Brisbane 2032 Olympics infrastructure plan to deliver Gabba Stadium redevelopment and more

The Palaszczuk Government has unveiled a major revitalisation plan for Woolloongabba and The Gabba Stadium, which will anchor a major urban renewal project, delivering thousands of new homes, including social and affordable housing, as part of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics infrastructure plan.

The Gabba Stadium will be fully demolished and rebuilt to support long-term professional sport and entertainment needs and will be the home of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The estimated cost of the new 50,000-seat stadium is AUD$2.7 billion.

The announcement also includes expanding the current Woolloongabba Priority Development Area (PDA) to encompass more of Woolloongabba and the Stanley Street precinct to South Bank. This will deliver a walkable connection to South Bank and Brisbane CBD via Brisbane City Council‘s new green bridge.

The new Gabba will include a pedestrian walkway linking the stadium to the new Cross River Rail station and future Metro station, via a bridge over Main Street, making it one of the most accessible stadiums in the country.

This exciting project will support a growing Queensland and help maintain our competitiveness for international sport and events. It will be the main interchange between Cross River Rail and Brisbane Metro and will anchor major urban renewal, delivering more affordable housing, dining and retail.

Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said:

We know hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to accelerate the infrastructure and housing we need to support a growing Queensland. The Gabba has hosted sport for more than a century and is home to cricket and AFL most weeks of the year. 

But it’s no secret that Queensland is losing out on major sporting events already – and the tourism, jobs and investment that come with them because The Gabba is not up to scratch.

It must be upgraded to maintain our competitiveness for international sport and events. 

When it’s done, this stadium will shine for Queensland, and so will the area surrounding it.

Queensland Deputy Premier, Steven Miles, said:

The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will change Brisbane the way Expo 88 did. It’s fitting that we will extend the much-loved South Bank precinct to the Gabba and back to the City via the Gardens.

Expanding the existing PDA will see a more integrated and coordinated planning approach for the whole suburb.

The Gabba will be more than just an events stadium. We want it to be activated 24/7 so that living near it will be exciting and fun.

The $2.7 billion Gabba redevelopment will include improved disability access and better transport connection. Given the complexity of building on a constrained site, completely rebuilding the Gabba is cheaper than trying to bring it to a truly accessible, modern standard.

350+ high-level professionals from across the global sports & entertainment landscape were in attendance at ALSD International 2022 where optimising revenue through New Builds, Renovations and Service Expansions took centrestage. Check out the wrap video here and make sure to secure your place at ALSD International 2023, being hosted at Etihad Stadium this October.

The current Stadium is nearing the end of its life and the redevelopment will support the long-term professional sport, community and entertainment needs of the city before and after 2032.

New builds & upgrades

The Queensland and federal governments have reached a AUD$7 billion funding agreement for an overhaul of Brisbane’s sporting and event venues ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In addition to the Gabba rebuild, a new “Brisbane Live” entertainment arena will be created at Roma Street that will seat up to 18,000.

Under the deal, the Commonwealth will contribute around AUD$3.5 billion, including AUD$2.5 billion for the Brisbane arena, and a further AUD$1 billion for the new venues and facility upgrades.

Source & imagery, courtesy: Queensland Government

Sports Venue Business organises and delivers ALSD International – the leading event & 365 community for the Premium Seat & Hospitality sector – on behalf of the Association of Luxury Suite Directors (ALSD).

ALSD International 2023 is being held at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium on October 9-10th, with some exciting venue tours in the offing, complimenting the high-level conference, exhibition and networking events.

#ALSDInternational – Europe’s leading event for the Premium Seat & Sports Hospitality sector

#ALSD – Leading the Premium Seat sector for the last 30 years

#sportsvenuebusiness – The leading platform for sector news, views & developments