NRL Magic Round officially a sellout as Brisbane stands to gain $50m

This weekend’s NRL Magic Round is officially a sellout, with the footy festival on track for its biggest turnout and a $50m windfall for Brisbane.

This weekend’s NRL Magic Round is officially a sellout while Caxton St is set to be transformed into a pedestrian-only fan zone across the three days.

Every ticket has been sold with the three-day footy feast starting Friday on track for its biggest turnout and a $50m windfall for Brisbane.

Thursday night’s women’s State of Origin match is also tracking to deliver a record attendance for the women’s game.

Magic Round has sold out in previous years but never as quickly as this time, with hotels, pubs and clubs to be bursting across the weekend in an estimated $50m windfall for the city’s economy.

Almost half of the tickets sold have been to people living outside Brisbane.

Last year’s Magic Round was worth more than $40m to the city’s economy, according to Tourism and Events Queensland and the Brisbane Economic Development Agency, which showed there were 43,700 visitors to the city with 123,000 visitor nights.

The figures were a significant spike from the 30,000 visitors and $27.4m economic injection in 2022.

“The NRL Magic Round is a great example of the success of collaboration and driving economic growth into the region,” a BEDA spokesman said.

Magic Round has also been a winner for the corporate sector, with data from Flight Centre subsidiary Stage and Screen showing the footy feast is more popular with corporate travellers than both the NRL and AFL grand finals.

NRL fans on Brisbane’s Caxton St ahead of Magic Round (from left) Ryan Pratt, Taylor Olzard, Tom Mitchell, Lachy Patrick, Ella Hutchinson and Rebecca Stewart. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

There has been a 45 per cent increase in corporate travel bookings to Brisbane compared to last week.

Caxton St will be closed to traffic from midday on Friday (with the exception of local residents) for the weekend with the famous stretch turned into a carnival-like fan zone.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the stage was set for an incredible four days of footy.

“The fifth edition of Magic Round will be the most attended, most watched version of the event yet,” he said.

“History will be made when we kick off the first three-match women’s Origin series, which will make it one of the biggest events on the Australian sporting calendar.

“Fans have once shown again that they will travel from far and wide to be involved in Magic Round with more than 40 per cent of ticket holders travelling from outside of Brisbane.”

Tourism and Sport Minister Michael Healy said: “Magic Round really is pure magic and the numbers here speak for themselves – everyone wants to be part of it”.

“We cannot wait to welcome fans to our spectacular city for this sold-out blockbuster weekend of footy and blockbuster weekend for our visitor economy. “

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Magic Round was now one of the code’s unmissable events.

“This weekend marks the biggest series of showdowns on the NRL calendar, offering visitors and residents a captivating experience,” he said.

GIANT LEAP FOR FANKIND

Caxton St, the legendary road leading to Queensland sport’s most hallowed venue, will be transformed into a pedestrian-only fan zone across Magic Round this weekend.

It will be closed off to traffic between Petrie Terrace and Hale St, except for local residents needing to get in and out of their properties.

For the first time at Magic Round, the precinct will become a virtual footy carnival featuring interactive games, live music and fundraising initiatives for local junior rugby league clubs, along with merchandise stands and roving entertainers.

Fans can pose for photos with the NRL Premiership Trophy, while youngsters will be given the chance to commentate on magic NRL moments in the children’s commentary box.

Cash competitions and pop-up bars will also be scattered throughout the precinct.

The Caxton St fan zone will run from 4pm on Friday, 1pm Saturday and 12pm on Sunday.