Brisbane Roar fans sick of watching their A-League team play in a near-empty Suncorp Stadium have criticised a report to the Queensland government disapproving of a boutique stadium.
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The Stadiums Queensland Taskforce report recommends no new stadiums be built in Brisbane and the 18,000-seat Ballymore be demolished.
With a capacity of more than 50,000, Suncorp is considered too big for many Roar fixtures, but nowhere else in Brisbane is up to standard for professional sport.
Options include upgrading Ballymore Stadium, rebuilding Perry Park or building an entirely new venue.
But none of that is necessary, the report released on Wednesday claims, even if the city was home to A-League or NRL expansion teams or to host matches in major one-off events like a women's World Cup.
"There is current capacity for additional content within the existing venues," the report said.
"It is more fiscally responsible and viable for the State to maximise the utilisation of Stadium Queensland's existing major sporting venues instead of constructing, managing and operating new assets."
The position has angered those who believe Suncorp lacks atmosphere for A-League and W-League matches, with claims more than 70 per cent of Roar fans want the club to play home games at a smaller stadium.
"This raises a significant question in relation to this report - who was consulted in forming the conclusion a new stadium was not required?" Roar Supporters Federation president Richard Moss told AAP.
Ballymore, the spiritual home of Queensland rugby, should be knocked down and turned into a suburban ground, particularly because of its less-than-ideal Herston location, according to the report.
Maintaining the venue was causing losses of $1.5 million a year.
"Ballymore venue is more aligned to being a training, club participation and administrative hub for rugby and compatible sports as opposed to being a location for a major stadium," the report said.
The report also acknowledged pressure on the Gabba after the ground was overtaken as a preferred cricket venue by the redeveloped Adelaide Oval and Perth's new Optus Stadium.
But any major upgrade to the Gabba should be "carefully considered" by the state government considering plans are in place to improve patrons' experience by introducing a Cross River Rail station by 2023.
Australian Associated Press
