 | |
 Interior view, with temporary stands erected on one end | |
 Interactive map of North Queensland Stadium Queensland Country Bank Stadium | |
| Location | Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 19°15′58″S146°49′0″E / 19.26611°S 146.81667°E /-19.26611; 146.81667 |
| Public transit |  Townsville,Queensland Rail Townsville CBD Bus Hub,Translink |
| Operator | Stadiums Queensland |
| Capacity | 25,455[1] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 16 August 2017; 8 years ago (2017-08-16) |
| Built | 2017-2020 |
| Opened | 22 February 2020; 5 years ago (2020-02-22) |
| Construction cost | $250 million |
| Architect | Cox Architecture & Counterpoint Architecture |
| General contractor | Watpac |
| Tenants | |
| North Queensland Cowboys (NRL) (2020–present)[2] Queensland Reds (Super Rugby) (2023) | |
| Website | |
| queenslandcountrybankstadium.com.au | |
North Queensland Stadium, also known asQueensland Country Bank Stadium for sponsorship reasons,[3] is a Rugby League stadium located inRailway Estate,[4] a suburb ofTownsville, Queensland, Australia. It is the home ground of theNorth Queensland Cowboys of theNational Rugby League (NRL) competition.
As part ofAustralia's 2022 FIFA World Cup bid in 2010, an analysis of Townsville's existingWillows Sports Complex suggested a total redevelopment of the site and outlined key issues including the growth rate of the surrounding suburbs and incompatibility of hosting major events in an expanding residential centre, with limited public transport access. In August 2011, theBlighGovernment released a concept design for a new inner-city $185 million sporting stadium inSouth Townsville. The concept plan identified a 17.28 hectare parcel of land bounded by Saunders St and owned byQR National, as the ideal site for a new international standard stadium. The 30,000-seat stadium would include 100 open-air corporate boxes and 25 enclosed corporate suites.North Queensland Cowboys chairman Laurence Lancini supported the concept and said relocating the Cowboys' home ground to the inner-city site would not only benefit the club, but the city as a whole. Two months prior to the concept release, then-Queensland PremierAnna Bligh had declared Townsville the capital of north Queensland and had outlined the importance of sporting events and entertainment in the Townsville Futures Plan.[5] The following year saw Bligh and the QueenslandLabor Party lose the2012 Queensland state election which resulted in the QueenslandLiberal National Party not adopting the Townsville Futures Plan.
The concept of a new stadium for Townsville was again put on the agenda in the lead up to the2015 Queensland state election. In December 2014, Queensland Opposition LeaderAnnastacia Palaszczuk promised the Queensland Labor Party would provide $100 million in funding for a new stadium in Townsville's central business district, should they win the election.[6] In January 2015 then-premierCampbell Newman announced $150 million in funding for the same project that would be funded through the sale of state assets.[7]
The last thing I want to say [is that] north Queensland deserves a new stadium.
— Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston in a post-game speech following the North Queensland Cowboys 2015 NRL Grand Final victory.[8]
In April 2015, theTownsville City Council purchased the 17.28ha site in South Townsville with the hope that funding could be secured for the project in the near future.[9] A visit from then-Prime MinisterTony Abbott a month later raised hopes as it was revealed that the federal Liberal National Party was investigating options for Commonwealth funding towards the stadium.[10] Just three days later TreasurerJoe Hockey ruled out Commonwealth funding for the project.[11]
The campaign to build a new stadium in Townsville received national exposure in October 2015 when the North Queensland Cowboys secured their first National Rugby League premiership. With millions watching on a national broadcast and Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull standing on the same stage, Cowboys captainJohnathan Thurston expressed his belief that north Queensland deserved a new stadium.[12] Following Thurston's speech, the campaign received an immense amount of media coverage. Three days after the Cowboys'2015 NRL Grand Final win, it was revealed that club officials would travel to Canberra later that month to lobby for federal funding.[13] On 3 November 2015,Bill Shorten and the federal Labor party promised $100 million towards funding the project.[14]
On 10 June 2016, PremierAnnastacia Palaszczuk committed an extra $40 million towards the project which upped the total state contribution to $140 million.[15] Three days later Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull matched the federal Labor party's pledge of $100 million, essentially ensuring the project becomes a reality regardless of which major party won the2016 federal election.[16]
On 14 June 2019, theNorth Queensland Stadium website was officially launched alongside the announcement that international musicianSir Elton John would bring his final world tour, Farewell Yellow Brick Road, on 29 February 2020 as the first official act for the stadium.
