Australian Rugby League Commission Chair John Grant said that Sydney's "iron grip" on the National Rugby League grand final "may be prised open" after '19, with the season showpiece "likely to go on the road once every three years once the deal with the NSW government expires," according to Phil Lutton of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The move "opens up the possibility of a grand final at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium," which Grant also said stood to "play host to a second team in the region" to take on the might of the "market-dominating" Brisbane Broncos if the game adds a 17th side in '18. Grant said that the "Sydney monopoly" on the traditional grand final "could come to an end if rival governments came to the party with offers to host the game." NSW Premier Mike Baird recently announced a A$1B ($700M) injection into Sydney stadia development, which NRL CEO Dave Smith said would "ensure it remained at the head of the queue for marquee matches." But Grant was "nudging Queensland to put its chips on the table, saying any upgrades to Suncorp Stadium would provide food for thought as the NRL laid out its future grand final plans." Grant: "The NSW government has made commitments around stadia in Sydney and it will be reliant on having headline content. Similarly, there are discussions now about upgrading what is still the best special purpose rugby league stadium in Australia (Suncorp Stadium), if not the world." The Queensland government has been "reluctant to add Wi-Fi and new screens to Suncorp Stadium," which many feel could "start to be left behind" as other cities modernize and expand their venues (SMH, 9/24).
