AFL Cairns unveils Cazalys Stadium masterplan featuring multi-sport precinct

With daily uncertainty about the state’s primary Olympic’s venue, AFL Cairns has just dropped a shovel-ready master plan for Cazalys. SEE THE PLANS

AFL Cairns has completed its masterplan to transform Cazalys into a 20,000-seat stadium and an international sporting precinct. Image: Cox Architecture

Far North sports fans could soon have access to a stadium with enough bells and whistles to rival venues like Brisbane’s Gabba, with AFL Cairns unveiling an ambitious vision to tranform Cazalys into a world-class precinct.

And the organisation isn’t playing games, with the AFL Cairns board quietly drumming up a self-funded $250,000 masterplan, complete with intricate details including architects and surveyors along with plans to expand seating to 20,000, upgrade its lighting to high-voltage LEDs and drainage and accessibility improvements.

A new multi-use indoor centre also forms part of the plan and would complete the venue’s status as a first-rate sporting precinct.

AFL Cairns general manager Craig Lees said the adjacent centre would provide opportunities for community use and include a professional basketball stadium, which if the Taipans desired, could play host to the city’s NBL team for training.

AFL Cairns has completed its masterplan to transform Cazalys into a 20,000-seat stadium and an international sporting precinct. Image: Cox Architecture

It would feature a gym, a swimming pool, and the capability to host professional hockey as well as other sports.

If required and if built to the plan, Mr Lees said the facility could play home to the Queensland Academy of Sport or an athlete wellbeing space.

“It’s not just about attracting big events, but it’s about how can Cazalys become a sporting hub for our community to use 365 days a year and how can we service our community,” Mr Lees said.

AFL Cairns general manager Craig Lees at Cazalys Stadium. Picture: Brendan Radke

But big events are crucial to a stadium’s earning power and Mr Lees said the current ageing facility was missing out on millions of dollars worth of sporting and entertainment events, which were being won by Townsville and Mackay’s newer facilities – Queensland Country Bank Stadium and Great Barrier Reef Arena.

“Cairns has so much marketability and with the growth of our population, why should people have to drive four hours to Townsville for events like Pink?,” he said.

The organisation has a freehold title over the Cazalys site, and now armed with a shovel-ready plan, Mr Lees said the next step was to hit the phones and lobby for state and federal government cash.

While Cazalys hosted a one-day international series in 2022, it has missed out on major sporting events since to its Townsville and Mackay rivals. Former Australia captain Aaron Finch with New Zealand batsmen Kane Williamson. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Because AFL Cairns has that freehold, it provides that guarantee of maintenance; it won’t fall on the ratepayer or taxpayer,” he said.

It puts the project in a formidable position as the race for high-quality Olympic infrastructure heats up ahead of Brisbane 2032, while the debate rages for the state’s primary games venue.

“We’re so lucky that Cairns has been declared a co-host city for the Olympics, and submissions are now open for the LNP Government’s 100-day infrastructure review,” Mr Lees said.

He said while there was uncertainty in the south east about what facilities would be built and which plans would be canned, in discussions with government officials he had been told the Cazalys proposal would “stack up strongly” and “be hard to say no to.”

Katie Brennan of the Tigers and Greta Bodey of the Hawks lead the teams onto the grounds ahead of the round eight AFLW match between Hawthorn Hawks and Richmond Tigers at Cazaly's Stadium, on October 20, 2023, in Cairns, Australia. (Photo by Emily Barker/Getty Images)

While Mr Lees wouldn’t be directly drawn on whether the current plan would mean Cazalys could legitimately rival venues like the Gabba in attracting top-level events, he said the revamped venue would be a strong challenger for long-term AFL Premiership games as well as test cricket.

Once funded, the project would be built incrementally over four stages, providing a 30-year benefit to the city and estimated to be worth about $500m.

The master plan comes after AFL Cairns and the Cazalys group aquired Tjapukai Cultural Park, earlier this month, for $10m with plans to transform it into an AFL club and community hub.

Originally published as AFL Cairns unveils Cazalys Stadium masterplan featuring multi-sport precinct