Gabba Set to Be Demolished After 2032 Olympics, Brisbane to Get a New Stadium

The iconic Gabba stadium in Brisbane is set to be demolished after the 2032 Olympics. A new 60,000-seater stadium is set to be built in Victoria Park. The historic venue, known for hosting memorable Test matches, will continue to stage international fixtures until the next men’s Ashes before making way for a modern facility.

Queensland Government’s Decision

The announcement was made by Queensland Premier David Crisafulli as part of the Olympic infrastructure plans. Crisafulli emphasized the need for a new venue, stating, “The Gabba is at its end of life. It hasn’t been well maintained, and we do need a stadium to host this great show, and there is an opportunity for legacy play.”

He further explained the reasoning behind the move: “It became a choice between spending billions on temporary facilities and temporary stands that delivered no legacy, or securing the future of AFL [and] cricket at a new home.”

Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket’s Support

Cricket Australia welcomed the decision, highlighting its long-term benefits. In a statement, CA said, “This decision gives us certainty about venues and scheduling, which in turn allows us to ensure Brisbane hosts the very best possible international and domestic cricket.”

CA also confirmed that cricket played a crucial role in the decision: “We strongly advocated building a stadium in Victoria Park together with Queensland Cricket, the AFL and Brisbane Lions, and cricket will play a major role in ensuring this significant investment delivers long-term benefits for cricket fans and the people of Queensland.”

Queensland Cricket chief executive Terry Svenson echoed this sentiment, saying, “The Gabba has been a wonderful venue for cricket for many years and has provided fans and players with countless memories—however, the challenges the stadium faces are well documented, and we need to look to the future.”

Svenson added, “There is now the opportunity for Queensland to attract the world’s best cricket events, such as ICC events, men’s and women’s Ashes Series, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between Australia and India, as well as hosting the BBL and WBBL in a new purpose-built stadium.”

Gabba’s Final Matches and Olympic Role

Cricket will feature in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and if retained for the 2032 Brisbane Games, Gabba will host some of its last international fixtures. Crisafulli highlighted the potential for a memorable farewell, stating, “Wouldn’t it be amazing to see the Australian cricket team win gold at an Olympic final? The Gabba’s swansong.”

Initially, the Labor government planned to demolish and rebuild the Gabba for A$2.7 billion, but rising costs led to an alternative proposal for a A$600 million renovation. That plan was eventually scrapped in favor of building a brand-new stadium in Victoria Park.

With the Gabba’s legacy nearing its end, the focus now shifts to the future of cricket and sports in Brisbane, as the city prepares for a state-of-the-art stadium to host global events in the years to come.

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