Paul McCartney Brisbane: High security request withdrawn

PAUL McCartney is set to play his first Brisbane show since the ’70s — and his promoter made an unprecedented request, before withdrawing it.

SUNCORP Stadium bosses were asked to screen every single concert goer with handheld metal detectors ahead of music legend Paul McCartney’s headline show this weekend.

It would have been the first time in the venue’s history security screening had been boosted to such a high level – but the request was yesterday revoked by the event’s promoters.

Suncorp Stadium general manager Alan Graham said Frontier Touring had requested the venue to conduct “100 per cent wanding”, meaning every patron would have been screened with handheld metal detectors before entering.

“It was a request that came through,” Mr Graham said.

“But they’ve obviously thought about it, considered the threat level and thought there was no need for it, so adjusted their requirements.”

It will be Sir Paul McCartney’s first Brisbane performance since the Beatles played the city in 1964.

Australia’s terror threat level remains unchanged at “probable”, below “expected” or “certain”.

Mr Graham, who said the promoter declined to go into specific detail about why they made the request, warned patrons would still need to arrive early because security would still be tight.

Every bag will face a security check, with backpacks larger than A3 size banned from entry.

The former Beatles icon, who penned unforgettable classics such as Hey Jude and Let It Be, has almost sold out the 40,000-capacity One on One show at Queensland’s largest stadium.

It is the first time McCartney has played in Australia since the 1993 New World Tour, and his first Brisbane performance since the mid-’70s.

Frontier Touring yesterday declined to return requests for comment about why the request was made or why it was revoked.