‘Hard to beat’: New $6bn Victoria Park Olympic precinct revealed

A 60,000-seat stadium would form part of a major $6bn precinct to rival Melbourne, Sydney and London – a new report has revealed.

Concept Victoria Park Olympic Stadium by Archipelago. Photo: Supplied

A 60,000-seat stadium could be built at Victoria Park for $2.6bn as part of a major Olympic sporting precinct that would rival Melbourne and London to deliver a lasting legacy for Brisbane, a new report reveals.

Global consultancy group Arcadis – which has developed business cases for other Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games venues – has released a 22-page report detailing the “hard to beat” benefits of using Victoria Park as the city’s sporting and entertainment hub in 2032.

An architectural masterplan to use Victoria Park – dubbed Brisbane Bold – was first released by Archipelago in March, but Arcadis has now investigated the benefits and cost.

How Victoria Park could be transformed for the Olympics. Picture: ARCHIPELAGO

The $6bn precinct would be built over the existing Inner City Bypass and also include Brisbane Arena and a new 18,00-seat national aquatics centre.

Analysis was undertaken by Arcadis Games and Legacy Lead Paul Allan, who said the precinct could rival Melbourne Park, London’s Wembley Park and Sydney’s Moore Park.

“Victoria Park works as a precinct whether it’s one, two or three stadiums … it makes sense,” he said.

“In terms of connectivity and accessibility, a stadium at Victoria Park is hard to beat.”

The $2.6bn for a stadium is costed in today’s dollars, with estimates done at a “relatively high level”.

Arcadis worked on the Paris Olympic Games and is consulting for Los Angeles in 2028.

Mr Allan said using Victoria Park would also free the existing Gabba precinct to be rezoned for other uses.

“It’s important to note that for this option, there are no temporary costs in the way that a redevelopment of the Gabba would require significant spending to temporarily rehouse the Brisbane Lions AFL and Brisbane Heat Big Bash League teams while the stadium is redeveloped,” he said.

“There is a fantastic opportunity to develop a vision that sets out the best use for an inner city location to respond to the pressing needs around affordable housing and also provide further green space for the city.”

Mr Allan said Victoria Park should be transformed into a hub of activity because “people don’t feel safe using these places after dark”.

He noted an elevated land bridge above the ICB could offset lost green space and said noise from the stadium could be minimised.

The state government has appointed a seven-person board to undertake a 100-day review of Games infrastructure.