Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Doomben suggested for main stadium

Yet another Brisbane icon has been put forward as the “logical choice” to be the potential site of the city’s main Olympic stadium as the 100-day review continues. VOTE NOW IN OUR POLL

Doomben Racecourse is the latest Brisbane site mooted for an Olympic stadium. (File picture)

Brisbane’s Olympics could save $5bn and use the extra cash to fund a new main stadium at Doomben Racecourse, according to a proposal presented to the 2032 review.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate on Tuesday delivered the city’s formal submission to the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics Review, with the 32-page document outlining how the blockbuster event could save billions of dollars by using or enhancing existing venues, such as the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, creating additional budget to solve Brisbane’s stadium dilemma once and for all.

Doomben joins a growing list of potential sites mooted as Olympic stadiums, as debate rages over whether a revamped Gabba, Victoria Park, the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre or a privately funded venue on Brisbane’s northside should serve as a main Olympic stadium.

The Gold Coast City Council submission details which events the Gold Coast can and should host, outlining arguments for the Coast’s vibrant tourism hotel industry to provide accommodation rather than construct an expensive athletes’ village.

Cr Tate said installing a roof and a 10,000-seat stadium at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre could be done substantially cheaper than the planned temporary pool at a new Brisbane arena.

The initial Queensland submission to the Olympics included eight sports for the Gold Coast, but Cr Tate said there was scope for many more events to be held on the Glitter Strip, including golf, hockey, rowing, cricket and surfing.

“We don’t want them to waste money,” he said.

“We’re here to help.”

While initially advocating for the Gold Coast’s Carrara Stadium – host of the 2018 Commonwealth Games athletics program as well as the opening and closing ceremonies, to hold the Olympic athletics, Cr Tate on Tuesday said that venue would be best suited as a venue for Twenty20 cricket, which will make its Olympic debut in LA in 2028.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

However he said the potential savings to be gleaned from his city’s submission could create scope for Brisbane to build a world-class Olympic stadium – at Doomben Racecourse.

While Cr Tate initially told a media conference on Tuesday that Boondall would be an ideal venue for an Olympic stadium, he later clarified that he was referring to Doomben, home of one of Brisbane’s two horse racing tracks.

He said its access to Brisbane Airport, the Gateway Motorway and a soon-to-be-upgraded Bruce Highway made Doomben a logical choice for a new stadium but added that Doomben was “just a suggestion” for the review panel to take on board.

An Olympic stadium at Doomben would take the famous racetrack out of commission, with Eagle Farm – which has also been previously mooted as a potential Olympic stadium site, to absorb the extra race meets.

Money from a government buy-off of Doomben would also generate millions of dollars for the BRC to further enhance Eagle Farm, while tracks on the Gold and Sunshine Coast could also host more race meets.

The proposal was news to Brisbane Racing Club with CEO Karl deKroo, who said he was surprised by Cr Tate’s decision to include Doomben in his proposal without prior consultation with the BRC.

“Our position has always been to recognise the significance of the 2032 Olympics and the opportunity the Games present for Brisbane and Queensland,” he said.

“We remain open to engaging with the government on the role our club can play in the broader infrastructure plan.

“However, any proposal that would lead to the cessation of racing at Doomben demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of its critical role in sustaining the thoroughbred racing industry in Queensland.”

Originally published as Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Doomben suggested for main stadium