2032 Olympics venue review: What it means for QLD stadiums

Following the release of the independent venue review and subsequent announcements by the Queensland Premier, Austadiums looks at what it means for Queensland’s stadiums.

The report released on Monday included 90 findings with 30 recommendations on Queensland’s sports infrastructure, while the Premier Steven Miles followed up with some interesting calls – some of which go against the recommendations handed down in the tax-payer funded report.

It’s worth noting the decisions aren’t final, meaning anything could happen between now and 2032. A State Election is scheduled for October 2024 in Queensland, with the Olympic stadium debate set to play a significant factor in voting.

Below are potential outcomes for some of Queensland’s existing and proposed stadiums following the release of the report and decisions from the current Premier Steven Miles.

The Gabba

The Gabba will no longer be demolished and rebuilt for the Olympics, meaning it won’t host the track and field events. Some of the remaining funding will to be used for a "more modest enhancement of the existing facility" in consultation with AFL, Cricket Australia, and other stakeholders. It remains to be seen what this stadium upgrade entails. The Gabba currently lacks the facilities other similar stadiums already have, while its useable capacity of 37,000 is at the lower end of Australia’s other tier one AFL and cricket stadiums. The report listed the Gabba as a “very, very bad stadium” where back-of-house facilities were cramped and substandard and people with a disability had limited access. The long-term future of this iconic venue appears somewhat cloudy at this point in time.

Suncorp Stadium

Brisbane’s largest stadium will receive funding to be upgraded ahead of the Olympics, while specifics are unknown at the moment, this could include boosting its 52,000 capacity. Under the Premier’s plan, the rectangular Suncorp Stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies and football during the Olympics.

QSAC

The Queensland Premier has declared the State will rebuild the Queensland Sport & Athletic Centre at Nathan, despite the independent venue review declaring this would be a waste of money. The home of the 1982 Commonwealth Games is past its shelf life, so the existing stadium will be demolished, replaced by a new 8,000-seat permanent western grandstand, with an additional 6,000 permanent seats located around the athletics track. New temporary stands would boost its capacity to 30,000-40,000 for the Olympics where it would serve as the main stadium, before reverting back to a 14,000-capacity venue in legacy mode post-Games.

Albion Park

With the proposed Brisbane Indoor Sports Centre recommended not to proceed in the report, the existing venue it was to be built on, Albion Park Paceway, appears to have been saved. The home of harness racing in Queensland needs a big upgrade to keep its facilities up to scratch and that may now happen – offset by a housing development on its expansive land. Olympic basketball could instead be played at an upgraded Brisbane Entertainment Centre (Boondal) or Zillmere, although no final decision has been made yet.

Sunshine Coast Stadium

The review supports the redevelopment of Sunshine Coast Stadium and the construction of the proposed indoor sports stadium adjacent to the venue. Under the plan, the stadium would receive a major upgrade to seat 20,000 for Olympic football matches – including 8,500 temporary seats. The report says the current western grandstand was built on a tight budget and not designed to be expanded, and rebuilding the stand is considered to provide better integrated facilities and flood immunity at a lower cost, compared to extending the current stand. The new indoor facility within the Kawana Sports Precinct will host Olympic basketball with temporary grandstand seating for 6,000 spectators.

Barlow Park, Cairns

The report supports the upgrade of Barlow Park in Cairns, noting it will have a strong legacy outcome and benefit, leveraging existing venues and providing capacity for a growing city. The proposal is to increase permanent seating to 5,000, with temporary grandstand seating for 15,000 in place for the stadium to host Olympic football.

Toowoomba Sports Ground

The review recommended against upgrading the Toowoomba Sports Ground (known commercially as Clive Berghofer Stadium). A major redevelopment of the regional rectangular venue costing upwards of $80 million had been proposed, for it to host football at the Olympics, however that now appears unlikely to proceed.

Proposed Brisbane Live Arena

The report supports the construction of the long-proposed Brisbane Arena (or ‘Brisbane Live’ as the project has been referred to) and the Premier has confirmed the project will proceed. However the review panel has suggested the 17,000-capacity arena be built on the Roma Street carpark and maintenance depot development site instead of the Roma Street over-rail site option.

Summary of QLD sports venues  

Venue	Report findings		Government response
MAJOR VENUES
The Gabba	Recommendation to maintain to standard and then fully demolish until a different new stadium is built in a new location.		Vital maintenance work to proceed.
Brisbane Arena	Recommendation to proceed with venue in new location within Roma St Parklands.		Recommendation accepted.
Queensland State Athletics Centre	Recommendation not to use as a Games venue – recommended new stadium at Victoria Park			Investigate upgrades to this highly utilised community and high-performance venue for Games and legacy use
INDOOR SPORTS CENTRES
Breakfast Creek Indoor Sports Precinct (Albion)	New venue to proceed in alternate location at Boondall or Zillmere.		Recommendation accepted, with the size of this venue dependent on further analysis.
Moreton Bay Indoor Sport Centre	Recommended to proceed and investigate increasing the size of the centre.		Recommendation accepted.
Logan Indoor Sports Centre	Recommended to proceed.		Recommendation accepted.
Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre	Recommended to proceed.		Recommendation accepted.
CHANDLER SPORTS PRECINCT
Brisbane Aquatic Centre	Recommended to proceed and minimise disruption during construction.		Recommendation accepted.
Anna Meares Velodrome and BMX supercross track	Recommended to proceed.		Recommendation accepted.
Chandler Indoor Sports Centre		Recommended to proceed.		Recommendation accepted.
PADDLE VENUES
Wyaralong Flat Water Centre	Recommended to proceed with further consideration of exact siting at Wyaralong.		Recommendation accepted.
Redland Whitewater Centre	Recommended to proceed.		Recommendation accepted subject to the continued support from Redland City Council.
REGIONAL STADIUMS
Barlow Park (Cairns)	Recommended to proceed.		Recommendation accepted
Toowoomba Sports Ground	Stadium facility upgrade not to proceed. Consider other events to be held in the region.		Recommendation accepted
OTHER VENUES
Brisbane International Shooting Centre (Belmont)	Recommended to proceed with     investigations for greater community use.		Recommendation accepted.
Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre	Recommended to proceed.		Recommendation accepted.
Sunshine Coast Stadium	Recommended to proceed.		Recommendation accepted.
Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane Football Stadium)	No recommendation provided.		Government will investigate upgrade options.
VENUES NOT IN SCOPE OF SPORT VENUE REVIEW WITH NO CHANGES TO PREVIOUS PLANS
Alexandra Headland, Ballymore Stadium, Broadbeach Park Stadium, Broadwater Parklands, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Showgrounds, Coomera Indoor Sports Centre, Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre, Gold Coast Stadium, Ipswich Stadium, Manly Boat Harbour, Royal Queensland Golf Club, South Bank Parklands (Piazza, Cultural Forecourt), Queensland Tennis Centre, Townsville Stadium, Victoria Park/Barrambin