Gabba’s demolition confirmed! Australia's icnoic venue to be shut down

The Queensland government has confirmed that the iconic Gabba stadium in Brisbane will be demolished after the 2032 Olympic Games. According to the Queensland government’s plans, cricket will relocate to a new 60,000-capacity stadium in Victoria Park, which will be constructed for the Olympics.

The Gabba has been the venue for several iconic Australian cricket moments. Australia’s Test matches will be played at a new stadium after the 2032 Olympics. The newly constructed venue in Victoria Park will serve as the home ground for the Brisbane Lions, Queensland Bulls, and Brisbane Heat.

Gabba To Be Demolished After 2032 Olympics

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli unveiled the Olympic infrastructure plans on Tuesday. Since being awarded the 2032 Olympics in 2021, the state has explored multiple proposals before finalizing the future of sporting venues.

"The Gabba is at its end of life," Crisafulli said. "It hasn't been well maintained, and we do need a stadium to host this great show, and there is an opportunity for legacy play.

"It became a choice between spending billions on temporary facilities and temporary stands that delivered no legacy, or securing the future of AFL [and] cricket at a new home."

The Labor government planned to demolish and rebuild the Brisbane Stadium for A$2.7 billion ahead of the 2032 Olympics, but it was scrapped due to public backlash over rising costs. A revised A$600 million renovation plan was also abandoned under the new government.

Amazing To See The Australian Cricket Team Win Gold - David Crisafulli

Cricket will return to the Olympics in the 2028 Los Angeles Games, having last featured in 1900. If the sport is retained for the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, matches are expected to be played at Mackay's Great Barrier Reef Arena and the Gabba.

David Crisafulli expressed excitement over the possibility of Australia winning an Olympic gold medal in cricket at the the Brisbane Stadium's farewell event.

"Wouldn't it be amazing to see the Australian cricket team win gold at an Olympic final? The Gabba's swansong," Crisafulli said at an event in Brisbane.

Australia Set To Complete International Cricket Venue Before 2032

The Brisbane Stadium has been a historic venue since hosting its first Test in 1931. It has hosted 67 men's matches and two women's Tests. The venue recently lost its status as the opening ground for Australia’s Test summers, with Perth set to host the first Ashes Test in 2025-26. Gabba will host the second match.

The ground’s future remains uncertain beyond the upcoming summer, but it is expected to host at least white-ball matches and could still hold Test cricket before its demolition.

Australia is set to get another international cricket venue before 2032, with a new stadium in Hobart—featuring a roof—scheduled to be completed by 2029.

Cricket Australia announced a seven-year venue plan in 2024, guaranteeing international fixtures at the Brisbane Stadium only until the next Ashes series, amid ongoing debates about its redevelopment or replacement.

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