In what has been described as a groundbreaking move, Moreton Bay’s existing National Rugby League (NRL) stadium will be transformed into a purpose-built international softball diamond ahead of the 2027 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s Softball World Cup Finals.
The announcement was made at Kayo Stadium last month by Softball Australia CEO Sarah Loh, alongside City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery, Dolphins Group President Bob Jones, Federal Member for Petrie Emma Comer, Member for Redcliffe Kerri-Anne Dooley, representatives from Redcliffe Leagues Softball Association and Softball Queensland, as well as members of the Aussie Spirit team and Head Coach Kerrie Porter.
According to Softball Australia CEO Sarah Loh, the major redevelopment is expected to bring a wealth of teams, officials and visitors to the region when Aussie Spirit takes on the other top seven nations in the world from 5-11 April 2027.
“The 2027 Softball World Cup is expected to bring 2.5 million dollars of expenditure into the local community, and that’s from the punters coming for one week,” she said.
Boosting Local Economy and Women’s Sport
City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said the project was an innovative way to make use of established infrastructure.
“We’ve got world-class lights, fantastic thousand-seat capacity and all the infrastructure around it,” Mayor Flannery said of Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium, noting its close proximity to Talobilla Park, the long-standing home of the region’s competition diamond.
He said that the park, which officials say will remain a central part of the tournament footprint, is also undergoing a five-million-dollar clubhouse upgrade.
Ms Loh said that the decision to host the World Cup Finals at Kayo Stadium was about presenting women’s softball on a truly international stage.
“This is about elevating softball, showcasing our sport to new audiences, and creating more opportunities for people to discover and fall in love with softball, particularly young girls and women,” she said.
Member for Redcliffe Kerri-Anne Dooley said that the announcement marked a fantastic day for not only Australian softball but also the electorate of Redcliffe and the City of Moreton Bay.
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