Townsville pushing for new Cowboys stadium following poor crowds

AFTER two disappointing crowd figures to start the season the need for a new stadium in Townsville has never been more apparent.

A jubilant Cowboys after thrashing the Roosters 40 - 0 in round 3 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and Sydney Roosters at 1300 Smiles Stadium on Thursday, March 17, 2016. (AAP Image/Michael Chambers) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

FOLLOWING two low Cowboys home crowds, Townsville’s push for a new stadium is ramping up with the Queensland Government formally presenting their case to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Queensland Labor ministers and North Queensland mayors travelled to Canberra earlier this month to present the stadium’s business case to the Federal Government in hope of significant funding.

The need for the proposed inner-city, 25,000 seat, venue in Townsville has never been more obvious.

The 8099 brave souls who sat in the rain to watch the Cowboys thump the Roosters on Thursday night showed exactly why north Queensland needs a new facility.

Only one area of the 1300 Smiles Stadium is covered with more than 75 per cent of the stadium exposed.

It is also a 30-minute drive out of the CBD and has limited public transport options.

Cowboys crowds have been below average this year, with their Round 1 clash with Cronulla attracting just 15,519 fans for a two-game average of 11,809.

That is down on their 2015 average of 16,230.

However, the below-par crowds aren’t the fault of the club or its fans.

The out-of-date stadium means it is far too comfortable to watch Cowboys games on television, especially when so many of their fans drive hours to watch their team.

Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke led the delegation to Canberra and demanded Turnbull make the stadium a major priority for funding.

Labor have pledged $100 million in funding but at least another $100 million is needed from the coalition to make it a reality.

SWITCH: McQueen could move to centres

PERFORM: Walters says Gagai must lift

“I know how important this stadium is, and that’s why I took up the case in Canberra earlier this month when I led a delegation of north Queensland mayors to lobby the Federal Government for projects in North Queensland,” O’Rourke told The Courier-Mail.

“A new stadium will give us the ability to host bigger events, draw more visitors from across the state and create more jobs and opportunities for growth.

“After our visit, I wrote to the Prime Minister to say just how much our city needs this project.

“Now we need Malcolm Turnbull and the Federal Government to come to the table.

“I call on Mr Turnbull, and his newly appointed Northern Australia Minister, Queensland senator Matt Canavan, to progress the business case as their top priority.”

Originally published as Townsville pushing for new Cowboys stadium following poor crowds