‘Best bang for buck’: Miles releases new details of $2.7b Gabba rebuild

It may end up being one of the most expensive stadiums in the world, despite its relatively modest capacity, but Deputy Premier Steven Miles insists the $2.7 billion Gabba rebuild represents the “best value for money” for Queensland taxpayers.

Announcing the completion of the project validation report for the 50,000-seat Gabba, Miles said the rebuilt stadium would be the centrepoint of the new “East Bank” urban renewal precinct.

The Gabba design concept as seen in the project validation report.Credit: Queensland government

With the report completed, the design and procurement process will begin immediately.

Included in the scope will be three new pedestrian bridges – two over Main Street linking to the new Cross River Rail station, and another over Stanley Street providing a direct link to the Logan Road dining precinct.

“This isn’t just about a stadium upgrade, this is about anchoring an urban renewal project that will see Woolloongabba transformed like South Bank was transformed for Expo ’88,” Miles said.

The new stadium will be about 2.5 metres above the existing playing field to allow for an internal service ring road.

The rebuild was announced in April 2021 with a price tag of $1 billion. Sixteen months later, that had ballooned out to $2.7 billion.

Still, Miles said Queensland taxpayers were getting a good deal.

“We’re going for the best bang for buck and giving Queenslanders a new, modern stadium with all the finishes because it is the best value for money and will deliver much more than a stadium,” he said.

“Having a modern, safe, accessible, and globally recognisable stadium will help draw more national and international events, and we know one concert can produce up to $5 million in visitor spending in our economy.

“The upgrade will create an estimated 2300 jobs during the peak of construction in 2028, the economic impact will flow throughout the state.”

Demolition work on the existing Gabba will begin in 2025, with the new stadium expected to be completed by 2030.

That would leave the Brisbane Lions and Queensland Cricket without a major inner-city venue for five years.

Launching the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games 20-year legacy strategy this month, Miles said the government was working through details of the temporary relocation of the AFL and cricket.

The RNA Showgrounds, Brighton Homes Arena at Springfield, Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast, and the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre at Nathan have been suggested as temporary homes for the Lions.

Queensland Cricket, meanwhile, is pushing for a 10,000-seat stadium to be built at Allan Border Field in Albion.

“We know how important it is. We know the Lions in particular have been going from strength to strength, and we want to see that continue because, ultimately, they’re the long-term tenants of the Gabba,” Miles said.

“For the Gabba to be useful and successful and a justifiable investment going forward, we need the Lions, as well as our cricket teams, to be performing at their best, so I’m sure we’ll find a solution that suits their needs and allows them to continue to grow.”

According to the project validation report, the Gabba rebuild will create an annual average of 837 full-time-equivalent jobs across the eight years of planning, design and construction.

It also says that at peak construction in 2029, the project will employ 2589 people.