The first NRL premiership match to be held at the ground was betweenQueensland rivals theNorth Queensland Cowboys andBrisbane Broncos in round one of the2020 NRL season.[17]Jake Turpin scored the stadium's first try,Jamayne Isaako scored the first goal andMichael Morgan slotted the first field goal as the Broncos won 28–21.[18]
Game One of the2021 State of Origin series was played in Townsville on 9 June 2021. The match was originally scheduled to be played at theMelbourne Cricket Ground but was moved to Townsville due to another COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne.[19] In front of a stadium record crowd 27,533 made possible thanks to temporary stands being erected at the northern end of the ground increasing the stadium's capacity to 28,000 for the game,[20] New South Wales won 50–6 against Queensland, with the game being the first time since 2000 (and second in the game's history) that the New South Wales side scored above the half-century. It is currently the game with the second highest margin of 44.
On 11 September 2021, the ground hosted its first NRL finals matches when due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney, two finals matches were moved to the stadium with theSydney Roosters taking on theGold Coast Titans in the first match,[21] followed by thePenrith Panthers taking onSouth Sydney,[22] in front of 18,244 spectators.
On 29 May 2021, the stadium hosted its firstRugby Union match, aSuper Rugby Trans-Tasman game between theQueensland Reds and theChiefs. Played in front of 9,238, the Reds defeated the Chiefs 40–34.[23] Later that year on 25 September, it would host its first Rugby Union international test as part of the2021 Rugby Championship. Played betweenAustralia andArgentina, a crowd of 23,184 saw the Wallabies win 27–8.[24] The stadium hosted 2Super Rugby Pacific matches for the Queensland Reds in 2023 in a deal between theQueensland Rugby Union and theCity of Townsville, with the goal of increasing the sports presence inNorth Queensland.[25]
The stadium hosted its first soccer match on 8 April 2022, a women's international friendly betweenAustralia andNew Zealand. A crowd of 10,779 saw Australia win 2–1 with two stoppage time goals.[26]
Construction of the stadium, carried out byBESIX Watpac, began on 18 August 2017,[27] and was completed in February 2020.[28][2]
BESIX Watpac set out with an Indigenous participation goal of 6.6%. This figure almost doubled to 11.9%, equating to more than 122,065 hours undertaken by the Aboriginal workforce.[29]
The project won three awards at the 2020 Master Builders Queensland construction awards for North Queensland: Project of the Year award, Best Sporting Facilities award and Excellence in Workplace Health & Safety.[30]
In 2014, a funding proposal was released that suggested the stadium should officially be known as Stadium Northern Australia.[31] Plans released in December 2016 revealed the stadium would be known as North Queensland Stadium.[32]
In June 2019, expressions of interest were sought for naming rights to the stadium.[33]
On 12 December 2019, Queensland Country Credit Union were announced as official naming rights sponsor of the stadium, with the venue to be commercially known as Queensland Country Bank Stadium.[3]
A new pedestrian bridge overRoss Creek from Blackwood Street is the planned connection between theTownsville CBD and the stadium.[34] A pedestrian bridge over Ross Creek already exists 200 metres south of the project site on Fletcher Street. TheTownsville Railway Station is located approximately 300 metres from the Fletcher Street pedestrian bridge and 500 metres from the stadium site.The new Reid Park bridge was constructed over the rail line simultaneously with the construction of the stadium to facilitate pedestrian movement. The project was praised by Member for Townsville Scott Stewart as being "crucial to ensure the efficient operation of North Queensland Stadium." Several bus stops also surround the stadium site, with a new main city bus terminal located in Ogden Street, Townsville City.
North Queensland Stadium has been the permanent home ground of theNorth Queensland Cowboys men's team since 2020 and hosted some home games for the women's team since 2023. Additionally, it hosted the men's and women's2021 All Stars match, the first game of the2021 State of Origin series and two finals matches in the2021 NRL season. In 2023, the stadium hosted the secondWomen's State of Origin game and matches in thePacific Championships. In 2024, it will host the2024 All Stars match and Game 3 of the2024 Women's State of Origin was played here.
