After a century of sport, Gabba to be demolished for good
Rusted support beams at the Gabba in Brisbane.Credit: William Davis
“I know there’s plenty of history, but … ultimately, you know, things change.
“Having done home renovations before, it’s always easier starting new than having to renovate an old Queenslander.
“Being pragmatic about it, I think that’s the best result. Get the new stadium – it’ll be fantastic.”
The Gabba – officially called Brisbane Cricket Ground but nicknamed after the suburb of Woolloongabba – has hosted cricket matches since the 1890s, including 67 Tests.
It is also among the few national stadiums to have never been rebranded with a commercial name, and is one of the last two Test venues, alongside the SCG, to have a permanent pitch.
However, its future has long been uncertain, with successive governments declining to deliver any major upgrades, despite rising maintenance costs and the stadium no longer meeting accessibility standards.
A Victoria Park stadium render released by the Queensland government this week.Credit: Queensland government
Premier David Crisafulli sees Brisbane’s sporting future at Victoria Park, where Queensland cricket and the Brisbane Lions will move after the Games.
A last hurrah is planned for the Gabba, with the ground set to hold the T20 cricket final at the 2032 Olympics if the sport is included.
“The vision our government has beyond the Games includes the Gabba coming down to make way for urban renewal beside a world-class arena,” Crisafulli said on Tuesday.
Loading
“Wouldn’t it be amazing to see the Australian cricket team win gold at an Olympic final – the Gabba’s swan song?”
Crisafulli appeared to have some affinity for the Gabba and the proposal to rebuild it – he admits breaking his election promise not to build a new stadium – but said it “can’t be done within the time period that we have left”.
“It would have been great to get cracking a few years ago. I just point to the fact that we are here now, and we’ve got a plan … we are serious about getting on with it,” he said.
The LNP leader believes the new 60,000-plus-seat stadium at Victoria Park will secure the future of cricket and AFL in Brisbane for another generation.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
