How Suncorp Stadium will go from Broncos Maroon to Redcliffe red in just two hours

Suncorp Stadium will host a Broncos home game followed by a Dolphins one today. This is why it’s a big deal.

Groundsperson Lachlan Roache, Event Coordinator Eilish McNeill-Sheldon and Venue Presentation Assistant Elizabeth Mahoney at Suncorp Stadium ahead of the double header on Saturday. Picture: Tara Croser.

It’s the Suncorp sister act leaving NRL fans – and stadium staff, seeing double.

For the first time in its hallowed history, Suncorp Stadium will on Saturday host two separate NRL games, with an extraordinary logistical undertaking required to pull off the rare feat.

Rescheduling caused by the mayhem of Cyclone Alfred back in March has led to a scenario where both the Broncos and Dolphins will host home games at Suncorp on the same day, requiring an almost military-scale operation to clear the venue and be ready for another kick-off just a few hours later.

Suncorp has hosted plenty of double headers – and even triple headers during Magic Round, but this is the first time the stadium has hosted two separate events on the same day, with more than 40,000 spectators from the Broncos-Warriors match required to exit the arena before an estimated 30,000 arrive for the Dolphins v Rabbitohs encounter.

In the three hours or thereabouts between full-time in the Broncos’ game and kick-off for the Dolphins, about 1500 staff members will take part in a frenetic effort to clean the grandstands, repair divots, change signage and logos and scour for any opportunistic fans trying to hide in the toilets.

Stadium management have stressed the message that both events require a separate ticket and fans from the first game will not be allowed to re-enter the venue unless they have tickets to both matches.

Suncorp Stadium general manager Alan Graham said all parties had worked hard to ensure the day runs like a well-rehearsed backline play.

“We’d like to thank the Broncos for their co-operation in making this happen as well as the Dolphins who have made some concessions on their normal entitlements to achieve this,” he said.

“We’ve worked with all stakeholders in particular Queensland Transport and Queensland Police and believe we have the correct plans in place.

“We’re looking forward to a great double spectacle of rugby league.”

Lizzy Mahoney from the venue presentation team said she was confident of being able to pull off the necessary changes to the stadium in the tight window available.

“It will be a huge effort especially in the short time between games but we’re excited for the challenge of turning the venue around for the Dolphins,” she said.

The historic double act came about after the Dolphins were forced to move a home game against the Bunnies back in March to Sydney as Alfred bore down on the Queensland coast.

It meant the return fixture – which was due to be played in Sydney, was moved back to Brisbane on a weekend when the Broncos were already scheduled to host one of their biggest home games of the year, against the high-flying and well-supported Warriors.

With about 80,000 fans expected across both games, Caxton Street is also set for one of its busiest days of trade for the year, rivalling the mega performance of Magic Round.

Originally published as How Suncorp Stadium will go from Broncos Maroon to Redcliffe red in just two hours