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Up to 50,000 people will descend on the Brisbane city each day over the footy festival that is Magic Round and the Women’s State of Origin, which also includes major road closures, potential train troubles and off-the-field action.
So how do you get around and what else is there to do?
Other than cheer on your choice of favourite NRL team from Thursday to Sunday at Suncorp Stadium, of course.
Police and Brisbane City Council have encouraged people to allow extra travel time, with Caxton Street, between Petrie Terrace and Hale Street, closed to vehicles from 10am Thursday until 6am on Monday.
Parking conditions will temporarily change on Caxton Street to “no standing tow away”.
Lang Park Traffic Area conditions for event days will also apply, with a 15-minute parking limit on all roads within the area, unless you have a resident or visitor parking permit, from two hours before gates open at Suncorp Stadium to two hours after an event finishes, unless signed otherwise.
The Lang Park Traffic Area includes suburbs around the stadium, such as Petrie Terrace, Milton, Rosalie, Paddington and Red Hill.
Park Road in Milton, within the Lang Park Traffic Area, is one of the top 10 roads for parking fines in Brisbane.
There will also be temporary road closures around Suncorp Stadium at the start and end of each game.
Drivers have been advised to avoid the area or expect delays.
Extra police will be managing road closures and helping with crowd flow.
Public transport is free for Magic Round ticket holders on Brisbane buses and trains, from four hours before kick-off to four hours after games.
Queensland Rail has advised it will run dozens of extra six-car trains over the four days, so people can catch public transport to the games.
“Even though the unions will be undertaking protected industrial action this weekend, our operations teams are working to minimise customer impacts and maintain as many services as possible for footy fans,” Queensland Rail said.
There has been ongoing industrial action by rail unions amid enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations, which resulted in a reduced timetable, similar to a Saturday timetable, to address a maintenance backlog.
However, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union last month said “low-level action” would only create minor disruptions to Magic Round.
Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg urged unions to call off any industrial action over the four-day festival.
He told Parliament he was disappointed unions had lodged protection action “aiming to disrupt the delivery of train services”.
“My message to the unions is simple … Don’t mess with Magic Round,” Mickelberg said.
The unions and Queensland Rail are due to return to the Fair Work Commission on Friday for more talks.
A Magic Hub pop-up is in King George Square from Thursday, creating a space for fans to watch live matches and enjoy entertainment, from 11am to 10pm until Sunday.
There will also be a fan activation zone on Caxton Street, with free entertainment, games, music and activities.
There will be people handing out free Red Bull and Shapes samples, while over in the stadium precinct plenty of family entertainment is on offer, including a ninja obstacle course and face painting, and fans can even do a skin check with the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation Truck.
On Wednesday, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli confirmed Magic Round would stay in Brisbane until 2032.
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Matt Dennien is a reporter at Brisbane Times covering state politics, parliament and the public sector. He has previously worked for newspapers in Tasmania and Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ. Contact him securely on Signal @mattdennien.15Connect via email.From our partners
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