Redland City Council and Queensland Touch Football have partnered to bring the Junior State Cup to the Cleveland showgrounds in 2024, marking the first time the flagship event has been held in south-east Queensland.
Thousands of future stars from more than 230 affiliate teams will converge on Redlands for the three-day carnival, which is set to be held from July 4-6.
The Junior State Cup is one of the most anticipated events on the touch football calendar each year and has been hailed as a significant economic opportunity for the city, with thousands of attendees expected to fill the city’s pubs, clubs and accommodation.
Dozens of clubs from all corners of the state – including Kingaroy, Sunshine Coast and Gladstone – had shared news of the event coming to Cleveland within hours of it being published to the Queensland Touch Football Facebook page on Monday.
It is another major sporting coup for the city, which is gearing up to host canoe slalom events at a purpose-built whitewater stadium in Birkdale during the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Queensland Touch chief executive Greg Denny said he was looking forward to working closely with Redland City Council and Redlands Touch Association to deliver the event.
“The 2024 Junior State Cup in Cleveland provides our first opportunity in more than 25 years to bring our flagship event to south-east Queensland and into the heart of one of the largest touch football communities in our state,” he said.
“The Redland Showgrounds provides a fantastic touch football venue and precinct area, with a track record of hosting quality events over a long period of time.”
Mayor Karen Williams said hosting the Junior State Cup would complete the “trifecta” for Redlands after previously holding the Queensland Primary All Schools Cup Championship and the Arthur Davis Cup.
“Redlands Coast is becoming renowned as one of Australia’s most event-friendly destinations and already has hosted a number of major sporting events,” she said.
“I am really excited that touch football can now be added to that list of exciting events.
“Three and a half thousand people will be filling our pubs, our clubs, our accommodation and exploring the rest of the city.”
Redlands Touch Association president Scott Hogan said it was a great opportunity for the club.
“We are sure this event is going to bolster our numbers,” he said. “This will certainly open up more opportunities for young players to join our ranks and to stay fit and healthy.”
Cr Peter Mitchell said the collaboration went beyond sport.
“The benefits of this event are going to cut across so many parts of our community,” he said.
