Ahoy there! Brisbane Pirates jump ship

The Brisbane Pirates Bowls Premier League team has rebranded as the Moreton Bay Pirates ahead of next month’s competition at Club Pine Rivers.

Mayor Peter Flannery says the rebranding puts the region on the map in Bowls Premier League circles.

|“We are proud to be home to the Pirates and the Pirates will now proudly tell the world where they are from every time they compete,” he says.|

“And they should, because Moreton Bay is fast becoming a contender for the sporting capital of Queensland - with the Brisbane Roar women moving to Moreton Bay, The Dolphins will soon join the NRL, the Roar men play their home games here and this year we hosted the first ever standalone NRLW Grand Final.”

Mayor Flannery says the change came about thanks to the advocacy of Bowls Premier League hosts Club Pine Rivers.

Growth potential

“Their effort to lobby this change with Bowls Australia is one which Council threw its full support behind.

“We see the enormous growth potential in both the Pirates and the Bowls Premier League as an up-and-coming sports event.

|“The BPL is a fast-growing format of bowls, much like the T20 for cricket.|

“It’s fun, it’s exciting and it’s a great live spectacle with all the entertainment they put on during competition.”

Mayor Flannery says the event attracts about 1000 visitors to the region over five days of action.

“And the whole thing is broadcast live on Fox Sports, Kayo and Sky Sport New Zealand, which alone is worth $2 million to our local economy in promotional value.

“Our tourism, sport and major events industry is highly developed, with a visitor economy worth more than $1 billion.”