Redcliffe Dolphins’ $100m bid to join the NRL and surpass Broncos as richest team
Redcliffe have finalised a formal NRL bid ready for presentation, armed with staggering assets that would instantly make them the richest club in the competition - even surpassing the Broncos.
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Redcliffe are primed to blow rivals out of the expansion race by tabling a $100 million mega bid that will make the Dolphins the richest club in the NRL — and twice as big as Queensland glamour club the Broncos.
The Dolphins will on Tuesday fire another shot in the battle to be Brisbane’s second team when they officially unveil a new $6.5 million grandstand which gives Redcliffe a ready-made boutique NRL stadium.
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ARL Commission chief Peter V’landys is pushing to fund billion-dollar stadium upgrades to ensure the NRL thrives in renovated suburban venues and Redcliffe’s 10,000-seat Dolphin Stadium fits his vision perfectly.
Now Redcliffe are going for the jugular. After two years of planning, they have finalised a formal NRL bid ready for presentation, armed with staggering assets of more than $100 million — dwarfing the Broncos’ $53.7 million asset base.
The ARL Commission will begin due diligence on adding a 17th team to the NRL in December and the Dolphins’ latest facelift would give Redcliffe the infrastructure and financial muscle to become the new glamour club of the NRL.
The Bombers, Easts Tigers’ Firehawks and Ipswich’s western-corridor bid are gunning to be Brisbane’s second team — but the Dolphins have gathered the ammunition to blow the minds of the ARL Commission.
Souths super coach Wayne Bennett recently called for the Dolphins to be added to the NRL and Redcliffe chairman Bob Jones said money will not be an issue if they are named Brisbane’s second team in 2022 or 2023.
“We’re putting in a bid – we’re as keen as anyone,” Jones said.
“We’ve been quietly working away for years and we’ve expressed our interest to the NRL.
“The important thing for the NRL is we have the infrastructure ready to go.
“While this COVID crisis has put a strain on everyone’s finances, we’ll be able to survive it, no doubt about that.
“We have a proud history and I’m confident we can stand up financially to be part of the NRL.”
The Dolphins are currently in negotiations with Suncorp Stadium bosses. Under their expansion plan, Redcliffe will split home games between Suncorp and Dolphin Stadiums, with the odd match to be played at Sunshine Coast Stadium to expand their northern catchment.
The improved Dolphin Stadium now has more than 10,000 seats with an additional standing room of 1500 to bring the capacity to 11,500.
The Dolphins NRL bid has a diversified business than matches any _ and exceeds most _ clubs in the NRL. Redcliffe own an 11-hectare site, have a cashed-up leagues club with 40,000 members and have business interests in a shopping centre, gymnasium and leased offices that generate $30 million in turnover annually.
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The wider Moreton Bay region is home to more than 450,000 residents.
“Redcliffe is the way to go – they have a ready-made club for the NRL,” former Broncos coach Bennett said in February.
“Redcliffe are a very stable financial club, they have a huge junior base, they have a powerful state league club in the Dolphins, and they have all the infrastructure.
“The northern corridor of Brisbane is just getting bigger and bigger. The fan base there would be sensational.”
It was feared the COVID crisis would kill off expansion but V’landys is pushing ahead with plans for a second Brisbane team.
“I want a second team (in Brisbane) and I will give it my full attention at the end of the year,” he said.
“We have our Queensland partners up there so the last thing we want to do is hurt the Broncos, Cowboys and the Titans.
“I haven’t seen one iota of evidence so far to back up their case that the game isn’t ready for expansion.
“In business, competition brings excellence. The Broncos are not concerned about expansion. I believe a second Brisbane team would elevate everyone in the game, not just the Broncos.”
Originally published as Redcliffe Dolphins’ $100m bid to join the NRL and surpass Broncos as richest team