Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Suncorp Stadium ‘in the mix’ for swimming

A revered venue builder has warned Brisbane cannot afford to go backwards from the rock concert atmosphere of the Paris and LA Olympics.

Suncorp Stadium is a ‘real chance’ for Olympic swimming, according to a venues expert.

Swimming should be held at Suncorp Stadium to avoid Brisbane “going backwards” from the rock concert atmosphere of the Paris and Los Angeles Olympics, revered venue builder Alan Patching says.

Queenslanders will find out the state’s final Games venue blueprint at The Courier-Mail’s Future Brisbane lunch on March 25.

Professor Patching, a Bond University professor of construction management who was the project director for the design and construction of Sydney’s Olympic Stadium and the 2003 redevelopment of Suncorp Stadium, backed calls for Brisbane to think big for the standout sport of swimming.

“That makes a temporary pool within Suncorp Stadium a real option – especially considering Queensland boasts some of the world’s top sports venue architects who would ensure it did not come across as a slapdash solution,” he said.

“The Paris Games set a new benchmark with a roofed pool venue that transformed the swimming into an experience akin to a rock concert, complete with giant video displays and music.

“We can’t afford to go backwards from that, making an arena-based pool experience a likely consideration.”

Bond University professor of construction management Alan Patching

He said, short of using the “appealing” alternatives, swimming should be hosted at Brisbane Arena – built near the Gabba.

Prof Patching said the panel of reviewers were the best in their fields and would likely recommend major venues be built near Cross River Rail’s new Roma Street, Woolloongabba and Exhibition stations.

He said a stadium between 60,000 and 65,000 seats should be built at Victoria Park, with the Gabba too small and not a realistic option for the Games or beyond.

“It would cost a bomb to make it viable,” he said.

“Part of the cost would be compensation for loss of revenue to cricket and AFL – putting substantial pressure on an already limited budget.

“Brisbane needs a stadium to hold 60-65,000 people to service AFL, cricket and major concerts well beyond the Games as the population of South East Queensland doubles.”

A main stadium at Victoria Park would allow for the Gabba be demolished after 2032 and used as green space to compensate for the new stadium.

Save Victoria Park group spokeswoman Sue Bremner said almost 30 community leaders had signed an open letter urging the government against building a new stadium.

“Save Victoria Park will use every means possible to fight shortsighted plans to destroy this invaluable piece of green infrastructure, and ensure it is protected for generations to come,” she said.

An artist's impression of swimming at a Brisbane Arena

Premier David Crisafulli was on Monday peppered with questions about whether his pre-election position of “no new stadiums” still stood.

“We’ve got a budget and we are determined to make sure that people see value for money for that and that every part of the state benefits,” he said.

“We’ve got less than two weeks now (till the announcement) and I think it’s important that Queenslanders see that we will have a plan and we will deal with that in a mature and calm fashion.”

Prof Patching labelled the Labor government’s plan to upgrade Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre at Nathan for a 40,000-seat Games stadium as insufficient for a memorable Games.

“It ticks none of the transport integration boxes and wastes cash on a second-rate venue,” he said.

Worryingly, Prof Patching said while it made sense to plan broader transport connectivity and faster rail to the Sunshine Coast when Brisbane won the Games in 2021, delays meant it was now unlikely.

“I suspect that train has left the station, both time and budget-wise, at least in terms of having these completed by the Games,” he said.

“We cannot afford to delay progress towards the Games any longer.”

Originally published as Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Suncorp Stadium ‘in the mix’ for swimming