Upgrade for Tigers v Suns AFL venue in CairnsMurray Wenzel
The Cairns Post
Tuesday, July 19, 2011A TWILIGHT or night game looks likely for next year's AFL clash in Cairns with work to start on a multi-million dollar lighting upgrade at Cazalys within a week.
After the success of Saturday’s inaugural AFL premiership match in Cairns between Richmond and Gold Coast, further investment will also increase the capacity of the stadium to almost 13,000.
Two more light poles, each containing 88 lights, will be erected at the ground at a cost of $2.7 million.
It means the AFL will have the option of scheduling a night game, or a late afternoon game that will finish under lights.
AFL Cairns boss Gary Young said a twilight game made sense because it would ensure families with young children – who made Saturday’s game so special – would still attend.
"It was so wonderful to see so many kids in their team’s colours showing so much emotion, you don’t want to lose that atmosphere by having it too late," Young said.
"But I’m sure they would want to use the lights in some way, considering $2 million of that is State Government money."
The towers will carry twice as many bulbs as the ones currently in place and will sit behind the grandstand and the hill on Tills St.
"You might need sunscreen at night it’ll be that bright," Young joked.
Nearly 11,000 people created an atmosphere never before seen at Cazalys but next year that number will be closer to 13,000 when the Tigers and Suns return to Cairns.
While there is talk of a grandstand one day expanding across and above the new player facilities, Young said other methods would be employed to increase the crowd size next year.
"Those aerial shots show best where you can fit more people or reposition things to best utilise the space," he said. "We’re working with all three levels of government to keep improving the facility and, even if it’s in small stages, increase the size of that grandstand."
Crews will start digging the foundations for the two new structures early next week and they hope to have the project completed before the wet season arrives.
The Tigers and Suns have a three-year deal to play in Cairns.
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/07/19/174535_local-sport-news.html