2032 Games Gabba revamp: Brisbane Lions still unclear where they will play home games

The Brisbane Lions are still in the dark on where they will play during the several years the Gabba stadium is redeveloped, and it’s threatening to have major financial ramifications for the club and the AFL.

The Brisbane Lions remain in the dark on where they will play during the several years the Gabba stadium is redeveloped, with hopes a Palaszczuk Government announcement on the relocation was “imminent”.

AFL’s general manager of property development Matthew Chun told a federal inquiry into the Brisbane 2032 Games in Mackay on Thursday the $2.7bn knock down and rebuild of the Gabba – the home of the Lions – would likely cost the code tens of millions in dollars each year.

“We generate about $16m to $18m per annum from the stadium … that’s what Brisbane Lions generate,” he said.

The Lions’ playing future remains unclear as the Gabba revamp approaches. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“That is a very direct impact initially, but there are a whole other range of impacts – membership declining, corporate sponsorship declining.

“There’s a big range in that depending where we get displaced to. It could easily be double.”

Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie quizzed Mr Chun on what the AFL knew about where the Lions – who were runners up in last year’s Grand Final and saw their membership grow to record levels – would play after 2025 while the stadium was being rebuilt.

He said a brief from the Palaszczuk government to outline where the Brisbane team should go was “imminent” – but added “I don’t know what imminent means but we’re hoping it will be as soon as possible”.

A new artist impression of the Gabba Stadium. Artwork Supplied Department of the Premier and Cabinet Brisbane Olympics 2032

A spokesman for the government told The Courier-Mail: “Like many Queenslanders, the Government backs the Brisbane Lions.”

“We’re committed to continuing to work with the AFL and the Lions to make sure they have a suitable home ground as the Gabba is redeveloped,” he said.

The redevelopment of the ageing Gabba has been billed as the centrepiece of the $7bn of new stadiums and sporting facilities under the joint funding agreement between the federal and state governments – but the state will pick up the cost of the major piece on its own.

Moving the Lions to Springfield for the several years the Gabba is under redevelopment had been proposed, while others – including Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner – have lobbied for the RNA Stadium to be redeveloped into a boutique stadium.