Making Brisbane the most desired destination during
Stradbroke Season Presented by TAB
The 2021 TAB Queensland Winter Racing Carnival featuring the Brisbane Racing Club (BRC) premier event, Stradbroke Season, is underway and set to deliver a much-needed boost to the state’s pandemic-affected economy over the coming months.
When last measured and prior to COVID-19, BRC’s annual contribution to the Queensland economy was $158 million, with Stradbroke Season accounting for a large part of that figure said BRC Chief Executive Officer Tony Partridge.
“When race meetings are in full swing, fashion outlets, hospitality businesses, and taxi and ride share drivers are among those to benefit and receive a lift,” he said. “With so many businesses struggling because of the pandemic, the flow-on from winter racing is a big positive.
“This year BRC’s Stradbroke Season presented by TAB program has six race days, instead of the regular five of the winter carnival, so this provides an added injection into the local economy.”
BRC is also using Stradbroke Season and its 2021 theme ‘The best time to be in Brisbane’ to promote the Queensland capital as a desirable and diverse tourist destination, particularly over the mid-year months.
A BRC e-brochure includes listings of other sporting, arts and entertainment events on in Brisbane in May and June, a sample of accommodation options, including at BRC’s long-time partner Treasury Brisbane, details on the Dine BNE City initiative, and a chat with BRC Ambassador Damien Anthony Rossi about some of his favourite south-east Queensland scenic drives and river city ‘must-dos’ for out-of-town visitors.
BRC Chairman Neville Bell, in his e-brochure introduction, said the timing was right for racing, sports, the arts, entertainment, hotels and other ventures to be part of ‘team Brisbane’ and present a united front to travellers coming to Brisbane from other parts of Queensland, interstate and, when possible, overseas.
“We know BRC will host great racing. But tourism now requires a multi-faceted approach,” Mr Bell said. “Visitors are attracted by the prospect of several diverse experiences in one trip.
“Of course the balmy weather in Brisbane is a major lure to those travellers from colder climes interstate and New Zealand. But there is so much more to the offering for visitors and so many exciting things starting to come together in the capital.
“Brisbane should be the destination ‘must do’ year round. But May-June can deliver something unique.”
On the sporting calendar over Stradbroke Season is the NRL Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium, with all 16 teams taking part, and home games of the in-form Queensland Reds rugby team and the AFL Brisbane Lions.
Mr Bell said to help promote Brisbane’s diversity, BRC had initiated ties with Opera Queensland and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, with other connections in the pipeline.
Brisbane-born Xenia Puskarz Thomas, a gifted young mezzo soprano who has been signed to Opera Queensland, will showcase her musical diversity, performing jazz at the Stradbroke Season gala evening event, Jazz Under The Stars, at Eagle Farm Racecourse on 13 May.
For art lovers, European Masterpieces from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York starts its Brisbane season at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) on 12 June.
Read BRC’s Destination Brisbane e-brochure here.