Football Queensland presents 2024-2026 Infrastructure Strategy

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Matildas vs France Women's World Cup
Image credit: CommBank Matildas

Football Queensland has released its new 2024-2026 infrastructure strategy outlining centrally that collaboration with the government will be necessary for infrastructure investment over the next three years.

FQ and Football Australia did quantitative research on community club infrastructure and found the need for millions of dollars worth of infrastructure to support this growth and maintain numbers.

The first point of call is “Unlocking the Legacy of the FWWC23.”

FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci expressed his delight on releasing the Infrastructure Strategy.

“We are delighted to release the 2024-2026 Infrastructure Strategy which builds on our previous 2020 – 2024 Infrastructure Strategy and details our roadmap to securing the vital investment required in our greenspace to build capacity as we work towards achieving our goal of 50/50 gender parity by 2027,” he said via press release.

“Football, as Queensland’s leading team participation sport, continues to grow annually at a double-digit rate, with a staggering 44% surge in female participation (and 29% overall growth) in outdoor players alone in the first quarter of 2024 following the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.”

FQ has recorded 300,000 participants with an impressive 65% growth in the last 4 years.

In conjunction with this data, there was a +470% increase in talent pathway athletes and a +330% increase in female participation since 2016.

Also on the national teams, the FQ has a massive role with 50% of the 23FWWC Matildas and Olympic football teams coming through FQ pathways.

Despite these remarkable statistics, looking at it from an infrastructure perspective Robert Cavallucci continues on by saying that football has reached a crisis situation.

“From an infrastructure perspective, based on its continued growth, the game has reached a critical crossroads due to historical underinvestment.”

This struggling infrastructure leads to Challenges such as:

  • Physical and Mental Health Challenges including youth crime.
  • Economic Challenges
  • Reduced Physical Activity
  • Environmental Impact
  • Lack of Opportunities

The study behind this strategy is based on the National Football Facilities Audit Tool.

Provided by the partnership of FQ with Football Australia and another 8 member federations.

It has over 13.5 million data points, providing crucial business intelligence and pinpointing infrastructure gaps for clubs to work on FQ with Football Australia and another 8 member federations introduced the sport’s inaugural.

This data will help FQ in increasing its workforce capabilities with a precise mobilisation of its participation base.

This will be upheld by key campaigns on targeted events and participation, including advocacy within the community to engage with the government and support further education of participants to upgrade the development and quality of personnel.

The Strategy has been broken up into 3 priorities:

Priority 1: State Home of Community Football Pathways

FQ aims to establish a consolidated State Home of Community Football at Meakin Park.

It will significantly contribute to local economic growth and enhance physical and mental well-being through improved facility access, events at various levels (local, state, and national), and community activations.

The benefits:

  • Local economic activity.
  • Supports local sports clubs.
  • Multi-purpose indoor facility access.
  • Community Access.
  • International level training facility.
  • Economic activity through events.

As of December 2023, the estimated cost of this project is $70 million.

Priority 2: Community Football Infrastructure Fund

FQ with the Queensland state government will have a funding model in partnership that would see $20 million per annum invested over an initial three-year period in capacity and capability improvement projects.

Will also advocate for state funding grants for community football, planning for 20 facility improvements annually.

There is a need for large-scale facilities for the lower leagues and training of youth as well as high-performance training facilities in the state.

The benefits:

  • Improved club capacity and capability.
  • Targeted investment (need as opposed to want).
  • Promotes football & Government, co-contribution model.

 Priority 3: Tier 2 Stadium Fit-For-Purpose Stadia

The proposed new 15,000-20,000 seat stadium would be an international state-of-the-art venue tailored for football and a range of events from conferences to concerts.

This would support the commercial viability of the sport, especially the female game and the hosting of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

The Benefits:

  • Fit-for-purpose football stadia.
  • Supports professional sports’ economic viability.
  • Promotes Brisbane as a global sports capital.

The estimated cost from December 2023 is 200 million.

The strategy is based on hard evidence, community data and a thorough plan to develop the lacking areas of the game. It does highlight the need for the support of the government, otherwise, the strategy has the potential to struggle.

Overall, however, the outlined process looks promising and with the future AFC2026 and Olympics 2032 competitions, it is an area the government needs to support, and this strategy proves Football Queensland have the dedication and preparation to see it through.

To read through the full 2024-26 Infrastructure Strategy, click here.

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The A-Leagues Final Series important status also a secret hinderance

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The Isuzu A-League finals series is a huge event in the footballing calendar, though its contribution to stagnant attendance numbers in the league is something to be said.

If the 2025/26 finals series follows similar patterns to those before it, it will gather huge traction and strong ticket sales.

It is the largest event for the domestic league, bringing in massive amounts of viewership through media and gate receipts.

Finals series from years past have shown this, with the 2024/25 final, a Melbourne derby, being sold out within 48 hours and gathering significant viewership online.

The idea of a finals series lies within the Australian sporting ethos; the other sporting codes have had this tradition for most of their existence, especially in recent history.

Football, though, is different from the rest of the sporting codes in Australia, unique even. This has historically contributed to its inability to integrate into the same supported status as other codes.

