‘We need this’: Lauren Jackson’s push for Brisbane Arena

Australia’s most decorated basketballer, five-time Olympian Lauren Jackson, has weighed in on a hot topic of the Brisbane Games ahead of the Premier’s venue announcement.

Australia's Lauren Jackson says the Brisbane Games needs to have a new 17,000-seat Brisbane Arena. Picture: William West/AFP

Australia’s most decorated basketballer Lauren Jackson has called for a new 17,000-seat Brisbane Arena to host one of the premier money-spinning Olympic sports in 2032.

The five-time-Olympian Jackson said basketball, one of the world’s most popular team sports, needed a “premier” venue in Brisbane.

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She argued Australia’s Opals and Boomers squads should compete in front of 17,000 screaming fans at Brisbane Arena.

“It’s so important to have premier venues and particularly for a sport like basketball,” Jackson told The Courier-Mail.

“At every Olympics I’ve played in basketball has been sold out, every arena … so we need a premier arena.”

The arena is understood to be on the chopping block by the state government, raising fears about the location of basketball.

An early concept for a Brisbane Arena indoor venue

It is despite basketball being one of the International Olympic Committee’s major revenue-generating sports, with finals tickets among the Games’ most expensive.

Earlier this month The Courier-Mail revealed Games insiders suggested the 52 men’s and women’s basketball matches should be held at the Brisbane Arena – where if the cheapest tickets remained at the Paris 2024 price of $84, would generate at least $73.3m in much-needed revenue for 2032 organisers.

The windfall would likely be significantly higher, with tickets to the Paris 2024 men’s final between the USA and France starting from $1625 – which would generate $27.6m in revenue at a 17,000-seat Brisbane Arena.

Jackson said Brisbane Arena would facilitate music and other sports events and give basketball the chance to host one-off NBA games.

“It’s something we should be looking at especially with the talent we have in the NBA and the WNBA,” she said.

“It’s for the next generation of kids.”

The three-time silver medallist and two-time bronze medallist said the Olympics remained the best platform for Australian basketball.

“It’s one of the most participated in team sports in Australia, how we’re able to compete on a global level is ridiculous – our Opals are number two in the world right now,” she said.

“The whole of Australia gets behind the Opals.

“It’s really the only platform we have for visibility – hopefully that will change.”