Sport in Queensland

An Ashes Test at the Gabba
Queensland Roar playing at Suncorp
Brisbane Lions players in training

Sport is an important part of the culture of the Australian state of Queensland. Golf is the most played organised sport and touch football the most played team sport. Netball is the most popular female sport,[1] while rugby league is the most watched sport.[2] The largest sporting event held in Queensland annually of the Gold Coast 600 motor race.

Australian rules football

Australian Football has a long history in Queensland. The first foray made by the then VFL came in the form of the Brisbane Bears, who began playing Premiership matches in 1987. Despite some rocky times in the northern state, the game now appears to be entrenched within the Queensland, thanks to a hat-trick of AFL Premiership wins from 2001-2003. The introduction of the Gold Coast Suns in 2011 highlights the game's growth in Queensland.

Cricket

Cricket is popular in Queensland. Many domestic and international matches are held here at The Gabba. The Queensland Bulls are based in Brisbane and represent Queensland in Australia's domestic cricket tournaments:

Rugby league

Rugby league is the most spectated sport in Queensland.[3][4][5] Queensland Rugby League has been in operation since 1908, creating strong roots in both city and regional communities. There are currently three teams in the National Rugby League competition:

There are currently two official Queensland NRL expansions bids to be based at -

The other major rugby league team is the Queensland Maroons who play New South Wales Blues in the fiercely contested three game State of Origin competition.

The other major state based competition is the Queensland Cup.

Rugby union

Swimming

Swimming is also a popular sport in Queensland, with a majority of Australian team members and international medalists hailing from the state. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Queensland swimmers won all six of Australia's gold medals, all swimmers on Australia's three female (finals) relays teams were from Queensland, two of which won gold.

At the 2004 Summer Olympics, 2005 and 2007 World Long Course Swimming Championships, Australia won both the 4 × 100 m freestyle and medley relays. In five of these teams, three out of the four swimmers were from Queensland, and in the medley relay in 2007, all were from Queensland.

Major events

1982 Commonwealth Games

2001 Goodwill Games

Main article: Goodwill Games

2018 Commonwealth Games

Other events

Queensland Sports Awards

Each year the Queensland Sport Awards are held. The major award is the Sport Star of the Year:[6]

Teams in national competitions

Brisbane-based

Club/Team League Venue Established Premierships Average Attendance
Brisbane Bandits Australian Baseball League Brisbane Exhibition Ground 1989 1 1300 (approx) (2015-16)
Brisbane Broncos National Rugby League Lang Park 1988 6 32,395 (2015)
Brisbane Bullets (2016-17) National Basketball League Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre 1979 3 -
Brisbane City National Rugby Championship Ballymore 2014 2 2191 (2015)
Brisbane Heat Big Bash League The Gabba 2011 1 29,352 (2015-16)
Brisbane Lions Australian Football League The Gabba 1997 3 20,634 (2015)
Brisbane Roar A-League/W-League Lang Park 2004 1/2 11,660 (2014-15)
Queensland Blades Australian Hockey League Queensland State Hockey Centre 1991 5
Queensland Bulls Pura Cup/Ford Ranger Cup The Gabba 1892 13 400 (approx) (2015-16)
Queensland Firebirds ANZ Championship Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre 1997 2
Queensland Reds Super Rugby Lang Park 1996 1 21,779 (2015)
South East Queensland Stars Women's National Basketball League Logan Sports Centre 2015 Nil
Triple Eight Race Engineering International V8 Supercars Championship Queensland Raceway 2003 6

Outside Brisbane

Club League Venue Established Premierships
Cairns Taipans National Basketball League Cairns Convention Centre 1999 Nil
Dick Johnson Racing International V8 Supercars Championship Queensland Raceway 1980 7
Erebus Motorsport International V8 Supercars Championship Queensland Raceway 2013 Nil
Gold Coast Blue Tongues Australian Ice Hockey League Iceland Ice Skating Rink 2005 Nil
Gold Coast Suns Australian Football League Carrara Stadium 2011 Nil
Gold Coast Titans National Rugby League Robina Stadium 2007 Nil
James Rosenberg Racing International V8 Supercars Championship Queensland Raceway 1995 Nil
North Queensland Cowboys National Rugby League Willow Sports Complex 1995 1
Queensland Sundevils National Championships (American Football)  - 1985 Nil
Tekno Autosports International V8 Supercars Championship Queensland Raceway 2010 Nil
Townsville Crocodiles National Basketball League Townsville Entertainment Centre 1993 Nil
Townsville Fire Women's National Basketball League Townsville Entertainment Centre 2001 2

Sporting Venues

Brisbane

Venue Capacity Main Sports
Acacia Ridge Iceworld 300 Ice Hockey, Speed Skating, Figure Skating
Albion Park Racecourse ??? Harness racing, Greyhound racing
Allan Border Field 4,500 Cricket
Ballymore Stadium 24,000 Rugby Union
Ice World Boondall 300 Ice Hockey, Speed Skating, Figure Skating
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre 4,000 Basketball
Brisbane Cricket Ground 42,000 Cricket, Aussie rules football
Brisbane Entertainment Centre 13,500 Basketball
Brisbane Exhibition Ground 25,500 Baseball
Brisbane International Speedway 48,000 Speedway motor racing
Chandler Aquatic Centre 4,300 Swimming
Chandler Velodrome 3,500 Cycling
Dolphin Oval 15,000 Rugby League
Doomben Racecourse 22,000 Horse racing
Eagle Farm Racecourse 43,000 Horse racing
Holloway Field 1,500 Baseball
John Murray Field 1,500 Baseball
Lakeside Park 30,000 Motorsport
Lang Park 52,500 Rugby League, Association Football (soccer)
Langlands Park 5,000 Rugby League
Mick Doohan Raceway ??? Motorcycle speedway, Motocross
Perry Park 10,000 Association football (soccer)
QLD Group Stadium 10,000 Rugby League
Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre 49,000 Rugby League, Athletics
Queensland State Equestrian Centre 3,200 Equestrian
Queensland State Hockey Centre 500 Field Hockey
Spencer Park 10,000 Association football (soccer)

Outside Brisbane

Venue Capacity Main Sports Location
Barlow Park 18,000 Rugby League Cairns
Browne Park 8,000 Rugby League Rockhampton
Cairns Convention Centre 5,300 Basketball Cairns
Carrara Stadium 25,000 Aussie rules football Gold Coast
Cazaly's Stadium 14,000 Cricket, Rugby League Cairns
Clive Berghofer Stadium 9,000 Rugby League Toowoomba
Endeavour Park 10,000 Cricket Townsville
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre 6,000 Basketball Gold Coast
Harrup Park 10,000 Cricket Mackay
Heritage Oval 10,000 Cricket Toowoomba
Morgan Park ?? Equestrian events, Motorsport Warwick
Newtown Oval 10,000 Rugby League Maryborough
Queensland Raceway 30,000 Motorsport Ipswich
Robina Stadium 25,000 Rugby League Gold Coast
Roy Henzell Oval 10,000 Cricket Sunshine Coast
Salter Oval 10,000 Cricket Bundaberg
Stockland Park 12,000 Rugby League, Rugby Union, Football (soccer) Sunshine Coast
Surfers Paradise Street Circuit 120,000 Motorsport Gold Coast
Tony Ireland Stadium 10,000+ Cricket and Rugby League Townsville
Townsville Entertainment Centre 5,260 Basketball Townsville
Townsville Street Circuit 60,000 Motorsport Townsville
Willowbank Raceway 30,000 Drag Racing Ipswich
Willows Sports Complex 25,000 Rugby League Townsville

See also

References

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