Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has today revealed the Gabba as the proposed main stadium should Queensland host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Under initial plans unveiled by the Government, the Gabba would essentially be demolished and a $1 billion main Olympic oval stadium rebuilt in its place.
The Premier said the Gabba has been home to Queensland sport including cricket and AFL for 126 years.
She said it was time to write a new chapter for its next century which hopefully includes the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
But to take it to that level will need the continued support of all levels of government including the Commonwealth.
“Every games needs a home,” the Premier said.
“A home for the 2032 Olympic Paralympic Games could be its crowning glory.
Formally known as the Brisbane Cricket Ground, the Gabba was been earmarked for upgrade because:
- It is already well-used for AFL, cricket and other events
- Is existing infrastructure already connected to the SEQ busway network
- Is centrally located and
- Will have its own Cross River Rail station already under construction connected to the stadium.
A potential upgrade would increase capacity to around 50,000.
It would also include a new pedestrian plaza linking the stadium to the Cross River Rail station which is currently under construction.
The Premier said having a main stadium two kilometres from the CBD gave Queensland an advantage other Games hosts haven’t had.
As a result, the Premier said, the entire city would become a games venue with hundreds of thousands able to share the atmosphere whether they were inside the stadium or not.
Thousands will be able to board trains at a new Albert Street station in the city and arrive at the stadium in as little as three minutes.
This made the games more accessible to people with disabilities and the elderly.
The Premier said the pedestrian plaza could become a games hub of its own with concerts and even medal presentations.
“I can see the river lined with people watching big screens all taking part in the fun and excitement of the games,” the Premier said.
“There’s South Bank leading to West End which is connected to Roma Street via the Kurilpa Bridge with a new bridge under construction for the new Queen’s Wharf development.
“There are city cats offering even more options for transport.
“All of this is infrastructure we already have.”
Minister for Sport and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Olympics Stirling Hinchliffe said the Gabba is a work-horse, not a white elephant.
“It’s used on average for 40 weeks of the year with major sports played in summer and winter including international sport,” the Minister said.
Brisbane Stadium Designing firm Populous had provided concept designs for a possible Gabba upgrade.
Director Chris Paterson said the Gabba satisfied the three rules of good development: location, location, location.
“Brisbane already boasts the world’s best rectangular stadium in Suncorp Stadium.” Mr Paterson said.
“This is an opportunity to compliment it with the best round field stadium right in the centre of the city.”
The Gabba would join Cairns, Townsville, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast as games venues with 85% of already built.
3.18
/5Based on 21 rating(s)
Architectural design
Building amenities
Building greenery (Buildings that breathe)
Public realm / Street activation
Sustainability
By 20 reviewer(s)
Dave Mildren
A new Gabba needs to suffice as a venue for at least another 30 years after the Olympics. Build it with seating capacity of 70-75000, or lose all major cricket and sporting events to the other states with bigger stadiums.
Helpful?
Paul Norwood
I have to agree with Greg. What a waste of money.. Knock down and rebuild the Gabba and only increase the seating by 7000. We need to build a Perth Optus size stadium.
Helpful?
Edward
It doesn’t have to be expensive, or ultra modern, but it definately has to look better than the renderings. They could build the stadium surrounded by green area and trees to constrast the CBD. Please don’t make anything generical like London Olympic stadium or tacky like Beijing bird’s nest. And keep always in mind the legacy mode. London could have built its Olympic Stadium keeping in minds that only a football team would use the stadium after the games and done something like Manchester did, with the Commonwealth Stadium. Instead they built a venue to be dismantled after the games, and it turned out that the part that was supposed to be permanent needed to be remade, so the seats could move closer to the pitch and back, and the temporary seats became permanent, they needed to redo the roof and the facade also.
Best advice: built for the long term legacy and adapt it for the 2 week event, not the other way around.
Helpful?
Trav
This is an enormous missed opportunity. The adjacent site over the proposed train and metro station would be an ideal site for the stadium and it could be a 65-80,000 seater with a roof. One of the major drawbacks to going to a cricket match at the Gabba in summer is either rain interruption or being baked Chernobyl style.
The paucity of thinking going on here is astounding! The current site is a disaster in terms of access and would be better suited to a mixed use site of parklands and a new high school and expanded state school.
There is one chance to get this right and the State Government has rushed this decision and it shows.
Helpful?
Dan Collins
Needs a roof and hold a lot more than an extra 8000 seats. Better off to do a deal with the Brisbane Lions at their reserve site at Springfield and build a whole new stadium that holds 60 to 80 thousand people that will be a dedicated AFL stadium when the Olympics are over. Let the cricket club have the Gabba
Helpful?
Jen Coledge
Waste of money. No additional utility.
Helpful?
Gabrielle Cooney
Qld Government cut funding to our Ruths Women’s Shelter here in Cairns who are turning women away they are so full. This announcement that they are spending $1 BILLION on renovations to the Gabba football oval makes me furious. WTF people should come first.
Helpful?
Ryan C
Quite a few whiners here. Concept looks great, perfect location, stadium capacity is spot on, what are people really complaining about?
It’s time for the federal government to step up. Are you listening Scomo? Queensland needs a partner and we’re all watching you..
Helpful?
Greg
A much better concept would be to stop wasting money on a demolish-reconstruct refurbishment and just build an entirely new stadium directly over the cross-river rail construction site.
The construction site is similar in size and positioning the stadium here would allow for even better public transport access (e.g. the elevated pedestrian bridge over Main St would no longer be required.)
This would also allow for a more olympic-sized stadium (65 to 80,000 capacity.) Plus, the old Gabba could still be used during the lengthy construction phase.
Other benefits include allowing the Brisbane Primary School space to expand: Demolish the old Gabba stadium and there’s room for a public park or school oval. Or at the very least developer friendly high-rise space, since there’s no tunnels obstructing their basement requirements.
Helpful?
Rob
Lame, lame, lame! It will be an international embarrassment if this is the best we can do for an Olympic stadium
Helpful?