- Gather Brisbane selected in landmark deal to deliver first of its kind Gabba Entertainment and Housing Precinct – a new $1.4 billion 17,000-seat indoor arena and nearly 4,000 new homes.
- Arena construction to begin early next year and open by 2031.
- Nearby Gabba Stadium will be decommissioned following the 2032 Games to make way for a diverse mix of homes and open public space.
- Crisafulli Government is delivering for 2032 and beyond, after Labor’s decade of decline.
Work to build a new world-class entertainment and living destination precinct in the heart of Brisbane will begin in just a few short months, with the Crisafulli Government locking-in a landmark deal to deliver a new indoor arena and thousands of homes in Woolloongabba.
Gather Brisbane – a powerhouse consortium combining leading Australian and international infrastructure and entertainment expertise – has been selected as the successful proponent to deliver the Gabba Entertainment and Housing Precinct in partnership with the State Government, with construction to begin early next year.
The centrepiece of the precinct will be a new world-class $1.4 billion 17,000-seat indoor arena, centrally-located and purpose-designed for entertainment and sport, with capacity for up to 18,700 people in concert mode and the flexibility to host major concerts and sporting events.
To be delivered by 2031, entertainment lovers will be able to step straight onto the arena grounds from the new Woolloongabba Cross River Rail station, similar to New York’s Madison Square Garden and Penn Station.
The centrally located and more easily accessible new arena will replace the 40-year-old Boondall Entertainment Centre, which is at the end of its life and no longer fit for purpose, after a lack of investment by the former Labor Government.
The nearby Gabba Stadium will be decommissioned following the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to make way for open public space and almost 4,000 new homes, including build-to-sell, build-to-rent homes, co-living dwellings and purpose-built student accommodation.
The precinct is also designed to be a destination beyond major event days, integrated with public spaces and plazas, year-round dining and bars and improved pedestrian connections.
A new pedestrian bridge over the existing busway and an expanded public plaza will also create stronger connections to Stanley Street and Woolloongabba busway station.
As promised, East Brisbane State School will also remain after the Crisafulli Government saved it from Labor’s wrecking ball.
Gather Brisbane brings together Plenary, Live Nation, Oak View Group and Webuild, with experience spanning major infrastructure delivery, venue development, live entertainment and global events, and was selected following a rigorous and competitive process.
The consortium will design, build, finance, maintain and operate the new world class $1.4 billion arena.
The Crisafulli Government will make a one-off $600 million capital investment in the project following completion of the arena, which will then be offset following a staged release of the Gabba Stadium’s land to the consortium, to make way for around 4,000 new homes.
The partnership is in stark contrast to Labor’s litany of failed taxpayer splurges, including its Gabba 2032 Games idea that blew out to more than $3.4 billion without a single sod turned and $2.5 billion to build an arena above Roma Street Station. Neither of these failures also included plans for the surrounding area.
The Gabba Entertainment and Housing Precinct deal comes with a number of conditions including:
- The State will not pay its share of the capital investment until after the arena is delivered and opened in 2031.
- The operator will be responsible for all maintenance and future refurbishments for the life of the arena.
- The State will continue to own the arena’s land until at least 2071 and will enter a long-term commercial arrangement with the operator.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the selection of Gather Brisbane marked a major milestone for the precinct after a decade of flip-flopping and project failures by the former Labor Government.
“The stage is now set for something special at Woolloongabba. This will be transformational for the area and generational for millions of people who’ll come to live, visit and enjoy this new precinct,” Deputy Premier Bleijie said.
“This urban renewal of the Gabba was a key part of the Crisafulli Government’s 2032 Delivery Plan to get the Games back on track after 1,200 of Labor chaos, and position Queensland as the events capital of Australia.
“Similar state and private partnerships have successfully delivered arena and stadium projects nationally and internationally, including Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium and Perth’s Optus Stadium, but none have delivered the city-shaping scale of a new entertainment space and thousands of homes, connected with public open space, dining and bars.
“Woolloongabba will be a destination that brings people together from near and far every day of the year, whether you’re stepping out from one of the new 4,000 homes nearby, jumping off the train to see a gig, or meeting friends for a drink.
“Boondall is at its end of life but Labor would have had taxpayers forking out billions for a new arena, in contrast we’ve gathered a group of powerhouses in their fields to deliver an incredible legacy for Queensland that also respects taxpayers money.”
Plenary Group Head of Development Sergio Calcarao said the precinct represented a unique opportunity to reshape inner-city Woolloongabba while delivering lasting benefits for Brisbane.
“This precinct development will redefine how city precincts in Australia and abroad are designed, developed and delivered. It’s an honour to be selected to deliver this impressive venue; one that will prove to be an iconic piece of legacy infrastructure for Brisbane and a diverse range of housing and community infrastructure that will be integrated into the master planned precinct,” Mr Calcaro said
Live Nation Australia and New Zealand Venue Development Senior Vice President Guy Ngata said the new area will lure more visitors and more artists.
“Brisbane is a city with a deep love of live music and major events. This arena will attract more touring artists to Brisbane, give Queensland talent a bigger stage and bring fans closer to the moments they love. It’s a long-term investment in Brisbane that will create jobs, bring more visitors to the city and support local businesses for decades to come.”
Queensland music icons The Veronicas said the new arena will strengthen Brisbane’s live music scene and create greater opportunities for both artists and fans.
“Having played to home crowds in Brisbane throughout our careers, we know how much live music means to this city. This arena will give the next generation of Queensland artists a bigger stage to aspire to and give local fans more chances to see the artists they love,” The Veronicas said.
Webuild Senior Executive Vice President Operations Oceania Marco Assorati said the Gabba Entertainment and Housing Precinct will be a defining project for Brisbane’s future growth and connectivity.
“With a strong pipeline of work and a clear vision for growth and infrastructure delivery, Queensland is a very important market for Webuild and we look forward to working collaboratively with the Queensland Government and our partners to bring their vision for Woolloongabba to life, creating a world-class destination that connects entertainment, housing, transport and community, and delivers a lasting legacy for Brisbane well beyond 2032,” Mr Assorati said.
Oak View Group CEO Chris Granger said the landmark arena will help secure Brisbane’s place as a leading destination for major entertainment and live events.
“We are incredibly excited to be part of bringing this landmark venue to life for Brisbane and its surrounding community. Working alongside our Gather Brisbane partners, we look forward to combining our collective expertise to create an exceptional destination that attracts the biggest events and becomes a source of pride for Brisbane for generations to come,” Mr Granger said.
