Queensland government plans to recreate Gabba's magic pitch at new Olympic stadium
The Gabba’s unique playing surface could live on at Victoria Park Stadium as officials explore replicating its famous characteristics at the new venue.
A permanent cricket wicket could feature at Victoria Park Stadium in an effort to replicate the unique pace and bounce of the Gabba.
A final decision has not been made, but Sport Minister Tim Mander said the government was committed to keeping the characteristics of the Gabba after it is demolished to make way for a new venue at Victoria Park after the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“You’ll hear some developments in the future that will speak exactly to that point when we start talking about pitches and the benefit that we’ve received here over the years,” he said.
“That’s a stay tuned moment.”
Cricket Australia has a verbal agreement with the Queensland Government to hold the First Test of the 2032-33 summer at Victoria Park Stadium.
Brisbane would remain, along with the Sydney Cricket Ground, as the two major Australian venues with a permanent centre wicket.
At Perth’s new 60,000-seat Optus Stadium curators have attempted to recreate the characteristics of the WACA with a drop-in pitch.
It, along with the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Adelaide Oval, use a drop-in pitch to deliver a faster turnaround with the AFL season.
Mr Mander acknowledged the Gabba’s 136-year sporting story would end in 2032 but argued a growing city needed a new world-class stadium.
“It’ll create a new history as well,” he said.
“Don’t forget the Gabba and all the history associated with here, but sometimes it’s time to upgrade and move on and that’s what we’re doing.
“It’s the best decision economically, and we think Queenslanders have got right behind the whole concept of building Victoria Park.”
Queensland’s sporting history is also fuelling momentum for a museum to be built into the bowels of Victoria Park Stadium, similar to the Australian Sports Museum at the MCG.
Australian cricket great Ian Healy said Queensland “absolutely” needed a facility to showcase its sporting history.
“We should make it one of the big pillars of our tourism portfolio,” he said.
“Our state would be the best performed state in the world
“The whole range of sports that are under the QSport banner and the impact it has on our population is huge.
“We have governments that value sport.”
The wicketkeeper-batsman who played 119 Tests for Australia said Brisbane should study the best sporting museums around the world, including NFL and NASCAR, to copy those doing it best.
He said Victoria Park Stadium, in addition to the museum, should be a monument to Queensland sport.
“Let’s have all the concourses decorated along such lines in football and cricket, whoever’s using the stadium, and make it really obvious we’ve had such a rich history,” he said.
Originally published as Queensland government plans to recreate Gabba's magic pitch at new Olympic stadium
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