AFL hub open at Kippa-Ring

Southeast Queensland’s newest AFL hub, The Nathan Road Sports Ground, has opened at Kippa-Ring.

COVID-19 might’ve stalled the start of the 2020 AFL season, but it hasn’t stopped the mighty Redcliffe Tigers celebrating the official opening of their new $18.8 million den.

The Nathan Road Sports Ground and impressive Redcliffe Tigers clubhouse officially opened today, July 25, in front of a socially-distanced crowd.

Mayor Peter Flannery says this facility will become the home of Aussie Rules Football on the Redcliffe peninsula for decades to come.

“It’s great to see the mighty yellow and black of the Redcliffe Tigers back in action, because it has been a long road to get here,” he says.

“Council spent five years of hard work delivering something that will truly be the envy of all other clubs in the Queensland Australian Football League.”

First-class facilities

“The completion of this new $18.8 million AFL hub means Moreton Bay Region is now home to three of the best AFL precincts in South East Queensland,” Mayor Flannery says.

“We also have the South Pine Sports Complex at Brendale and the Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex at Burpengary, which have already hosted AFL preseason matches and AFLW fixtures.

“Thanks to Council’s forward-thinking investments not only are we are well ahead of the demand from growing participation rates of local clubs, we’re also in a box seat to help the professional leagues coming to Queensland.”

Opportunities abound

Amid the global coronavirus pandemic, the AFL has chosen to relocate the majority of its 2020 fixtures to Queensland.

Mayor Flannery says it could be a case of Moreton Bay being in the right place, with the right facilities, at the right time.

“Queensland was the sunshine state, then the smart state and through a bizarre twist of fate we’re quickly becoming an AFL state,” he explains.

“Moreton Bay is an obvious choice for any AFL team looking for a region that offers the state’s best AFL facilities, attractions and experiences.

“Our region has a proven track record of successfully hosting thrilling elite sports competition, like the Brisbane Roar playing A-League matches here at Dolphin Stadium.

“It’s part of the reason why their women’s and youth teams have chosen to relocate to new $18 million facilities at Brendale.

“The Brisbane Broncos have played practise matches at Dolphin Stadium and the Redcliffe Dolphins themselves are in the box seat for the next Queensland-based NRL licence.

“I’ve been telling anyone who’ll listen that Moreton Bay Region has some of the best sports infrastructure in the country, and now I think this is an opportunity for us to show the whole of Australia that Moreton Bay is open for business and open to all exciting new ideas.”

Tigers roar

Redcliffe Tigers president Scott Stanford says this is a landmark moment in the club’s history that he hopes will be looked back on as the start of something special.

“We know how lucky we are to even have a season let alone these new facilities, so the whole club is buzzing to finally get out and have a kick,” Mr Stanford says.

“The facilities are such a great asset for us to attract a whole new wave of juniors to the club as well as financial backing through sponsors wanting to come on board. All those positive outcomes flow on to our senior squad, which we hope to one day see playing in Division 1 and winning regular premierships.

“It’s also a massive incentive for our relatively new girls and women’s teams, which we are investing in heavily. Since we started the program our girls have been on a steep upward trajectory and this facility will help keep that going.

“Thanks to Moreton Bay Regional Council who has put in so much work and shown a lot of faith in us as a club to build this amazing new home ground and clubhouse.”

Want more news and updates? Head to our blog.

#moretonbaytough