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Sunshine Coast Stadium: Capacity, Events and the Path to AFL

The region's major venue is building a case for elite sport.

By The Daily Sunshine Coast · 21 June 2026 at 5:34 pm · 2 min read · 231 words Updated

Verified by the The Daily Sunshine Coast editorial team. This story was reviewed by our editorial team. Last verified: 28 June 2026.

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Updated 26 June 2026 at 7:18 pm

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Sunshine Coast Stadium: Capacity, Events and the Path to AFL
Photo: Photo by Alex Levis on Pexels

Sunshine Coast Stadium at Bokarina has established itself as the primary major events venue for the region, hosting AFL, rugby league, and international football matches alongside a growing concert and entertainment program. Current capacity of approximately 10,000 represents a constraint on the scale of events the venue can attract relative to comparable facilities in larger cities.

The Sunshine Coast Lightning netball franchise has been the anchor tenant, building a passionate local following that has consistently sold out the venue. Lightning's recent premiership success has intensified discussion about whether the region can support a permanent AFL franchise, given the Queensland Government's existing commitment to a Gold Coast and Brisbane club structure.

A venue expansion feasibility study commissioned by Council and the state government is examining scenarios including expanded permanent seating and temporary structures capable of lifting capacity to 20,000 for major events. The study is expected to inform a business case for state capital investment in the 2027-28 budget cycle.

Concert promoters have shown interest in the venue as part of national touring circuits, citing its ability to reach the Sunshine Coast's growing population without requiring Brisbane accommodation for a significant portion of the audience. The infrastructure investment case strengthens as each new resident adds potential ticket revenue to the catchment analysis.

This article was compiled by AI from the sources linked above and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.

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Published by The Daily Sunshine Coast

This article was produced by the The Daily Sunshine Coast editorial desk and covers community in Sunshine Coast. See our editorial standards for how we use AI.

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