Queensland Cricket has thrown its weight behind a new stadium for Brisbane ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson said the state body and the Brisbane Lions AFL club had written to new Queensland Premier David Crisafulli saying “a frustrating wait over the Gabba’s future has prompted a joint plea for a new 2032 Olympic stadium from tenants Queensland Cricket and AFL club Brisbane Lions”.
Mr Svenson said the letter urged the Premier to reconsider his new stadium ban and backed a proposed $3.4 billion Victoria Park venue as the Brisbane Games centrepiece.
“We’re hoping to meet with the new premier and his team over the next couple of weeks,” he said.
“(It is) just really to talk about what our expectations are but I guess more the frustrations that we have had over the last 18 months.”
Mr Svenson said the Gabba was initially set to be knocked down and rebuilt for $2.7 billion under the Labor government for the 2032 Games before that was scrapped amid a backlash over rising costs.
“It was then set for a $600 million Olympic facelift under Labor before plans went back to square one under the new LNP government.”
Mr Svenson said “everything is on the table” for their government talks but backed the proposed 55,000-capacity Victoria Park stadium pitch.
He said an independent Olympic venue review earlier this year claimed the Gabba would reach the end of its life in 2030 and was in “poor condition”.
“Uncertainty over the ageing facility’s future has ensured the Gabba is scrambling to host prestige international cricket matches as Australia’s No.5 ranked Test venue.”
Mr Svenson said Queensland Cricket and the Lions wanted a decision on the Gabba’s fate sooner rather than later so they could plan for the future.
He said both sporting codes would need to find another home venue if the Gabba was revamped or replaced, with Queensland Cricket facing up to $40 million in displacement costs.
“If displacement is back on the table we actually need to have that conversation with the government,” Mr Svenson said.
“If this place gets knocked down and rebuilt where do the Lions play, where does Australian cricket play?
“It’s important for us to have certainty that it doesn’t send us broke.”
