Queensland has locked in a mid-2026 construction start date for the new Brisbane Stadium at Victoria Park, after the state government released fresh architectural renders showing a three-tier seating bowl with an open-ended design inspired by the state's iconic character.
The 63,000-seat Olympic stadium will cost 3.8 billion dollars and has been assigned to a design team led by Australian firms COX and Hassell, partnering with Japanese stadium specialist Azusa Sekkei. The consortium previously delivered Perth's Optus Stadium, the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval and the 2006 Melbourne Cricket Ground upgrade.
The move represents a decisive break from years of deliberation. Plans to rebuild the Gabba were scrapped in 2023 after an independent government review recommended building a new stadium in Victoria Park at a cost of 3.4 billion Australian dollars. The shift carries significant implications for Queensland's fiscal management, requiring both state and federal funding while freeing up land at the Gabba for urban renewal.
Preliminary works are already underway at Victoria Park, with earthworks expected to begin mid-year and construction anticipated to commence early next year, according to statements from Queensland officials. The new stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies and athletics at the 2032 Games, before becoming the city's main stadium in legacy mode with 63,000 seats, serving as home ground for Brisbane Lions, Queensland Bulls and Brisbane Heat.
The architectural concept draws heavily on Queensland's landscape and climate. According to Hassell Managing Principal Lucy O'Driscoll, the design ensures the venue can be adapted for a wide variety of sporting and cultural uses, making it a genuine asset for the whole community. The concept embeds the main stadium for 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games into Victoria Park's topography.
The project sits within the 17 new and upgraded venues across the state in the 7.1 billion dollar Games Venues Infrastructure Program jointly funded by the Australian Government and Queensland Government. However, the Victoria Park location remains contentious. Campaign group Save Victoria Park described the renderings as greenwashed computer imagery and argued the proposal will cause catastrophic loss of heritage parkland.
A report by sustainable development researcher Dr Neil Peach claims that as much as two-thirds of the park may be destroyed, estimating that more than 1,200 trees will be felled during construction. Local campaigners have also expressed concern about potential damage to a culturally and historically significant site inhabited and used by Australia's Indigenous communities for thousands of years.
The Queensland government has defended the site selection. Officials noted that the park was a golf course for most of the last century, only being converted into a public park in 2021, and prior to that served as a dump. The state argues the new stadium will generate lasting legacy value for Queensland sport and culture well beyond the Games themselves.