Restaurant owner expects business to triple as hype builds around AFL Grand Final at The Gabba
A Brisbane restaurant owner’s dream has come true after it was announced The Gabba would host this year’s AFL Grand Final, just months after he bought the nearby venue during a worldwide pandemic.
Southeast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Southeast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
When Andrew Watson bought a restaurant in a popular area in Woolloongabba during a worldwide pandemic, he knew the first year or two of business was going to be an extreme struggle.
But that was until yesterday when he, and so many other businesses in the area, hit the jackpot as the AFL announced this year’s grand final would be held at The Gabba on October 24.
The Brisbane venue will host the event instead of the usual MCG because of Victoria’s COVID-19 restrictions, with 30,000 fans expected to watch the final game of the season.
“Never, ever did we think when we bought this place during COVID-19, that we would be this lucky to have an AFL grand final at the stadium right next to us,” Mr Watson, the owner of The Pearl restaurant on Logan Rd, said.
QLD SCORED AFL GRAND FINAL FOR $5M CHEAPER THAN OTHERS
AFL GRAND FINAL AT THE GABBA: KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED
PUBS, RESTAURANTS INCREASE PRESSURE ON PREMIER TO EASE RESTRICTIONS
With 34 years in the hospitality industry and the past 15 as a business owner, Mr Watson said he didn’t believe people realised how big it was for such a big event to be hosted in their own backyard.
“When it was announced, the first thing my wife and I did when we got home was pop a bottle of wine because we knew how much it would mean for our business,” he said.
“It’s going to be just as big, if not bigger, than the Ashes coming to Brisbane.
“During those types of events, you have people at your restaurants for weeks before. I would expect our restaurant to be packed for days leading up to the game.
“I believe business will triple compared to normal, which will be a huge boost for businesses, especially after a tough past six months.”
The venue manager of the nearby Woolloongabba Hotel, Damien Masters, also believed it would be similar to when The Gabba hosted Test cricket matches.
“I would think it would triple, maybe even more to be honest, it’s a piece of history so everyone will be trying to get there,” he said.
“We’re expecting it to be crazy and I have had some accommodation in the area already being three quarters full for that weekend and I’d expect that to continue over the next week.
“We've been lucky that business has been pretty good since AFL has been at the stadium in recent months but this will be a whole different level.”
Mr Masters, a Brisbane Lions fanatic, also said he believed the business surge could double if the hometown team made the grand final.
With restaurants, pubs, cafes and more in the immediate vicinity around The Gabba, Mr Watson expected the whole suburb to be packed with AFL fanatics but believed the surge would stretch far wider than just Woolloongabba.
“I would expect all of Brisbane’s south area, the city and all those types of areas to experience a surge in business,” he said.
HOW LETHAL, SHEEDS HELPED BRING FOOTY TO THE GABBA
WHY 30,000 AT AFL GRAND FINAL IS NO GUARANTEE
TAXPAYER COST OF HOSTING AFL GRAND FINAL REMAINS A SECRET
“People from across the state will be coming to the game, most likely staying in the city, so they’ll visit venues around there but also want to see different parts near the stadium and around Brisbane as well.”
Both Mr Watson and Mr Masters believed they would be more job opportunities available around the grand final to cope with the surge in business.