Huge wins in Gabba upgrade for Olympic and Paralympic Games

Seamless entry from public transport, extra lifts and “inclusive” change rooms for female athletes will form the Gabba’s $7bn transformation.

Seamless entry from public transport, extra lifts and “inclusive” change rooms for female athletes will form the Gabba’s transformation into a state-of-the-art venue following its $7bn Olympics upgrades.

The new 50,000-seat stadium is set to forge a legacy for the decades long after it becomes the centrepiece of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

While sports fans will be licking their lips at the prospect of a mega-knockdown rebuild, it’s the mums and dads with prams, the disabled and elderly who are set for the biggest win as Gabba spectators.

Paralympian basketballers Matt McShane and Sam White with Minister for Sport Stirling Hinchliffe at the Gabba on Sunday. Picture: Lachie Millard

Currently, the Gabba is equipped with just three lifts, one of which is predominantly used for goods, to service thousands of fans on game day and has no female change rooms.

Minister for Sport Stirling Hinchliffe said the Gabba in its current format was not “fit for purpose” as a modern venue capable of hosting the world’s largest sporting event.

Mr Hinchliffe said upon completion in 2030, access-challenged spectators would be able to roll off the new Woolloongabba train station and into the Gabba on the same level.

“The specific design that’s been created as a benchmark, for a further design process to occur, involves raising a concourse platform to an area basically rolling straight from the Cross River Rail station at Woolloongabba straight onto the major concourse level,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“It would allow people on one single level to go the whole way around the ground and that’s not possible currently and not accessible for anyone.

“It also includes extra lifts, extra support - those modern 21st century standards to improve access.”

Paralympic basketballers Sam White and Matt McShane and girls from the Sherwood Magpies under 9’s team at the Gabba. Picture: Lachie Millard

Australian Paralympian wheelchair basketballers Matt McShane and Sam White said the Gabba in its current state had been crying out for upgrades.

As a Brisbane Lions diehard, Mr McShane said the Gabba was difficult to navigate pedalling to the seats on game day.

“Whenever you go to newer stadiums you get an idea of what is capable. From public transport (to) food and drinks, bathrooms. (They) all need that accessibility,” Mr McShane said.

Mr McShane said people in wheelchairs would often not attend major events if accessibility was too great a hurdle.

“It’s huge. Not just sport, it’s even restaurants and bars, most people will Google it to see how easy it is. If there’s not much information or not easy they probably won’t go,” he said.

The pair listed the likes of Marvel Stadium and the upgraded Adelaide Oval as venues that the Gabba could turn to for accessibility inspiration.

Speaking to media, Mr Hinchliffe defended the timing of the Gabba’s construction period, which is set to unfold over four years from 2026, timed so Brisbane did not miss out on hosting an Ashes test match.

“Really, we want to make sure this fits around with the program of major events that we think are important for the life of the city, life of the state and life of the nation,” he said.

“So we are framing and planning this to be between Ashes test matches here at the Gabba. Ashes are pretty important on the Australian calendar.”