Brisbane Gabba could be redeveloped for 2032 Olympics
Brisbane’s Gabba stadium will be transformed to become the main stadium of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games should the city win the hosting rights, the state’s premier has revealed.
Populous, which designed the last major upgrade to the stadium in 2020, has produced concept deigns for the redeveloped stadium, which would increase its capacity to 50,000 from the current 42,000.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told media the existing stadium would be “essentially demolished” and a new one built, at a cost of around $1 billion.
“The Gabba has been home to our sport since 1895,” she said. “A home for the 2032 Olympic Paralympic Games could be its crowning glory.
Populous director Chris Paterson said the Gabba was extraordinarily well located, being close to the CBD and transport options.
“Brisbane already boasts the world’s best rectangular stadium in Suncorp Stadium,” he said.
“This is an opportunity to complement it with the best round field stadium right in the centre of the city.”
The premier said the stadium, formally known as the Brisbane Cricket Ground, was an ideal choice for redevelopment as it was already the city’s main stadium for AFL, cricket and other events. It will also have its own Cross River Rail station competed by the time the of the 2032 Olympics.
The redevelopment would also include a new pedestrian plaza linking the stadium to the Cross River Rail station, which is currently under construction.
The Premier said the pedestrian plaza could become central hub for the games in its own right.
“I can see the river lined with people watching big screens all taking part in the fun and excitement of the games,” she 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.”
The Gabba, which takes its name from its suburb, Woolloongabba, hosted its first game of cricket in December 1896. Along with cricket, it was home to greyhound racing until 1993, when work began to turn it into a “state-of-the-art” stadium, designed by Daryl Jackson, which has since also hosted AFL team the Bears, which later became Lions.
The premier has also said that the mooted Brisbane Live precinct could become the home of swimming for the games.
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