‘Audacious’ bid from regional Qld arena to replace Gabba during renovations

A regional Queensland sporting arena is making a bold bid to steal international cricket and AFL games from Brisbane while the Gabba is being renovated for the Olympics.

Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena is making an audacious bid to bring international cricket and AFL games out of Brisbane and into the regions when the Gabba is out of commission for renovations.

Early talks are underway with Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket as the newly renovated arena seeks to prove it is capable of hosting top grade Big Bash League, BBLW, AFL, AFLW and even international cricket test matches and one day internationals.

The Gabba is expected to be offline for up to four years between late 2025 and late 2029 while it is revamped for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Queensland Bulls huddle during the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at Great Barrier Reef Arena, on October 16. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Hosting games at the Mackay-based arena is being spruiked as not just a win for the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday region, but the state’s tourism sector in general as eyes from all over the country and even world tune in to watch AFL and cricket matches at the home of the Great Barrier Reef.

The arena has already hosted a Australia A v New Zealand A test match last month, a Sheffield Shield four-day test earlier this month and is set to host an AFLW Gold Coast Suns Game next Friday.

GBRA CEO Adrian Young said as well as being an ICC approved cricket venue and being an AFL broadcast standard ground, they had secured the Gabba’s former second-in-command groundskeeper Peter Kazakoff to ensure the field was in top condition.

“Without a doubt it’s audacious, but we have got the facilities to achieve it,” he said.

Jimmy Peirson of Queensland inspects the Great Barrier Reef Arena pitch ahead of the Marsh One Day Cup match between Queensland and Victoria on October 19. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Its recently completed stage 1 upgrade gave it an 8000-seat capacity.

But Mr Young said a planned stage 2, which still requires funding to go ahead, would boost it to 13,000 but that this could be adjusted even higher to meet the requirements to host the professional games.

In particular they are seeking to host content from 2025-26, such as some of the Australia V South Africa one day and T20 cricket matches, and potentially the Australia and Afghanistan test match slated for 2026.

Senator Matt Canavan, chair of the Senate inquiry into the Olympics, said investing in the Mackay stadium, rather than another Brisbane venue, would help take the Games beyond southeast Queensland.

“It can be a legacy beyond the Games, rather than building a second cricket stadium in Brisbane, which will play second fiddle to the Gabba once it’s rebuilt,” Senator Canavan said.

Senator Matt Canavan. NSW Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

State Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe’s spokesman said discussions about where sporting matches will be hosted while the Gabba is under development were still taking place between the government, AFL, Brisbane Lions, Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket.

A Cricket Australia spokesman said the organisation was in regular contact with Great Barrier Reef Arena officials on a range of matters.

“Cricket Australia is fortunate that there are so many top quality venues around the country that are very interested in hosting men’s and women’s international cricket,” he said.

“We are very pleased with the upgrades to GBRA which has successfully hosted men’s A Series, Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup matches already this season.

“GBRA is very suitable for elite cricket and also to be considered to host international cricket in the future.”

While there is no minimum capacity required for a venue to host international cricket, the spokesman said they attempt to choose locations that can accommodate the maximum number of fans.

Dawson MP Andrew Willcox said there would be tourism opportunities for the region beyond just people coming to watch the games.

“People will come for a game, but then go for a reef trip, or head up to the Whitsundays and check out the islands, or seek out a rainforest experience,” he said.