Getting to the game: travel to sports stadia in the era of transit-oriented development

Abstract

Australian sports stadia are returning to the core of cities and to sites supported by high-capacity public transport infrastructure, forming what is often termed 'transit-oriented development' (TOD). In addition, travel demand management (TDM) is being used to condition patrons into using public transport, redefining the patron transport experience. The scale of these shifts has significant implications for patrons, most of whom attend to watch the four respective football codes - Australian Rules (AFL), rugby league, rugby union and soccer - the dominant spectator sports in Australia. These shifts are exemplified in new stadiums such as Docklands in Melbourne and Lang Park in Brisbane. The rise of TDM and TOD also requires a new approach to determining stadium catchments, for which a method based on public transport accessibility is demonstrated. The research explores the prospects of possible AFL stadium locations on Queensland's Gold Coast and questions the decision to locate the future stadium at Carrara.