Many in the Australian footballing community, supporter groups, players, coaches, and even the new Director of Football Australia, have voiced concerns over fan numbers in the league competition.

It wouldn’t be absurd to say that maybe, though profitable now, the finals series is actually taking away from the league itself.

Consider the media image: the league winner is called the “minor premiership,” and ticket sales and viewership figures reveal a huge disparity between the two parts of the A-League.

It must be said that an alternative that could work in unison with the league and possibly increase viewership of the league itself would be a great advantage.

It would allow the league to gain more jeopardy and drama, which could build greater interest in attending league games.

One alternative is already here.

No other sporting code in Australia has both a league competition and a cup competition. Football in Australia does.

The Hahn’s Australia Cup is our equivalent to the FA Cup in England or the Copa del Rey in Spain.

These are competitions that offer a finals option in a different competition entirely. They generate huge traction while never diminishing the importance of the league and, therefore, its popularity.

These cup competitions cannot be discussed without acknowledging some obvious differences.

They don’t face the same popularity issues that football does in Australia. It’s obvious the Hahn’s Australia Cup doesn’t yet gain the traction that the finals series does.

However, for a healthy footballing environment with increasing fan numbers, it should.

The idea of elevating the Hahn’s Australia Cup and scaling back the finals series is a complex question, one that is treated like a “no-go zone” by many in the Australian footballing community, and that is understandable.

Though big changes like this might, in the end, be credible options for the future of the sport in this country.

Larger plans must be set in motion, strategies that can be worked towards and refined along the way. It is the process by which all large organisations, business models and even national governments build their strategies.

Such a shift will be scrutinised and pushed back against.

Though with further fine-tuning and smart investment in development, not to mention the introduction of promotion and relegation and the possibility of changing the footballing calendar.

It could replicate the success that these two-competition models already enjoy in other leagues.

The added importance that the premiership would gain, the reality that every game matters, could alongside other strategies entice fans to more games, increase viewership and ticket sales, and create more dedicated fan bases. It works in other nations, very well in fact.

The possibility of two teams lifting a trophy, rather than one single event defining it all, sounds like a strategy that could deliver more engagement over longer periods of time.

Maybe Australian football doesn’t need to answer this question just yet. It is complex, difficult and it would require a great deal of work, including significant investment into the game, which is another issue entirely.

Yet as low attendance numbers persist in the A-League, even alongside increased media viewership, something needs to change for football in Australia.

The rise in popularity of this game and its dedicated community deserves bold ideas and forward thinking.

Ideas like this could eventually begin to change the landscape of the beautiful game in Australia for the better.

How Husqvarna Is Helping Stadiums Cut Costs Without Cutting Quality

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Image Credit: Husqvarna

At a time when operational costs are rising across global sport, stadiums and football clubs are being forced to rethink one of their most overlooked expenses: turf maintenance.

From diesel consumption to labour hours, maintaining elite playing surfaces has traditionally been both resource-intensive and environmentally taxing. But new data emerging from venues like CBUS Super Stadium suggests a smarter, more sustainable model is already taking hold.

Leading that shift is Husqvarna, whose autonomous turf technology is quietly reshaping how professional venues manage their playing surfaces. Their product delivers measurable cost savings without compromising quality.

Cutting fuel consumption costs

At CBUS Super Stadium, the introduction of Husqvarna’s CEORA™ robotic mowing system has reduced diesel usage by approximately 20–30 litres per week. Over the course of a season, those savings compound into a significant reduction in both fuel spend and carbon emissions. This is particularly efficient for stadiums hosting regular fixtures and large-scale events.

CBUS Super Stadium General Manager Kristian Blundell said the robotic mower was a game-changer for the venue:

“This technology is not replacing staff but rather giving our grounds team the ability to do what they do best by helping to improve turf management processes, better manage fatigue and decrease our environmental footprint”

But the impact goes beyond fuel.

 

Time efficiency

By automating routine mowing, Husqvarna’s technology enables grounds teams to focus on higher-value maintenance tasks, from pitch recovery to detailed surface management. The result is not only greater operational efficiency but also improved turf consistency, which is an increasingly critical factor in elite football performance.

The benefits are being mirrored beyond stadium environments. At Oatlands Golf Club, Husqvarna’s autonomous mowing has delivered savings of up to 60 litres of fuel per week while freeing up staff for precision work. Quiet, round-the-clock operation also ensures surfaces are maintained without disrupting play—an advantage that translates directly to multi-use stadium settings.

Image Credit: Husqvarna

Importantly, Husqvarna’s lightweight robotic systems reduce the wear and tear typically caused by traditional heavy machinery. This not only protects the integrity of the playing surface but also reduces the need for costly repairs over time.

Football clubs navigating tight budgets at grassroots and semi-professional levels could benefit from such cost savings.

With rising energy prices, increasing sustainability expectations, and limited staffing resources, the ability to cut costs while improving performance is no longer optional. Solutions like Husqvarna’s CEORA™ are positioning clubs to operate more efficiently today, while preparing for a more environmentally accountable future.

As the sports industry continues to evolve, one thing is becoming clear: the next competitive edge may not just come from what happens on the pitch—but how it’s maintained.

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