Gabba to be rebuilt for the Brisbane games

“Every Games needs a home,” she said. “The Gabba has been home to our sport since 1895. A home for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games could be its crowning glory.

“The Gabba deserves to become our next world class stadium.”

Ms Palaszczuk has asked the federal government to help fund the stadium, saying “we cannot achieve this goal on our own”, claiming the $4.5 billion Games would be a value-for-money proposition.

“We need the support of all levels of government, especially the federal government. Queensland does not ask for any more than our fair share,” she said.

The Palaszczuk government believes having a main stadium 2 kilometres from the CBD would give Queensland an advantage over other Games hosts.

The existing stadium – formally known as the Brisbane Cricket Ground but which became known as the Gabba because it is situated in the inner-city suburb of Woolloongabba – was the best option because it was near existing transport infrastructure, such as the $5 billion Cross River Rail, which is under construction.

A new pedestrian plaza would link the Cross River Rail to the Gabba.

The decision to not build a dedicated Olympics Stadium, like other hosts cities have, will be cited as further evidence that Brisbane would be delivering the “cut-price Games”.

But Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Gabba was a workhorse, 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,” he said.

Ms Palaszczuk said having a main stadium 2 kilometres from the CBD would give Queensland an advantage over other Games hosts.  

Chris Paterson, director of Brisbane stadium designing company Populous – which has provided concept designs for a possible Gabba upgrade – 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.,” he said.

“This is an opportunity to complement it with the best round-field stadium right in the centre of the city.”

The Palaszczuk government on Monday endorsed the 2032 Olympics bid, which is also expected to use the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast for venues.

If the Tokyo Olympics go ahead in July, Brisbane is expected to be officially awarded the 2032 Games.

But if the delayed Tokyo Games are cancelled due to the global pandemic, the Japanese capital is expected to be slotted into the 2032 Games as compensation.

Ms Palaszczuk said hosting the Olympics would deliver an expected 130,000 jobs and a $20 billion boost to tourism alone.

“We are not yet at the finish line but we are the closest to it,” she said.