Article: Footy fix to provide transport test

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Footy fix to provide transport test

Footy fix to provide transport test
CHRIS BARRETT AND PHIL LUTTON
September 1, 2009 - 7:50AM

Brisbane's public transport capacity is poised to be pushed to the limit on Saturday night with more than 80,000 sports fans to stream out of the city?s premier two grounds within minutes of each other.

The decision by the AFL to create a direct clash with the Tri Nations rugby Test between Australia and South Africa at Suncorp Stadium by scheduling the elimination final between the Brisbane Lions and Carlton at the Gabba on the same night raised plenty of eyebrows yesterday.

Translink, the State Government?s south-east Queensland public transport body, had already been commissioned to run shuttle service buses to the rugby from six locations ? the city centre, Carindale, Eight Mile Plains, Mt Gravatt, Chermside and The Gap ? from two and a half hours before the 8pm kick-off.

As a result of the AFL's decision to overlook a Friday night final between the Lions and Carlton, the government agency has been given just five days? notice to cope with the equally challenging public transport requirements of the Gabba, where the opening bounce will take place at 7.30pm. Unlike the Milton venue, the Gabba is not accessible by train.

An AFL spokesman told brisbanetimes.com.au a Friday night final had only been briefly considered.

''Our view is we basically have played no more than one, maybe two Friday night matches in Brisbane over the last decade. We have generally played either early Sunday or Saturday night so we decided to remain consistent,? the spokesman said.

''Our understanding was that the rugby Test was already sold out before we came to the scheduling.''

The Tri Nations Test is in fact not yet a 52,000 sell-out.

The AFL's move is all the more confounding given Brisbane only hosts one rugby international this year.

The ARU said yesterday the clash with was unfortunate.

''Obviously it?s disappointing,'' a spokesman said. ''Two major drawcard matches are going to be falling on the same night in Brisbane.

''However ticket sales for the Test against the Springboks have been strong and we?re confident the match will draw a crowd in excess of 46,000.''

Australia rugby hooker Stephen Moore admitted he was perplexed by the Wallabies having to battle the Lions for crowds.

''That's a bit of a strange one. Hopefully there will be two full houses, that there won't be a seat in either stadium,? Moore said.

''It's positive for the Lions. They've done really well. I've been following them. In saying that, I hope there is 52,000 at Suncorp to see us play as well.''

Lions coach Michael Voss said he was not concerned by the clash.

Tickets for Lions members went on sale yesterday. They are on sale to the general public from tomorrow.

Blog comment:

The Gabba is a public transport basket case.  Bus cannot cope and won't as usual on Saturday night.  Rail is needed and hopefully with the cross river rail project an underground railway station at the gabba is not that far away.  Suncorp stadium Milton is serviced well by rail and will not be an issue.  If you are going to the gabba rather than overload the buses from the city catch a train to Buranda or Southbank and active transport from there.  Maybe TransLink could put on some shuttles from those stations as well.

[ozbob]

Brisbane Lions v Carlton Blues   Gabba

-->   http://www.translink.com.au/event.php?id=71


Wallabies v Springboks  Milton

-->   http://www.translink.com.au/event.php?id=69

[ButFli]

You have to hand it to the AFL. They always try to compete with the games of one of the Rugby codes at Suncorp but they always come out second best. Creating such a conflict with so little notice is criminal. Thankfully it's not on a Friday night like last time.