What you said about Doomben Racecourse as 2032 Olympic Games stadium

Brisbane’s 2032 stadium debate has a new entrant – only for the idea to be met with mixed reviews. HAVE YOUR SAY

Doomben Racecourse is the latest Brisbane site mooted for an Olympic stadium. (File picture)

Brisbane’s 2032 stadium debate has a new entrant, with Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate putting forward Doomben Racecourse – only to be met with mixed reviews.

The city’s formal submission to the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics Review claims Brisbane’s Olympics could save $5bn with a few tweaks.

Cr Tate, a 32-page document outlining how the blockbuster event could save billions of dollars, claimed using or enhancing existing venues, such as the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, would create additional budget to solve Brisbane’s stadium dilemma once and for all.

Doomben joins a growing list of potential sites mooted as Olympic stadiums, as debate rages over whether a revamped Gabba, Victoria Park, the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre or a privately funded venue on Brisbane’s northside should serve as a main Olympic stadium.

Cr Tate said installing a roof and a 10,000-seat stadium at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre could be done substantially cheaper than the planned temporary pool at a new Brisbane arena.

The initial Queensland submission to the Olympics included eight sports for the Gold Coast, but Cr Tate said there was scope for many more events to be held on the Glitter Strip, including golf, hockey, rowing, cricket and surfing.

“We don’t want them to waste money,” he said.

“We’re here to help.”

He said the potential savings to be gleaned from his city’s submission could create scope for Brisbane to build a world-class Olympic stadium – at Doomben Racecourse.

While Cr Tate initially told a media conference on Tuesday that Boondall would be an ideal venue for an Olympic stadium, he later clarified that he was referring to Doomben, home of one of Brisbane’s two horse racing tracks.

News of the claim sparked immediate debate among readers; many insisted it would never work on only muddied the waters further.

Others, though, liked the idea, while some suggested it’s again time to reconsider hosting the Games at all.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

I like it

Sean B

Doomben wouldn’t be a bad choice, considering there’s a train line right next to it.

Mick

Anywhere but Victoria Park which is easily the worst site for a new stadium.

Henry Root

I have banged on about this site for several years – if not the uneven but close and handy surface at Vic Park, Doomben is flat, has heavy rail, is close to the airports, is close to the cruise ship terminals, is close to ferrys, is close to the gateway, is close to the icb, is close to entertainment precincts, has no overlooking buildings, is away from residential properties, is close to north shore athletes village, has eagle farm across the road for ancillary temporary facilities (warm up track, equestrian events) and is only 8km from the city!

Bad idea

Cost Blowout

Northside roads and public transport is a complete debacle at the best of times. Doomben would be the worst solution, closely followed by Victoria Park – both would be an absolute nightmare.

Cheryl

Doomben would be a transport nightmare.

Paul

Victoria Park is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Let’s go for that. It has everything – central location, rail transport, bus transport and plenty of green space around it.

Diane

Why has nobody properly considered the Entertainment Centre which is on a large tract of land, has a train station and easy highway access?

Katherine

Doubt Doomben would be a good idea

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

Still won’t happen

Realistic

Yea, just keep hand-wringing, posturing, pointing & talking.

Just face it.

We cant afford it!

Karren

if Victoria Park is chosen and new stadium is built, won’t be the first election promise Cristifulli has reneged on. to be a successful pollie you have to be good liar!

Greg

and this is what happens when you get a room full of bureaucrats all on different pages with their own personal agendas.

Steve

Tom Tate is good at wasting ratepayers money.

Aerial view of Doomben Racecourse.

Just hurry up!

Len

Wish someone would make a decision and start working on it.

Ron

Surely, after all this time and having it explained at the primary school level on umpteen occasions, there can’t be many more Queenslanders who think the money to be spent on the Olympics is sitting in a bank account somewhere, just waiting to be allocated?

NEIL

I cannot believe that after 3 years we are still talking about a Stadium No more articles No more votes on where do I think it should go Government make the decision and then tell as all this is it full stop

commonsense to me

Enough with these stupid left-field ‘options’.

Having any stadium that is not inner city which has multiple and easy transport options from all over southeast Qld just does not make sense