Brisbane Arena cast into doubt as state seeks money for Victoria Park

The construction of Brisbane Arena – a proposed inner-city venue earmarked to host Olympic swimming – has been cast into doubt, with concerns over its $2.5 billion price tag.

Fresh scrutiny of the arena comes as state cabinet looks to sign off on a new 60,000-seat stadium at Victoria Park on Monday, a day before the public release of the 100-day review into Olympic venue infrastructure and the government’s response.

Under a previous funding agreement negotiated by former Labor premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, the state government would have paid for the Gabba to be rebuilt as Brisbane’s major Olympic stadium – a plan that has now been abandoned – while the federal government would have paid for the arena.

Concept designs for Brisbane Live, the precursor to Brisbane Arena, at the Roma Street station site.Credit: Queensland government

The anticipated multibillion-dollar cost of constructing the main stadium at Victoria Park will force David Crisafulli’s LNP government to renegotiate these deals on the eve of a federal election, potentially putting Brisbane Arena at risk. It is understood it will be abandoned if the federal funding can be spent elsewhere.

The 17,000-seat covered arena was originally set to be built over the tracks at Roma Street station, and would host swimming and aquatic events with a drop-in pool.

After former lord mayor Graham Quirk’s review of venues in 2024, the plan moved to a corner of the Roma Street Parklands near the Normanby five-ways.

On Friday, Nine News reported the state government was reconsidering the venue altogether, potentially to redistribute funds across other projects for the Games.

Brisbane Times understands the 100-day review, prepared by a panel of experts to deliver on a key LNP election promise, would argue for Brisbane Arena to be constructed on the old GoPrint site, near the under-construction Woolloongabba Cross River Rail station.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has been raising doubts over Brisbane Arena since shortly after the LNP’s election, claiming the cost of new links from Roma Street station to the venue would create a $500 million blowout.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, who has offered to host swimming events in his city, said spending $2.5 billion on a temporary pool would be a waste of money.

“You’ve got to learn from Paris that the athlete hates it,” he said.

“The more you spend on stadiums or temporary facilities that have no legacy – scrub it off, we want legacy.”

Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll told Nine on Friday morning the committee was looking forward to “getting on with the show” but could not reveal details on Brisbane Arena’s future.

“Hopefully we may get a briefing before Tuesday, but at this point in time, we’re waiting to see the announcement on Tuesday morning in Brisbane,” Carroll said.

Asked on Friday morning to comment on the latest revelations, Sports Minister Tim Mander said all would become clear next week.

“There’s been lots of speculation about all different venues. That will all come to an end on Tuesday, and I’m looking forward to hearing the communication of that news to all Queenslanders,” he said.

Bleijie also declined to add to the speculation.

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