A controversial revisiting of plans to build a 63,000 capacity stadium as the main venue for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics has been announced today by Queensland Premier David Crisafulli.
Announcing the 2032 Games Delivery Plan, Premier Crisafulli made the surprise announcement that the RNA Showgrounds will be upgraded to a 20,000 capacity venue and the addition of a new main arena at the Queensland Tennis Centre with additional show courts.
He also announced that the Centenary Pool Complex, adjacent to Victoria Park in the suburb of Spring Hill, would be redeveloped as a National Aquatic Centre.
The Aquatic Centre will feature a main and secondary stadium, each with large indoor pools to support elite training and competition. It will have a capacity of more than 25,000 during the Games, and stay at 8000 after they end.
The RNA Showgrounds site, which is also nearby, will play host to the athletes village - replacing an earlier plan to build a new facility at Hamilton - with its 140-year-old heritage listed main arena will be upgraded to a 20,000 seat capacity.
Upgrades to the Queensland Tennis Centre in Tennyson will include a new 3000-seat show court arena and 12 new match courts.
The infrastructure blueprint will also see the Gold Coast Hockey Centre upgraded for competition, rather than a proposal for temporary facilities at Brisbane rugby union venue Ballymore.
There will also be new indoor sports centres at Logan and Moreton Bay and a new whitewater rafting centre in the Redlands.
Premier Crisafulli unveiled the plans for the Games today having received a report from the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) and its 100-day independent review into venues, infrastructure and transport.
He defended the development of a new stadium at the heritage listed Victoria Park adjacent to the Brisbane CBD despite having promised prior to being elected last year that he would not back the building of a new stadium for the Games, noting that there was "no longer time" to upgrade the Gabba.
Earlier, Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development had advised that the plan had been approved by the Queensland Cabinet as of yesterday, with the 90% for the GIICA recommendations accepted.
Uncertain future for Brisbane Arena/Live venue
However, the Queensland Government will not proceed with the proposed Brisbane Live/Arena at Roma Street.
Premier Crisafulli said that not including the new venue in plans for the Games would not mean the "death of (the) Brisbane arena", saying it was an opportunity to use the $2.5 billion in funding from the Federal Government towards other infrastructure, including the Brisbane stadium, swimming, tennis and national aquatic centre.
Premier Crisafulli said the Queensland Government had received offers from the private sector to build a new entertainment arena in Woolloongabba for "a fraction of the cost for taxpayers".
He did not mention the years of work put into the Brisbane Live/Arena project by its proponents - which goes back to before the Queensland Government bid to host the Games.
Supportive Media and local protests
The announcements were made at today's Future Brisbane event at Howard Smith Wharves, hosted by Brisbane's The Courier-Mail.
The Courier-Mail, a harsh critic of infrastructure proposals during the last Queensland Government has been highly supportive of Premier Crisafulli's Games plans, releasing a series of leaks from the Review in recent weeks.
Having previously maximised the potential cost of new venues in its reports, it is now minimising them.
Immediately prior to Premier Crisafulli's announcement, protestors calling for the Victoria Park stadium plan to be scrapped were present at Howard Smith Wharves.
Backed by former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, the protestors were hoping Premier Crisafulli would not announce the main Olympic stadium be built at Victoria Park.
Click here for more information on the Games Delivery Plan.
Images: Rendering for a new Games aquatic centre and stadium in Brisbane's Victoria Park (top), the concept for an expanded Queensland Tennis Centre (middle, credit: Bright Rayner) and Archipelago's concept for the new aquatic centre (below).
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
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