Cricket to be the biggest loser as $2.7b Gabba rebuild faces the axe for Queensland Olympics in favour of multi-stadium strategy

Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman has backed calls to scrap the proposed Gabba redevelopment for the 2032 Brisbane Games, believing “more creative solutions” are available.

Chesterman’s comments came a day after Olympic power broker John Coates also said he was abandoning plans for a $2.7 billion rebuild because “it doesn’t work out financially.”

“(The International Olympic Committee’s) new standards process is designed to ensure the Games are both affordable and sustainable, with a strong preference for the use of existing or temporary facilities,” Chesterman said.

Chesterman said the AOC supported the review of plans for the Games, on the same day Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schrinner declared the Gabba rebuild was ‘dead, buried and cremated’, with the Greens calling on the Prime Minister to scrap the plans to abolish.

“We believe there are other, more creative solutions than rebuilding the Gabba for the Games that will deliver a legacy for our sport and even greater access for fans to exceptional Olympic and Paralympic Games.

‘We will submit these ideas to the review committee.’

IOC vice-president Coates called for a halt to the reconstruction, with the opening and closing ceremonies instead held at Suncorp Stadium, with the athletics at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.

AOC president Ian Chesterman has backed calls to scrap the Gabba redevelopment

Cricket is the biggest loser, with the Gabba dropping to fifth in the test venue rankings following the rebuilding and construction of Perth’s Optus Stadium at Adelaide Oval

The looming decision makes cricket the ‘biggest loser’, according to veteran journalist Robert ‘Crash’ Craddock of News Corp.

The venue hoped to gain access to major Australian matches once redeveloped, but could be stuck with lesser Tests, behind the revamped Adelaide Oval and still-new Optus Stadium, plus the MCG and SCG in much bigger cities.

“It cements the Gabba as the fifth best venue in Australia for the next 20 years,” Craddock told SENQ Breakfast.

“It’s a real setback because (the Gabba) were counting on this and now it’s gone.

“The redevelopment of the Gabba has just become a political poison, especially with (state) elections coming up this year.

‘Both sides of politics were terrified because the public is more concerned about (the perception of) youth crime, the cost of living and housing.

‘Redeveloping a stadium was high on the list.’

The Brisbane Lions are the main tenant at the Gabba and are having to wait nervously to find a new home while work is underway on the Olympic Games venue.

There have been protests against the reconstruction of Gabba by locals who want to save a neighboring school from demolition

The Brisbane Lions, who play their home games at the Gabba, are also awaiting the findings of the review.

Although the Lions had no comment on Thursday, a statement from the club in November last year said it supported a redevelopment at the Gabba.

“The site has been our home for the past thirty years and the redevelopment will ensure it will be fit for purpose for the next thirty years,” Lions chairman Andrew Wellington said.

‘As a club we are likely to reach 60,000 members by 2024, we are the tenant that attracts the largest crowds, we have had seven sellouts this year and I have no doubt that we will fill the new Gabba regularly for the Olympics and for the coming years.

Brisbane Heat fans hang around to see Gabba’s fate after winning the Big Bash League in 2024

The future of the Gabba is in limbo with the Olympics likely to share multiple venues rather than focusing on one venue

“We understand the need and also the wider benefits that this project and associated urban regeneration works will bring to the city and the wider area as a result of projects such as Cross River Rail.

‘There are benefits here for commuters, event visitors, new communal areas and the creation of a commercial and residential precinct including affordable housing options.

“We look forward to receiving a more detailed Gabba update and a decision on the Lions’ relocation location from the government in the near future, recognizing the needs of our many fans and the extended period of displacement.”

However, both the Lions and the Gabba’s other tenants, Queensland Cricket, were reluctant when asked by the state government to contribute millions of dollars to fund an upgrade of the Brisbane Showgrounds, which had been home to the Lions and the Queensland. cricket team while the Gabba was being developed.