Brisbane is named Australia’s top sports city in 2023 ahead of Melbourne and Sydney

The 2032 Olympics may be nearly a decade away, but Brisbane has already been named Australia’s top sporting city, according to a new survey.

Queensland’s capital is the only Australian city to rank in the top 100 of BCW’s annual Ranking of Sports Cities, ranking 15th just behind Chicago and Munich.

Brisbane, a newcomer to the rankings, is the only Australian city to make the top 100, both missing out on sporty Melbourne and Sydney.

Paris leads the ranking ahead of Los Angeles and London, with New York and Manchester in fourth and fifth place respectively.

Madrid and Barcelona follow, ahead of Tokyo, which dropped from first place to eighth in the current ranking last year, while Lausanne and Budapest round out the top-10.

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The report noted that ‘joining big brands like the Olympics and FIFA and major professional leagues’ was critical for cities to be seen internationally as major sports hubs.

To that extent, it came as no surprise that Paris and Los Angeles – the hosts of the next two Summer Olympics – topped the list, ahead of London – the home of the 2012 Olympics.

And BCW attributed Brisbane’s “impressive debut” to the River City winning the rights to host the 2032 Olympics.

“Brisbane is already known as a leading global sports city and that reputation will only improve as we move closer to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Mayor Adrian Schrinner.

“We have world-class stadiums close to the city, vibrant districts, year-round sunshine and great public transport, all of which contribute to making Brisbane an ideal destination for fans to experience major sporting events.”

In February, the federal government signed off on $7 billion in funding for new and improved stadiums, including the brand new $2.5 billion Brisbane Arena.

The venue, which is being built close to the city’s Roma Street Cross River rail, will provide a drop-in pool for the 2032 Olympics and then be converted into a music venue.

“This will consolidate this great city as a global city, as a global powerhouse, but it will not only benefit Brisbane,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at the unveiling of the funding.

Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup and 2027 Rugby World Cup

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed plans to tear down and rebuild The Gabba at a cost of $2.7 billion

“This will make a huge difference to our economy, to our lifestyle, to how Australia is perceived, and to the world as well.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also unveiled plans to tear down and rebuild The Gabba at a cost of $2.7 billion, which will “anchor a major urban renewal project.”

The International Olympic Committee needs a 50,000 capacity stadium with a different shape than the Gabba in its current state. Funding for the stadium’s redevelopment does not come from the federal government.

Brisbane will also host the Women’s World Cup later this month and the Rugby World Cup in 2027.

A concept image of the new $2.5 billion Brisbane Arena, which will seat 17,000 fans

Queensland’s largest city has hosted the NRL’s Magic Round since its introduction in 2019, with the annual extravaganza drawing more than 540,000 fans since its inception.

This year, a record 147,105 fans attended the eight games at Suncorp Stadium in front of an average crowd just north of 49,000.

a News Corp last month’s report revealed that the event contributes an estimated $28 million to the Sunshine State’s economy each year.

And the Queensland government is reportedly ready to make a $20 million offer to the NRL to ensure that Brisbane remains the host of Magic Round for the next ten years.

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