NEW DELHI: Gabbaโs end date is set as Brisbane plans a new stadium for the 2032 Olympics.
The Queensland government has unveiled a seven-year plan for the Games. The highlight is a A$3.8 billion, 63,000-seat stadium in Victoria Park, north of Brisbaneโs CBD. This venue will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics.
The new stadium will replace the Gabba as the home ground for the Queensland Bulls and Brisbane Lions after the 2032 Olympics.
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Gabbaโs Historic Legacy
Queensland Cricket confirmed that the Gabba will remain Brisbaneโs main cricket venue until 2032. After that, it will be demolished.
โThe Gabba has been a wonderful venue for cricket,โ Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson said. โBut its challenges are well known, and we must look to the future.โ
Cricket Australia will now rework its international match schedule. The Gabba had only been guaranteed matches until the 2025-26 season.
โThe decision provides clarity for future scheduling,โ Cricket Australia said.
Since hosting its first Test in 1931, the Gabba has been an iconic venue. It has seen 67 menโs Tests and two womenโs Tests.
Memorable moments include:
- First-ever tied Test (1960)
- Mitch Starcโs Ashes-opening dismissal of Rory Burns (2021)
- James Faulknerโs ODI classic (2014)
Known for its pace and bounce, the Gabba was Australiaโs fortress. The team remained unbeaten there from 1988 to 2021.
Olympic Cricket in 2032
Cricket returns to the Olympics in 2028 Los Angeles. If it remains in 2032, matches will be played at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, not Victoria Park.
However, the Gabba will host some Olympic matches before its demolition.
Premier David Crisafulli acknowledged the stadiumโs decline.
โThe Gabba is at the end of its life,โ he said. โIt hasnโt been well maintained. We need a modern stadium for this great show.โ
Crisafulli also envisioned a historic farewell.
โWouldnโt it be amazing to see Australia win an Olympic cricket final at the Gabbaโs swansong?โ
With Gabbaโs end date set, Brisbane now looks ahead to a new sporting era.
