Olympics 2032: Brisbane’s $2.7b Gabba redevelopment plans dead in the water after AOC statement

With the AOC doubling down on their call to bury the Gabba redevelopment plans, cricket officials are ready to spring into action to save the iconic ground.

Cricket officials are determined to press ahead with their push to have the Gabba renovated despite the project being branded “dead and buried.’’

Olympics doyen John Coates has called for a proposed $2.7 billion Gabba rebuild to be scrapped “because it doesn’t stack up’’, claiming squabbling over funding has left the Olympics movement “on the nose’’ in Brisbane.

But a cricket source, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the fact that a review into Games spending has not been completed, said cricket had not given up hope of some form of Gabba renovation taking place.

It is believed Queensland and Australia cricket officials will soon meet with former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk to express their support for a Gabba renovation as part of Quirk’s review into Games spending.

The stakes are high for cricket because the Gabba, if unrenovated, would become the No 5 Test venue in the country.

Australian Olympic president Ian Chesterman has called for ‘more creative’ solutions than the Gabba proposal. Picture: NCA NewsWire

AOC president Ian Chesterman backed Coates and said there were “more creative’’ solutions than the Gabba to host the opening and closing ceremonies which, under Coates’ plan, would go to Suncorp Stadium.

“The AOC fully supports the review process currently underway,’’ Chesterman said in a statement.

“The IOC’s New Norm process is designed to ensure the Games are both affordable and sustainable, with a strong preference for the use of existing or temporary facilities.

“We believe there are other, more creative solutions than rebuilding the Gabba for the Games which provide a legacy for our sports and even greater access for fans to an exceptional Olympic and Paralympic Games. We will put these ideas to the review committee.’’

WHY BRISBANE MUST ACCEPT ‘OUTDATED’ GABBA

The likely decision to scrap the redevelopment of the Gabba is understandable but Brisbane must accept it will be saddled indefinitely with the No.5 Test cricket venue in the country.

The outdated, fan-unfriendly Gabba has been left behind by its closest rivals, a magnificently renovated Adelaide Oval and the newly constructed Optus Stadium in Perth.

And that’s added to the fact the Gabba will always be behind the Sydney and Melbourne cricket grounds because of their historical gravitas.

In the short term, cricket and AFL interests will benefit from the decision to scrap the $2 billion Gabba development because they won’t have to worry about finding a new venue when the ground was meant to be rebuilt.

That had become a major concern for both codes.

The Gabba has been home to some of the greatest Australian performances of the modern era Picture: Steve Pohlner

But the long term is a worry because the Gabba has been left behind by its rivals and will only fade further over the next decade.

The push to have the 2032 Olympics opening and closing ceremonies at Suncorp Stadium is interesting because while the venue is special to rugby league fans it was no-one’s initial choice to host the major ceremonies.

The ceremonies could have their own special flavour as spectators from the United States, Japan and Germany weave their way up Caxton St past statues of Wally Lewis and Mal Meninga, no doubt asking “I wonder who they are?’’

It seems awkward and a tad cut price but Brisbane had little choice to retreat from its initial plan because, with cost of living surging and youth crime out of control, the public had turned against the Games they should be celebrating.

The Gabba Fortress was shot down by a young West Indian team this summer. Picture: AFP

The costs of the Games had spiralled out of control and Brisbane does not have the financial resources of a Paris or London.

Brisbane’s great challenge is to not become Atlanta which struggled badly when they hosted the Games in 1996.

If you are megacities Paris, London or Tokyo the Games do not define your city because you have so much else on.

But it will define Brisbane in the way it defined Barcelona or Montreal.

Do it well and your name will always sparkle.

Do it badly and the stench will linger for generations. The pressure is on.

Originally published as Olympics 2032: Brisbane’s $2.7b Gabba redevelopment plans dead in the water after AOC statement