The Queensland government has announced plans to construct a new $3.8 billion, 63,000-seat stadium in Brisbane’s Victoria Park as part of preparations for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This decision comes despite previous commitments that no new main stadium would be built.
Alongside this project, several other new facilities have been confirmed. One significant change is the planned demolition of the historic Gabba, which will make way for residential development. Additionally, the long-discussed Brisbane Live Arena, originally intended to host the swimming events, will not receive the anticipated $2.5 billion in federal funding.
Premier David Crisafulli stated that the private sector would take responsibility for constructing the entertainment hub at an old industrial site near the Gabba. He also emphasized the ambition behind the new aquatic center in Victoria Park, calling it “the best aquatic center in the world.”
According to the official delivery plan, Victoria Park will serve as the site for Brisbane Stadium, which is expected to become a premier venue for global sporting events and a key feature of a new sports and entertainment precinct in the heart of the city.
The new aquatic centre will include both main and secondary stadiums, each equipped with large indoor pools designed to support elite training and competition. During the Games, the facility will accommodate more than 25,000 spectators, though this capacity will be reduced to 8,000 afterward.
Nearby, the Brisbane Showgrounds will serve as the athletes’ village, replacing an earlier plan to construct a new facility in Hamilton. The Showgrounds’ 140-year-old heritage-listed main arena will also undergo significant upgrades, increasing its seating capacity to 20,000.
Further developments include enhancements to the Queensland Tennis Centre in Tennyson, where a new 3,000-seat show court arena and 12 additional match courts will be built. New indoor sports centres are planned for Logan and Moreton Bay, while a whitewater rafting centre will be constructed in the Redlands.
On Tuesday, Premier David Crisafulli acknowledged the changes, stating, “The time has come to just get on with it, and get on with it we will.” This revised delivery plan marks the third version of the Brisbane Olympics’ infrastructure strategy.
An earlier proposal, developed under the previous Labor government, had suggested holding the athletics events at a temporary stadium at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC). That plan has now been scrapped.
Crisafulli, who had repeatedly assured voters during last year’s election campaign that no new stadium would be built—particularly not in Victoria Park—issued an apology on Tuesday for the reversal of that promise.
Premier David Crisafulli took full responsibility for the decision to build a new stadium, acknowledging the shift from his previous stance. “I have to own that, and I will. I am sorry, and it’s my decision—I accept that decision,” he said.
He explained that the government faced a clear choice between redeveloping QSAC or constructing a new stadium. While sticking with QSAC would have been politically easier, Crisafulli maintained that moving forward with a new venue was ultimately the right decision.
Though the government has not yet disclosed the individual costs of each venue, officials insist that the entire Games can be delivered within the existing $7.1 billion budget. To help finance the event, the premier confirmed plans to engage both private investors and various sporting codes.
One major development, the $2.3 billion Brisbane Arena, will be entirely funded by the private sector. Additionally, the land where the Gabba currently stands will be repurposed for a new residential precinct. Crisafulli signaled that many other projects would follow a public-private partnership model. “I don’t fear that. I embrace that,” he said, adding that the stadium itself could also be delivered through such an arrangement.
He revealed that the government had already received “multiple, multiple” offers from private investors willing to build the Arena, with the state contributing land and planning approvals. “That, to me, makes a lot of sense—not just for taxpayers, but for people who want to see cities become world-class cities,” he said.
Crisafulli reiterated that Queensland would not seek additional funding beyond the Commonwealth’s existing $2.5 billion commitment. He also assured that private sector investment was not a necessity to remain within the $7.1 billion budget.
However, time constraints remain a major challenge. A timeline prepared by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority indicates that the investment case for the main stadium must be completed within months, with planning approvals finalized by the third quarter of 2026. The entire stadium would then need to be built within four years, with “practical completion” scheduled a full year before the Games begin.
The estimated $3.785 billion cost for the stadium does not include associated precinct and transport infrastructure expenses.
Crisafulli emphasized the scale of the undertaking, calling for a nationwide effort. “We are going to need people to roll up their sleeves and get to work. That means attracting people from across the country to come here, set up home, and deliver these projects. I reckon that’s exciting,” he said.
