Brisbane 2032 Olympics: David Crisafulli hints tennis to stay

Premier David Crisafulli has hinted tennis will remain in Brisbane for the 2032 Games, while taking a swipe at the previous Labor government.

A concept for the Queensland Tennis Centre in Brisbane’s Tennyson

Premier David Crisafulli has hinted Olympic tennis will be held in Queensland, amid reports a costly upgrade of the Tennyson complex would force the 2032 event to be shifted to Melbourne.

The Courier-Mail revealed a $113m upgrade of the Brisbane facility was needed to achieve a compromise plan with the International Tennis Federation – with the Queensland Tennis Centre unable to deliver the traditional Olympic Games requirements of 10,000, 5000 and 3000 seat arenas.

It was understood Olympic officials privately discussed whether Melbourne’s Australian Open venue, the National Tennis Centre, could host the Games tournament if Brisbane did not come up to scratch.

Mr Crisafulli declined to speculate on the 2032 tennis venue but hinted it would remain in Brisbane and not be sent to Victoria.

“That would have happened under the former government, you bet it would have happened,” he said.

“That’s the problem when you don’t have a plan and when people aren’t engaged, that would have happened.”

Premier David Crisafulli on Sunday. Picture: David Clark

Opposition Olympic spokeswoman Grace Grace called on Mr Crisafulli to stop “hiding” behind the 100-day review and rule out tennis being held in Melbourne.

Mr Crisafulli said the venue would be revealed on March 25 when the government released its Games blueprint at The Courier-Mail’s Future Brisbane lunch.

“We’ve got a bit more work to do, but one of the stakeholders we’ve worked with has been Queensland Tennis and they’ve been great to deal with and they’ve spoken about what legacy looks like for them,” he said.

“The Games has got to be about legacy, part of that involves your larger state-based facilities, part of that involves grassroots facilities.

“The plan that will roll out at the end of this month will be a plan they can be proud of.”

It is understood the 100-day review panel will recommend a new stadium at Victoria Park and the relocation of the planned Brisbane Arena from Roma Street Parkland to Woolloongabba, adjacent to the Gabba.

The construction of the two signature Games venues and cost escalations on several minor venues is expected to put pressure on the existing $7.1bn funding envelope and force the government to rely on the private sector.

“I think we can turn embarrassment into excitement,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“I think we can turn risk into opportunity.”

A concept for the Queensland Tennis Centre in Brisbane’s Tennyson

Originally published as Brisbane 2032 Olympics: David Crisafulli hints tennis to stay