Gabba arena project shortlist drawn-up

Article posted by Coliseum, April 10^th, 2026

Image: Queensland Government

Two groups have been shortlisted to demolish and rebuild Brisbane’s Gabba stadium following the 2032 Olympic Games.

Financial Review said Capella Capital, Lendlease, AEG and Legends Global – together known as the Brisbane Entertainment Alliance Consortium is one of the groups in contention.

They’ll go up against Plenary Group, Live Nation and Oak View Group – known as the Gather Brisbane Consortium – in a bid to deliver the new entertainment and housing precinct.

The redevelopment involves demolishing the current Gabba stadium to create a new mixed-use, residential, and entertainment precinct in Woolloongabba.

A new 17,000-seat arena will be built as part of this project. Construction on the arena is expected to begin in 2027, following a six-month commercial negotiation period to determine site operational terms.

A Request for Expression of Interest and Information Memorandum was released last year for the development of the Gabba Entertainment Precinct marking a major milestone in the 2032 Olympic and Paralympics Games legacy and urban transformation.

The 42,000-capacity Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly known as the Gabba, is a major sports stadium in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia. The nickname Gabba derives from the suburb of Woolloongabba in which it is located.

The project would see the existing Gabba stadium ultimately decommissioned following the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the site redeveloped into a mixed-use precinct anchored by a new indoor entertainment arena and supported by residential, retail and public spaces.

The Gabba will remain in use until 2032, to support cricket and AFL during construction of the Victoria Park stadium.

The redevelopment forms part of the broader Woolloongabba Priority Development Area, positioned less than two kilometres from the Brisbane CBD and adjacent to the future Cross River Rail station, placing it within one of the city’s most connected urban renewal corridors.

The proposed precinct is being delivered through a public private partnership model, with the State seeking experienced development partners capable of delivering both the arena and surrounding mixed use components.

At the core of the proposal is a new indoor arena with a capacity of approximately 17,000 people, designed to host concerts, sporting events and major entertainment programming. This venue would replace the Gabba’s role as a major event destination once the new Victoria Park stadium becomes operational.

The redevelopment is also expected to leverage major infrastructure already under construction, particularly the Woolloongabba Cross River Rail station, which would provide direct connectivity to the CBD, northern and southern corridors, and key activity centres across South East Queensland.

At a broader planning level, the updated Woolloongabba Priority Development Area framework is targeting a significant uplift in housing supply, with up to 16,000 new homes envisioned across the wider precinct to support population growth and urban consolidation in the inner south.

According to the Queensland Government, the project is intended to position Woolloongabba as a major cultural, residential and entertainment destination, while also unlocking new private investment opportunities across housing, tourism and hospitality sectors.

Continue to follow Coliseum for latest updates on venues business news. Coliseum is dedicated towards building the best global community of sports and entertainment venue executives and professionals creating better and more profitable venues.

Become a member of the only Global Sports Venue Alliance and connect with stadiums, arenas and experts from around the world. Apply for membership at coliseum-online.com/alliance and make use of the 365Coliseum Business.

Watch 500+ member-exclusive videos with valuable tips for your venue