2032 Brisbane Games shock: Tennis could be held in Melbourne if funding shortfall eventuates

The 2032 Brisbane Olympic tennis tournament is under threat of a shock switch to Melbourne as plans for an essential upgrade of the Queensland Tennis Centre hang in the balance.

The 2032 Brisbane Olympic tennis tournament is under threat of a shock switch to Melbourne as plans for an essential upgrade of the Queensland Tennis Centre hang in the balance.

Senior Queensland tennis officials have already told the International Tennis Federation the Queensland Tennis Centre cannot deliver the traditional Olympic Games requirements of 10,000, 5000 and 3000 seat arenas.

But, in the spirit of “the new norm’’ designed to take financial pressure off Games hosts, the ITF has agreed to accept a compromise model which features a 5500-seat Pat Rafter Arena supported by a 3000-seat venue and further outdoor seating.

But even to reach that point the Queensland Tennis Centre at Tennyson will need a yet-to-be-approved $113 million upgrade.

Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios electrified the Pat Rafter Arena crowd at the Brisbane International earlier this year. Picture: Getty Images

An initial plan of a $180 million renovation was pruned by a third in a document tennis handed to the Queensland Government’s 100-day Games venue review committee.

That body this week gave its recommendations back to the government who will announce their verdict on whether tennis gets the funding at The Courier-Mail’s Future Brisbane lunch on March 25.

This masthead understands Olympic officials have privately discussed whether Melbourne’s Australian Open venue, the National Tennis Centre, could host the Games tournament if Brisbane does not come up to scratch.

A switch to Melbourne, apart from being a promotional disaster for the Brisbane Games, would be seen as a major test given the city’s July temperatures floating between seven and 13 degrees would be a turn-off for players.

Pat Rafter Arena is slated to host tennis at the Brisbane 2032 Games, but could lose the event.

Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, which hosts the Australian Open finals, has been tapped as a potential venue. Picture: Getty Images

“That would be disappointing,’’ former Olympian and two-time US Open champion Pat Rafter told this masthead.

“The reason you go to the Olympics is because you want to be near where the action is happening. If you are in Melbourne for a Brisbane Olympics you would think “what am I doing?’’ It would not feel like the Olympics.’’

It is understood the State Government is increasingly concerned about the escalating cost of venues for the Games, following the delivery of its 100-day independent review.

The responsible minister, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, is looking for ways to avoid having to build the proposed $2.5bn inner-city Arena - which is currently funded by the federal government - and reallocate that funding to venues such as Tennyson and others across the state.

Read our editorial on why Bleijie, and David Crisafulli, can’t make the same mistakes as former premier Steven Miles.

Matthew Ebden and John Peers celebrate winning the men’s doubles gold medal at Paris. Picture: Getty Images

Many sports fans assumed the Queensland Tennis Centre, host of the Brisbane International, would be a comfortable fit for the Olympics, but Tennis Queensland chief executive Cameron Pearson says they are different beasts.

“The Olympic tennis event has 30% more players and 75% more matches than the Brisbane International which was already at capacity,’’ Pearson said.

“The Brisbane International has five match courts. The Olympics requires 12.

“At the heart of this is there are simply not enough courts, not enough seats and the player facilities cannot handle the size of an Olympics. At the moment in Brisbane we do not meet Olympic Games requirements. These are the really brutal facts.

“We have been quietly working in the background with the ITF to get them across the line with a plan that is less than their traditional requirements and we have done that in the spirit of the new norms and ensuring it is not going to be a substandard Olympic and Paralympic event.’’

“While this is about the Olympics it would provide considerable legacy value as well. It secures the Brisbane International long term and creates more opportunities for fans and more tourism for Queensland.

“And those new courts would be lapped up by the public after the Games. Queensland has a significant court shortage with one court per 4000 people compared to one per 1400 nationwide.’’

Queensland and Australian tennis legend Pat Rafter. Picture: Liam Kidston

Rafter added that the Brisbane International’s appeal to top players would be enhanced if the renovation goes through.

“Players want to go to a venue where they can get a good preparation for the Australian Open. The extra courts would really help because players would respond to the great practice facilities. You would get a dividend for the next 20 years.’’

The document sent by tennis officials to the government review panel and seen by this masthead, says bluntly “the QTC’s current state is not fit-for-purpose to host Brisbane 2032’’ and Pearson concedes even if the $113 million upgrade is approved there will still be some significant concessions.

“At the Brisbane International we have about 10,000 seats. Under ITF requirements the minimum is 20,000. Even under the new plan we would fall several thousand short of that.’’

Rising Queensland tennis star Emerson Jones. Picture: Tennis NSW

A Tennis Australia spokesperson confirmed the priority was for the Olympics to be held in Brisbane, but could be staged in Melbourne if an upgrade wasn’t forthcoming.

“The Queensland Tennis Centre (QTC) is one of Australia’s most iconic tennis venues, playing a crucial role in the development and promotion of the sport at both the national and international levels,” the TA spokesperson said.

“As the only Queensland venue capable of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic tennis events in 2032, the QTC is crucial to the success of the Games and we believe it should be held there.

“However, it currently does not meet the necessary standards - that’s why Tennis Queensland is advocating for additional government funding to upgrade the facility as part of the Olympic review process - and if unsuccessful we would consider hosting it in Melbourne.

“This project will deliver significant economic benefits for Queensland, including increased tourism, job creation, and local spending. It will also serve to inspire future generations of tennis players and fans, ensuring that these legacy benefits remain in Queensland for years to come.”

“We have been working closely with Tennis Queensland to support their vision to keep the Games in their state – which has also been supported by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee and Stadiums Queensland.”

Originally published as 2032 Brisbane Games shock: Tennis could be held in Melbourne if funding shortfall eventuates