Redcliffe’s Dolphin Stadium is almost ready and it could soon play host to some major events

Exclusive pictures show the $6.5 million redevelopment taking hold in the heart of Redcliffe. It can also be revealed the Dolphins are in talks to host the following major events.

Construction of the final stage of southeast Queensland’s newest sporting stadium has surged ahead during the COVID-19 shutdown – and it has attracted the attention of some major upcoming events.

Dolphin Stadium, at Kippa-Ring north of Brisbane, has been transformed over the past five years – adding first the Des Webb stand, then the Eastern stand.

Construction of the $6.5 million northern stand started in January and is due to finish ahead of schedule in early August.

Stage 3 of Redcliffe Dolphins stadium is almost complete. Dolphins CEO Tony Murphy poses for a photograph with the new Northern stand being constructed in the background. Picture: Renae Droop

Once completed the stadium will be able to seat 10,000 people.

The stadium has already played host to many major sporting events including NRL trial games, the Intrust Super Cup Grand Final, A-League and W-League games, national football tournaments, and FFA Cup games.

Redcliffe Leagues Club CEO Tony Murphy revealed the club could be in line to host major upcoming events, should Australia and Queensland be successful in its bids.

“We have had organisers from the Olympics and the Women’s Football World Cup out here to have a look,” Mr Murphy said.

Stage 3 of Redcliffe Dolphins stadium is almost complete. Picture: Renae Droop

“So there could be some major events on the cards.”

Mr Murphy said one of the best things about the stadium was how close the crowd was to the action.

“The crowd is so close, they sit right on the sideline or behind the goals,” he said.

Below the new grandstand will be change rooms specifically designed for women, a referees’ room, amenities, space for food trucks and a new tunnel onto the field.

Mr Murphy said a few extras such as better lighting to suit commercial television broadcasts and more screens could also be added in the near future.

Construction of Stage 1 of Dolphin Stadium. Picture: Chris Higgins

Mr Murphy said it was hard to believe the long-time dream was almost completed.

“It all started because mothers stopped coming to the games with their kids,” Mr Murphy said.

“The kids liked to roll around on the grass hill but they would get bitten by green ants. No matter what we tried we couldn’t get rid of the ants. So we thought we need some seating.”

Mr Murphy said the club did some research and learned that there was no boutique stadium in Brisbane.

“Sydney has got 14 of them for their suburban clubs, Brisbane has got zero, this will be the only one,” he said.

The path to funding the stadium was much harder.

In 2014 The Redcliffe & Bayside Herald ran a campaign calling for a stadium.

In 2015 then newly elected Federal LNP MP for Petrie Luke Howarth started a petition seeking funding from the Federal Government.

In August that year Prime Minister Tony Abbott committed $4 million towards the project.

Adding to the $3 million committed by Moreton Bay Regional Council.

All three levels of government have since committed millions more to Stages 2 and 3.

Mr Murphy said the Eastern and new Northern stand would eventually be named after a past player or clubperson – but the decision would be made by the board.

“It is something you can only do once, so you have to get it right,” Mr Murphy said.