Stadiums Queensland’s world-class expertise will be on show once again on the international stage with The Gabba Grounds Manager David Sandurski off to the United States for his third stint working for Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
Mr Sandurski has worked as Grounds Manager at The Gabba for over eight years.
Mr Sandurski will play a key role in maintaining the grounds to FIFA’s meticulous guidelines at the 69,000-capacity Philadelphia Stadium for six 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, including five group-stage games and a round of 16 knockout.
Having worked as the Pitch Venue Manager at Suncorp Stadium during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia, Mr Sandurski expertise was requested at the FIFA Club World Cup in the US last year and has once again been requested for the prestigious role at the world’s largest sporting event.
His role will involve testing, reporting and monitoring the field and its performance, and recommending any changes that need to take place throughout the tournament.
Best known for his work as Head Curator providing an iconic cricket wicket, Mr Sandurski said there are some subtle differences between a cricket and football pitch.
“FIFA are a global sporting powerhouse, and to play a part in delivering world-class turf for the biggest sporting stage in the world is an exciting challenge and reinforces that the quality of The Gabba is up there with the best in the world,” Mr Sandurski said.
“While the general principles remain the same, the height of the cut is different, the actual grass is Kentucky Bluegrass as opposed to our Couch or Bermuda varieties, and the fields are slightly firmer and wetter so the ball can move quicker.”
“Being handpicked by FIFA is a vote of confidence in the expertise of The Gabba team and shows that our staff and the practices and procedures we use are world-renowned, and to be asked back three times shows that we’re doing something right.”
Stadiums Queensland Chief Executive Todd Harris said the request for his expertise is further confirmation that Stadiums Queensland venues are not only world-class but also cultivate world-class professionals.
“David is highly respected as a turf manager in the international cricket world, and having his skills sought after by the likes of FIFA in a completely different code is truly a feather in his cap,” Mr Harris said.
“As our portfolio expands to include Victoria Park, it’s important to have highly skilled professionals that can cater to multi-use venues and varying codes of sport so we can continue to deliver major events on an international scale.”
“We strive to support our staff to pursue professional development opportunities such as this in order to ensure our organisation continues to have the best in the business.”
“While David will be missed during his stint, he’s worked closely with the team ahead of the tournament and it’s a great opportunity for upskilling in his absence.”