| Date | Home | Result | Away | Attendance | Part of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 February 2021 |  Indigenous All Stars | 0-24 |  Māori All Stars | 2021 All Stars match | |
| Indigenous All Stars | 10-10 | Māori All Stars | 20,206 | ||
| 9 June 2021 |  Queensland | 6-50 |  New South Wales | 27,5331 | 2021 State of Origin series |
| 11 September 2021 |  Sydney Roosters | 25–24 |  Gold Coast Titans | 18,244 | 2021 NRL Finals Series |
 Penrith Panthers | 10–16 |  South Sydney Rabbitohs | |||
| 22 June 2023 | Queensland | 14–18 | New South Wales | 18,275 | 2023 Women's State of Origin |
| 14 October 2023 |  Australia | 16–10 |  New Zealand | 12,067 | 2023 Rugby League Pacific Championships |
| Australia | 38–12 |  Samoa | 18,144 | ||
| 16 February 2024 | Indigenous Women's All Stars | 26–4 | Māori Women's All Stars | 2024 All Stars match | |
| Indigenous All Stars | 22–14 | Māori All Stars | 15,579 | ||
| 27 June 2024 | Queensland | 22–6 | New South Wales | 22,819 | 2024 Women's State of Origin |
On 4 March 2020, it was announced thatA-League sideBrisbane Roar would play againstPremier League clubCrystal Palace on 11 July 2020.[35] This was however indefinitely postponed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[36] In April 2022, it was announced that Brisbane Roar would play a friendly against Premier League clubAston Villa, which took place on 20 July 2022 with the English club winning 1–0.[37][38]
On 8 April 2022, the stadium hosted a women's international friendly betweenAustralia andNew Zealand, with Australia winning 2–1.[39]
| Date | Home | Result | Away | Attendance | Part of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 April 2022 | Australia | 2–1 | New Zealand | 10,779 | Friendly |
| 20 July 2022 | Brisbane Roar | 0–1 |  Aston Villa | 7,468 | Queensland Champions Cup |
In August 2021, it was announced that on Saturday 25 September, theSpringboks andAll Blacks would play their historic 100th test at North Queensland Stadium. The game, won by New Zealand formed part of a double header at the stadium withAustralia also playing againstArgentina. These games were part of the2021 Rugby Championship.[40]
In 2023,Super Rugby club theQueensland Reds announced they would take two games to the stadium as part of their 140-year anniversary season.[41]
The 2023Super W final was also held at the venue where the Queensland Reds lost 38–30 to the Fijian Drua.[42]
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Attendance | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 May 2021 | Queensland Reds | 40–34 | Chiefs | 9,238[43] | Super Rugby Trans-Tasman |
| 25 September 2021 | New Zealand | 19–17 |  South Africa | 23,184 | 2021 Rugby Championship |
| Australia | 27–8 |  Argentina | |||
| 25 February 2023 | Queensland Reds | 13–47 | Hurricanes | 8,433[44] | 2023 Super Rugby Pacific |
| 6 May 2023 | Queensland Reds | 30–38 |  Fijian Drua | N/a | 2023 Super W final |
Queensland Reds | 24–32 |  New South Wales Waratahs | 5,942[45] | 2023 Super Rugby Pacific | |
| 6 September 2025 | Australia | 28–24 | Argentina | 20,163[46] | 2025 Rugby Championship |
| 15 August 2026 | Australia | TBD |  Japan | TBD | Australia–Japan Test series |
| Date | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 October 2027 |  Georgia |  Romania | Pool B | ||
| 9 October 2027 |  Chile |  Hong Kong | Pool A | ||
| 15 October 2027 |  Tonga |  Zimbabwe | Pool F | ||
| 17 October 2027 |  Spain |  Canada | Pool C |
The stadium hostedTim Tszyu's Super Welterweight bout withJeff Horn for the IBF Australasian Super Welter & WBO Global Super Welter titles on August 26, 2020.
Tszyu won the fight by TKO after Horn failed to return from his corner to start the 9th round.[47]
| Date | Performer(s) | Attendance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 February 2020 | Elton John | 20,000 | |
| 22 March 2024 | P!nk | - | |
| 23 March 2024 | P!nk | 60,100 | Combined attendance across two nights |
30 Nov 2024 The Killers 18,000
| Walking | Pedestrian access
|
| Bus | Bus access
|
| Car | There is no public parking at the Stadium except for disability parking available by arrangement. However, paid parking stations are available within 5-minute walking distance in the CBD and park 'n' ride facilities are set up at Townsville Showgrounds/Lou Litster Park and Reid Park. |
| Statue | Sport | Unveiled | Location | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnathan Thurston | Rugby League | 13 March 2020 | Outside gate A | [1] |
Authority control databases: Geographic |
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