Brisbane Showgrounds upgrade plan to fill void of Gabba
The Queensland Government has unveiled plans to upgrade the Brisbane Showgrounds into a 20,000-capacity boutique stadium to host AFL and cricket while the Gabba is rebuilt.
It’ll mean major sport remains in the heart of Brisbane during the redevelopment of the Gabba, which will be unavailable for more than four years ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games.
Other options had included QSAC at Nathan, Brighton Homes Arena at Springfield, Heritage Bank Stadium on the Gold Coast, while Queensland Cricket had also proposed an upgrade of Allan Borer Field at Albion.
Also known as the RNA Showgrounds and previously the Brisbane Exhibition Ground, the venue opened in 1926 and itself is scheduled to host events during the Olympics, for which an upgrade is required in any case.
The Courier-Mail reported the government has offered almost $50m towards the estimated $150m construction cost – but with Brisbane City Council, the RNA and the two affected sporting codes being asked to pay the remainder for the project.
The venue would house 16,000 less than the capacity of the Gabba, while the new Gabba stadium is set to accommodate 50,000 spectators.
Following the Olympics, the capacity at the upgraded Showgrounds would be reduced from 20,000 down to 12,000 – to ensure events are not taken away from the rebuilt Gabba, which is costing $2.7bn to redevelop.
Work on the Showgrounds redevelopment would need to begin by next year to be ready for the 2025-26 cricket season and the Gabba redevelopment which is due to commence in 2026.
Meanwhile, Brisbane Lions may sell home games elsewhere during the Gabba rebuild, with CEO Greg Swann confirming there were already offers for the Club to sell some of their 44 home games during the 2026-2030 AFL seasons, with Perth and Melbourne on the radar.
