Riverstage Has Just Been Added as a Live Screening Site for the Matildas' World Cup Semi-Final
A whopping 9000 football fans can head to the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens to watch the Matildas take on England on the big screen.
Suncorp Stadium will always be home to one of the Matilda's most epic matches, after the Australian national women's soccer team defeated France in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup semi-finals at the Milton venue. For the squad's next game, they're off to Sydney for a semi-final clash with England to hopefully earn a berth in this year's ultimate decider — but if you're keen to watch all the action in a crowd here in Brisbane again, Sam Kerr and company are also taking over Riverstage.
Add the riverside amphitheatre within the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens to your out-of-home viewing options at 8pm on Wednesday, August 16, with the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council opening up the spot as a live screening site for the night.
Riverstage joins King George Square and South Bank, in what's set to be a busy Ekka public holiday around the River City even if you're not hitting Brisbane Showground for a strawberry sundae.
BREAKING: We're helping open the Riverstage so more Queenslanders can cheer on the @TheMatildas in their historic semi-final match against England tomorrow night.
Thank you to the Brisbane City Council for their partnership in this. pic.twitter.com/2onGa8YLIt
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) August 15, 2023
"The Matildas have captured the hearts of Australia and I know all of Queensland is behind them as they head into Wednesday's semi-final. Almost half of the Matilda's side are from Queensland, so it's no wonder we are all getting behind them," said Acting Premier Steven Miles.
"We want as many people as possible to cheer on the Tillies, which is why the Lord Mayor and I worked together to open up Riverstage as a screening location."
"I'm so excited we've been able to work with Deputy Premier Steven Miles to open the Riverstage as an official live site for tomorrow's World Cup semi-final. This will be the biggest game of football in Australia's history," added Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.
"Brisbane residents deserve to have every opportunity to come together and experience the incredible spectacle of our Matildas taking on England. Between the Riverstage, King George Square and the expanded South Bank fan festival, residents will be able to pick whatever venue works best for them to watch the action live and cheer on our incredible Tillies."
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In total, Brisbane's live sites will be able to welcome in 23,000 soccer fans cheering on Kerr, Caitlin Foord, Ellie Carpenter, Katrina Gorry, Hayley Raso and the rest of the team — and hoping that Mackenzie Arnold doesn't have quite the tense end to the game after the last match's penalty kicks.
Riverstage can accommodate 9000 people, while 2000 folks can crowd into King George Square. The existing South Bank Women's World Cup hub at the Riverside Green and South Bank Piazza can fit 5000 people — and the Rainforest Green (1500 football fans), Cultural Forecourt (2,000 viewers), Flowstate Precinct (1500 folks) and River Quay Green (2000 people) will also be used.
Will this match beat the last one to become the nation's biggest TV sports event in a decade again? That looks as certain as Brisbane going all in for all things green and gold.
The Matildas take on England at 8pm on Wednesday, August 16, with the match playing on the big screen at Brisbane Riverstage — and in King George Square, and also around South Bank.
The FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 runs from Thursday, July 20–Sunday, August 20 across Australia and New Zealand, with tickets available from the FIFA website.
Top image: LittleBlinky via Wikimedia Commons.
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