council’s $2.5 million contribution towards this $6.5 million grandstand is the culmination of years of lobbying and effort from many governments, which is set to return dividends to our local economy.

“Especially now that we’ve set the Dolphins up right in front of the sticks to make this conversion into an NRL licence.

“The smart money is backing Moreton Bay Region for the next NRL licence because we’ll have a supporter base from Bowen Hills to Bundaberg.

“There’s already 40,000 Dolphins members, more than 5,500 registered local players, and 17 junior clubs here - we are truly rugby league heartland, just ask Petero Civoniceva!  

“I believe Moreton Bay can become Queensland's leading sports destination - today is another step in that direction.”

The new stand on the northern side of Dolphin Oval means the club’s NRL bid now has a brand-new boutique stadium with seating increasing from 7,000 to over 10,000 patrons and a full capacity of 11,500.

Dolphins’ chairman Bob Jones said today the completion of the final grandstand at the stadium meant the bid was ‘NRL ready’.

“We would like to thank Moreton Bay Regional Council, the State and Federal Governments for their foresight and assistance in the building and completion of this wonderful stadium,” he said.

“This $24 million stadium will be a wonderful asset for the local community and will be a beacon for our traditional rugby league grass roots base and opportunities to host other major events for the region.

“With this in place, the Dolphins NRL Bid now has all the ingredients to provide a strong, community-based team that would represent as a true Brisbane club in the NRL.

“We have welcomed NRL Chairman Peter V’landys’ comments that the NRL would be enhanced by a second Brisbane team in the NRL, and we firmly believe no other bid can match the levels of community engagement, infrastructure base and financial stability that the Dolphins NRL Bid has in place.”

Member for Petrie Luke Howarth said the completion of the stadium would benefit the community by providing assistance for a range of sports in the area.

“Post coronavirus, I am really excited for the opportunities this latest infrastructure creates for our region,” he said.

“The club recognises this funding gives them greater pulling power to attract different sports and activities to the stadium.

“The facilities are world class and I can’t wait to sit up in the grandstands and cheer on our athletes.”

Member for Redcliffe Yvette D’Ath said it was an investment in the economy and the vibrancy of the region.

“This will be an incredibly important piece of infrastructure in helping our region unite and recover post-COVID,” she said.

“We’ve already seen the stadium draw huge crowds for events like Roar A-League games, the 2018 Commonwealth Rugby League Championship, FFA Cup and NRL pre-season matches.

“I know we’re backing a winner in the Dolphins, their 72 year track record of success in our community is testament to that.”