For decades, Melbourne has been the centre of sport in Australia.

Melbourne is home to the renowned Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), considered one of the most iconic stadiums globally. The city also hosts the Boxing Day Test, the Australian Open—one of tennis’s four major Grand Slam events—and a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Additionally, it hosts the AFL Grand Final, attracting over 100,000 attendees this year.

Melbourne prides itself on gathering enthusiastic crowds and offering unmatched support for its events. However, its status as Australia’s premier sporting city might soon face competition from its northern counterpart.

Brisbane has its fair share of sporting history, with Suncorp Stadium – affectionately called Lang Park – being a mecca in rugby league.

A State of Origin game at the stadium to see Queensland take on NSW is a bucket list item for any sports fan.

But in recent years, its sports teams have also stamped their authority on the national stage.

The Brisbane Lions are currently shining in the AFL, having reached the last three grand finals. They lost the first but then went on to claim consecutive Premiership victories with ease.

Boasting five premierships, the Lions are the most triumphant club of the 21st century. They are poised to further dominate a sport that holds significant importance for Melburnians.

While the Lions are on the cusp of a dynasty, the city’s biggest NRL side, the Brisbane Broncos, have just ended one itself.

Meanwhile, in a thrilling match at a packed Lang Park, the Broncos overturned a 14-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Penrith Panthers, who had clinched the previous four NRL premierships, thus securing their place in a second grand final within three years.

Their NRLW side has also made the grand final and is the most successful team with three titles to its name.

The Broncos are the best-supported team in the competition and star fullback Reece Walsh is one of the poster boys of the league.

Ironically, the Broncos come up against the Melbourne Storm in this weekend’s grand final.

The Broncos ending a 19-year premiership drought would be another feather in the cap in the city’s claim as the new sporting capital of Australia.

It’s not only its teams shining on the big stage.

Gout Gout, the 17-year-old sprint prodigy set to break records, was also raised in the city, and appears on track to become a national superstar.

Brisbane’s Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner, argues that these accomplishments highlight the city’s deep-rooted passion for sports, asserting that Brisbane stands out among other Australian cities.

“This is a city that lives and breathes sport, it’s not just what we do, it’s who we are,” he told 9news.com.au.

“Brisbane is proving to be the beating heart of Australian sport.”

And it’s only set to get bigger as the city gears up to host the 2032 Olympics, joining Melbourne and Sydney as host cities for the biggest sporting event in the world.

With this comes huge upgrades for its stadiums, with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli pledging to upgrade the iconic Lang Park ahead of the games.

A brand new Olympic Stadium seating 63,000 is proposed for Victoria Park, whilst a huge Aquatic Centre seating 25,000 will also be built in the area.

This will give the city facilities that rival those seen in Melbourne.

Schrinner claims Brisbane has now staked its claim as the sporting capital of a sports-mad country, and he claims it will only get bigger as the Olympics approach.

“Brisbane has cemented its place as Australia’s sporting capital,” he said.

“With the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, we’re gearing up to make it even bigger and better.”

It’s a bold claim to make given Melbourne’s sporting heritage, but the evidence suggests it may not be a far-fetched idea.