Brisbane 2032 Gabba West Stadium

The proposed site is a significant parcel of government-owned land located directly across from the existing Gabba Stadium. We call this site Gabba West, while the existing stadium is Gabba East. The site is currently a construction site for the soon to be competed underground Woolloongabba Cross River Rail Station (CRR) and adjoins the existing at ground metro/busway station. It is within a fifteen minute walking radius from three rail stations, multiple busway stations, South Bank and the Brisbane CBD via the new Kangaroo Point Bridge and the Goodwill Bridge. Once completed this site will become the most accessible and connected site in the city.

The site sits at the convergence of Brisbane’s eastern, southern, and northern transport corridors, and has been the city’s natural sporting hub since 1890. The placement of the Cross River Rail Station here was no coincidence and ignoring the opportunity to co-locate a legacy stadium directly connected to this once in a generation transport infrastructure (over a decade in the making) would be a missed chance for a forward-thinking city. The 2032 Brisbane Olympics should be the catalyst for developing the entire precinct to maximise the value of this infrastructure investment.

In terms of development potential Gabba West is larger than Gabba East, can accommodate an Olympic size venue and field of play, is unoccupied, and appears to have no alternative purpose planned once the CRR infrastructure is completed. As a bonus its development would allow the existing Gabba Stadium to remain operational throughout construction, later serving as a warm-up, support, and ancillary venue during the 2032 Olympics. Again and most importantly, Gabba West already has the necessary transport infrastructure in place—unlike other speculative stadium locations.

Sporting Legacy

The Gabba is a name that resonates far beyond Brisbane, with recognition on a global scale. It has become synonymous with sport, competition, and memorable events that have captured the attention of audiences worldwide.

Cricket, a sport played by billions across the globe, has solidified the Gabba’s reputation as one of its most iconic venues. As a result, the name “Gabba” is already firmly embedded in the collective consciousness, well-known to fans and athletes alike, regardless of geographical location. The Gabba has also been the competition venue for the Brisbane Lions AFL team since 1996, including 4 premiership winning years and an AFL Grand Final in 2020.

This established recognition contributes to the Gabba’s status as a powerful brand, one that carries with it a legacy of sporting excellence and a deep connection to both local and international communities. The Gabba’s identity, bolstered by its long history and global significance, represents a unique opportunity for further development, drawing on the immense cultural and commercial value already associated with the site.

Historical Context

Gabba West is a logical choice for redevelopment, given its strategic location near South Bank, the Brisbane CBD, and its position at the primary crossroads of Brisbane.

Occupying the physical heart of the city, Gabba West aligns with the natural evolution of Brisbane’s urban DNA. Cities are shaped by patterns of use establishment over the longer term, and transport networks play a pivotal role in this development. The Gabba’s existing status as the site for Brisbane’s largest sports stadium reflects its positioning at the intersection of key north-south routes, and the critical east-west crosslink. This principle of central placement is deeply rooted in history; the Romans also demonstrated similar foresight by situating their coliseums at the heart of key crossroads.

The nearly complete Cross River Rail (CRR) station further reinforces Gabba West as the city’s primary nexus, cementing its role as Brisbane’s central exchange hub and a vital location for future development.

The Gabba West offers nearly twice the site are of Gabba East, with only minor land resumptions required (less than that acquired for the Brisbane South State Secondary College at Dutton Park). This expanded site footprint can accommodate a 60,000 seat oval Stadium, modelled on the footprint of the Optus Stadium in Perth (consistently voted Australia’s best stadium), and a compliant Olympic Athletics sized field of play.

Crucially, Gabba West allows for a stadium orientation along a north-south axis, optimising site utilisation. During Olympic Mode, this location enables the Gabba East Stadium to remain fully operational for all scheduled events, including AFL and cricket, through to 2034. Additionally, Gabba East can serve as a warm-up track, a backup venue for a virtual Opening and Closing Ceremony experience accommodating up to 100,000 spectators, and a dedicated media centre.

After the Brisbane 2032 games, Gabba East can be effortlessly transformed into a vibrant residential precinct, fully connected to the city via South Brisbane and Kangaroo Point. The existing Gabba ground could be retained as open space, preserving its cultural heritage value, while the East Brisbane State School could be expanded or repurposed to serve community needs.

Importantly, Gabba East presents a far superior location for residential development compared to Gabba West, which is impacted by access challenges and building height limits from the underground road and rail tunnels. With its proximity to the main residential centre of Kangaroo Point, the 60,000 sqm Gabba East site could comfortably accommodate over 2,500 apartments.

Gabba West offers numerous opportunities for progressive development, including commercial spaces, hotels, and affordable housing, further solidifying its value as part of a holistic urban strategy. The redevelopment of Gabba East would not only deliver significant urban renewal but could also generate an end value capable of largely offsetting the cost of the new Gabba West Stadium.

Gabba West is not presented as a definitive solution but rather as a demonstration that a comprehensive and feasible resolution to the challenges surrounding the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Stadium is possible. Our intention in developing this concept is to encourage the GIICA to fully consider the opportunity it presents. Beyond addressing the Olympic Stadium’s requirements, Gabba West offers a long-overdue solution to the city’s most critical transport nexus, resolving traffic issues that have persisted since Brisbane’s foundation.

This site has long posed a challenge for the State, with viable redevelopment efforts failing to materialise. The constraints of the site, however, make it uniquely suited for a lower rise stadium development. Additionally, Gabba West is already an active construction site, allowing new development to commence immediately—potentially even before the completion of the Cross River Rail (CRR) project.