The Gabba will be demolished after the 2032 Olympics, with cricket set to find a new home in Brisbane.

Gabba to Be Demolished After 2032 Olympics, New Cricket Stadium Planned for Brisbane

The Gabba is set to be demolished following the 2032 Olympic Games, with a brand-new 60,000-seat stadium to be built in Brisbane’s Victoria Park precinct, which will become the new home of cricket in Queensland.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli revealed the updated Olympic infrastructure plans on Tuesday, providing long-awaited clarity for cricket after years of uncertainty. Since Brisbane secured hosting rights in 2021, various proposals have been floated for the Gabba, leaving the sport in limbo.

Cricket Australia (CA) had only guaranteed the Gabba international matches until the 2025-26 men’s Ashes when it released its seven-year schedule in 2024, amid ongoing debate about whether the ground would be upgraded or replaced.

"This decision gives us certainty about venues and scheduling, which in turn allows us to ensure Brisbane hosts the very best possible international and domestic cricket," CA said. "We strongly advocated building a stadium in Victoria Park together with Queensland Cricket, the AFL, and Brisbane Lions. Cricket will play a major role in ensuring this significant investment benefits fans and the broader Queensland community.

"On behalf of the cricket community, we thank the Queensland Government for seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver the stadium that the city and state deserve."

Cricket is also returning to the Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles, having last featured in 1900. If the sport is retained for the 2032 Brisbane Games, some matches may be played at Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena, with the Gabba potentially hosting its final games during the event.

“Wouldn’t it be amazing to see the Australian cricket team win gold in an Olympic final — the Gabba’s swansong,” Crisafulli said at a media event in Brisbane.

Originally, the Gabba was to be demolished and rebuilt for A$2.7 billion under the former Labor government’s Olympic plan, but those plans were scrapped due to cost concerns. A subsequent A$600 million refurbishment proposal was also shelved by the new administration.

“The Gabba is at the end of its life,” Crisafulli stated. “It hasn’t been well maintained. We needed to choose between spending billions on temporary venues or securing a lasting legacy for cricket and AFL in a permanent, world-class facility.”

Queensland Cricket welcomed the announcement, calling it a turning point for the sport in the state.

“The Gabba has been a fantastic venue, giving fans and players countless memories,” said Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson. “But the challenges it faces are well known. Now, we have a chance to host the biggest events in world cricket — from ICC tournaments to Ashes series, and BBL/WBBL — in a purpose-built stadium.”

“Thirty years ago, the Gabba was undergoing major redevelopment, with the Sheffield Shield Final marking a turning point. Today’s decision gives us similar clarity and a fresh starting line for Queensland to unveil a stadium recognized worldwide.”

Since hosting its first Test in 1931, the Gabba has staged 67 men’s and two women’s Tests. It became the traditional starting point for Australia’s Test summer, though in recent years Perth has taken that spot. Brisbane is scheduled to host the second Test of the 2025-26 Ashes, a day-night fixture.

While the Gabba’s international future beyond next summer is unclear, it may still host white-ball matches and possibly more Tests before it’s finally decommissioned.

Meanwhile, another new cricket venue is in the pipeline, with Hobart’s proposed roofed stadium — linked to Tasmania’s new AFL team — expected to be ready by 2029.

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