Brisbane's Magic Round Boosts Women's Rugby and Economy

Brisbane just proved that celebrating women's sports alongside men's games creates something special for everyone involved.

The city's annual Magic Round returned this week, packing Lang Park stadium with tens of thousands of fans for nine straight rugby league games across three days. For the third year running, the festival kicked off with the women's State of Origin game, giving female players the biggest stage in Australian rugby league.

Blues player Kennedy Cherrington said playing in front of massive crowds changes everything. "The energy, seeing the fans in the streets, and being a part of this roster, I think it's very important that we have the women's game be part of it," she said after her team's 14-10 victory over Queensland.

With so many eyes watching in such a short window, the women's game is gaining the momentum it needs. Cherrington noted that creating "normality with the household names" in women's rugby helps carry excitement into the full NRLW season.

Behind the scenes, head groundskeeper Matthew Oliver and his team faced the enormous challenge of keeping the field playable through nine consecutive games. They started planning back in October, carefully managing grass height, moisture levels, and field firmness to withstand the intense schedule.

Even with rain forecast throughout the weekend, Oliver stayed confident. "I think come Sunday, by the last game, the field should still be performing as well as it was on Thursday," he said, calling it "quite a rare event around the world globally" to host this many major contests in four days.

The Ripple Effect

The impact stretches far beyond the stadium. Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Natassia Wheeler reported hotel occupancy hit 77 percent on peak nights, compared to the usual 55 percent for May. An extra 15,700 passengers flowed through Brisbane Airport during the festival weekend.

Fans traveled from regional Queensland and across Australia, filling restaurants, hotels, and local businesses. The economic boost gives the entire state a win, proving that investing in major sporting events pays dividends throughout the community.

Magic Round shows what's possible when cities embrace both women's and men's sports equally, creating celebration that lifts everyone.