TV boost for city's NRL quest
THE WESTERN Corridor NRL bid has received another boost, with Channel Nine confirming it wants to see another side playing out of Suncorp Stadium should the game expand in 2015.
The Australian Rugby League Commission is likely to look at expansion in June, with the Brisbane Bombers and Western Corridor bids the two contenders in south-east Queensland.
Channel Nine's boss of sport, Steve Crawley, said yesterday that Suncorp Stadium was "the best stadium in the world and if you could have a game coming out of there every week that would be great for rugby league and great for the broadcaster ... so having an extra team in Queensland would be a wonderful thing."
Western Corridor bid chairman Steve Johnson said that was "great news for the bid."
"When it comes to the final negotiations for the television deal the person writing the cheque will have the biggest say.
"If Channel Nine is successful, and they want a second side in Brisbane, then for the ARLC to get the money that it wants it will have to grant their wish."
Johnson said the feedback from Ipswich people to playing out of Suncorp Stadium had been extremely strong.
"The people that I have spoken to in our local area who support the Broncos say they will support both sides," Johnson said.
"It is easier and quicker to get to Suncorp Stadium from Ipswich than it is from most suburbs in Brisbane that require a complicated bus transfer - but from Ipswich, it is get on one train and you are there."
