Gabba game-changer gathers pace in Cross River Rail spin-off

The Gabba is going to change.

Not next week and not in the next six months.

But over the next 10 to 15 years the Brisbane Cricket Ground at Woolloongabba will change.

Ideas for the new entrance to the Gabba cricket ground.

The Gabba is where Peter Siddle took an Ashes hat trick in summer 2010 and where Lions centre-half forward Jonathan Brown kicked 10 goals in winter 2007.

It was where the Socceroos played their first home game, against New Zealand in 1923.

If you are lucky, you were at two of these games. If you made all three, buy three casket tickets now.

Almost a decade on and the Gabba is getting creaky.

Where a future upgrade of the Gabba fits in the Queensland Government’s funding priorities will be clearer by the end of the year when its Sport and Active Recreation Strategy is finished.

However a new-look Gabba has long been linked to Brisbane’s underground rail project, the Cross River Rail, because one of its key underground rail stations is right across Main Street at Woolloongabba.

Green space, a new entrance and better links to buses and future trains are all idea for a new-look Gabba.

On Friday, a report accidentally released under Right to Information shows what the Palaszczuk Government has in mind for the Gabba.

There is nothing yet in the budget for building anything because it is still just a collection of thoughts, but some money for planning could be there on June 12.

The July 2017 Brisbane Cricket Ground Vision and Master Plan gives these broadbrush suggestions to improve the Gabba.

The report opens with this reminder.

Every other major sports ground in a capital city in Australia has been modernised in the past five to seven years.

This is what they are thinking.

Outside the ground

1 - Major street trees planted on the old Go Print site, new landscaped gardens and street trees along major roads.

2 – The Go Print site opposite the Gabba and nearby green spaces could become landscaped gardens with big screens.

Big video screens for the outside of the Gabba are contained in a Queensland Government report accidentally released this week.

3 - A new entrance to the Gabba would be built, possibly off Main Street, entering to a reconfigured Level 3 of the stadium.

4 – The bridge over Main Street at the Gabba has to be a striking statement.

5 – Walkways could be built over Main, Vulture and Stanley streets.

6 - Improve the use of the heritage brick building on Main Street.

7 – Noted that there is poor street furniture, the outside has confusing access points and public transport points are not obvious.

Inside the ground

1 - Six new entrances.

2 - Proposed major changes to disconnected function rooms.

3 – New Queensland Lounge.

4 – Double the size of the Members Bar.

5 – New larger suites.

6 – A new “field level” suite close to the AFL players areas on Vulture Street.

7 - Opening up large sections of Level 2 along Stanley Street.

8 – A big new spectator deck beneath the western scoreboard.

9 - Big new video scoreboard on east and western sides.

Opened-up levels of the Gabba are part of a report into its future.

Overall, the stadium will be opened up to the light, new entrances will be built, and extra places to sit, have a drink and watch sport will be made available.

The way it gets from what it is today, to what is planned in the next decade, will be similar to the upgrade of Roma Street Station.

At Roma Street, there's been a plan since 2016 for a 17,000-seat music venue, plus business and education facilities over the top of the train station.

The future Roma Street Station and its Brisbane Live entertainment precinct is now part of the Cross River Rail project.

On May 6, the Palaszczuk Government announced it would put forward $5 million to put together a business case to evaluate Brisbane Live as part of the benefits of the Cross River Rail project.

It is likely a similar type of approach will be taken at the Gabba and potentially Queensland’s June 12 budget might include some money to put together a business case.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, who is overseeing the Cross River Rail Project, in general terms acknowledges links between Cross River Rail at Woolloongabba and upgrading the cricket ground.

In February 2018, Ms Trad said the new station would almost double the number of people using public transport to get to big games at the Gabba.

“We know better transport will dramatically improve the match day experience for fans and the new station will see its expected average daily passenger load of 18,000 potentially double to more than 30,000 users for major events,” she said.

Sports Minister Mick de Brenni believes the two projects are linked.

“Cross River Rail is a game changer for Brisbane, and upgrades to the Gabba are absolutely contingent on the delivery of Cross River Rail,” he said.

However, the upgrade is a long-term project.

A field level bar is another idea for a revamped Gabba.

“The Gabba is an iconic stadium, and its name is synonymous with the greatest cricket wicket in the world,” Mr de Brenni said.

“Along with world-class cricket, what we want to see is an amazing fan experience, be it as home of the Lions AFL or for other entertainment.

“We’ll be making sure Queensland sports fans and players get the stadium they deserve,” he said.

“But our immediate priorities are all about making sure Queenslanders can get to work on decent roads, can access world-class hospital services, and give their kids the best schooling available.