Cricket Tenants Plead for New 2032 Olympic Stadium in Brisbane
As the newly elected state government prepares to reassess Olympic plans, Queensland Cricket and the Brisbane Lions AFL club have jointly appealed for a new 55,000-capacity stadium to serve as the centerpiece of the 2032 Brisbane Games.
In a letter to Premier David Crisafulli, the sporting bodies have urged the government to reconsider its ban on building a new Olympic venue, backing the proposed AU$3.4 billion Victoria Park facility. The tenants now seek an opportunity to discuss the Gabba’s uncertain future, hoping to secure a venue plan that ensures the survival of both cricket and Australian rules football in the city.
Premier Crisafulli had previously scrapped Labor’s Olympic stadium proposal after winning the October 26 election, ordering an independent 100-day review to devise a new 2032 blueprint. However, the Liberal National Party leader has repeatedly ruled out constructing a new Olympic stadium.
“Undeterred, Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson stated the organizations hope ‘common sense will prevail’ when they meet with the premier in the coming weeks. Svenson expressed frustrations over the ‘anxious wait’ regarding the Gabba’s future, as the iconic venue faces an uncertain fate.”
Under the former Labor government, the Gabba was initially slated for a AU$2.7 billion redevelopment before the plan was abandoned due to rising costs. A subsequent AU$600 million Olympic facelift was then scuttled when the new LNP administration took power.
An independent review earlier this year concluded that the Gabba would reach the end of its lifespan by 2030, describing the venue’s condition as “poor.” Svenson emphasized the need for a timely decision, as both Queensland Cricket and the Brisbane Lions would require alternative home grounds if the Gabba is revamped or replaced, potentially costing the cricket body up to AU$40 million in displacement expenses.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie stated he was open to reviewing the letter but remained steadfast in the government’s “no new stadium” stance, backing the ongoing 100-day Olympic venue review.
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