The Queensland government has officially confirmed that the Gabba stadium in Brisbane will be demolished after the 2032 Olympic Games. Cricket Australia’s historic venue will be replaced by a new 60,000-capacity stadium in Victoria Park, marking the end of an era for one of Australia’s most iconic cricketing grounds.
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Gabba To Be Demolished After 2032 Olympics
The Gabba, which has hosted some of Australian cricket’s greatest moments, will no longer serve as a cricket venue post-2032. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli announced the decision as part of the state’s Olympic infrastructure plans, revealing that cricket and AFL will shift to a new stadium.
“The Gabba is at its end of life,” Crisafulli stated. “It hasn’t been well maintained, and we do need a stadium to host this great show, and there is an opportunity for legacy play.”
The Labor government’s original plan was to demolish and rebuild the Gabba for A$2.7 billion, but public backlash over rising costs forced a rethink. A revised A$600 million renovation plan was also scrapped by the new government in favor of a fresh stadium.
Olympic Cricket & Gabba’s Final Farewell
Cricket is set to return to the Olympics at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, having last featured in 1900. If the sport remains in Brisbane 2032, matches will likely be played at Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena and the Gabba before its demolition.
Premier Crisafulli expressed his excitement at the possibility of Australia winning an Olympic gold medal in cricket, potentially at the Gabba’s final event.
“Wouldn’t it be amazing to see the Australian cricket team win gold at an Olympic final? The Gabba’s swansong,” he said.
New International Cricket Venue in Australia Before 2032
Since hosting its first Test match in 1931, the Gabba has been a key fixture in Australian cricket, featuring in 67 men’s Tests and two women’s Tests. However, its status has diminished in recent years:
- Perth is set to host the opening Ashes Test in 2025-26, replacing the Gabba.
- The Gabba will host the second Ashes Test, possibly its last major red-ball match.
Beyond the 2032 Olympics, Australia will have another international cricket venue, with Hobart’s new stadium—featuring a roof—set to be completed by 2029.
Cricket Australia’s seven-year venue plan, announced in 2024, guarantees international matches at the Gabba only until the next Ashes series, keeping its long-term future uncertain.
The end of the Gabba era will be a historic moment for Australian cricket, but its legacy will live on in the memories of countless legendary matches.
