News Gabba Upgrade & Olympics News

[Andyz]

I wonder how quickly we find out what is going to happen once Steven Miles's review is done in mid March.

If it is decided to go ahead with the Gabba demolition and rebuild there will have to be a quick decision re where we are going to play our home games. Sadly the longer it drags on the worst possible outcome(Metricon) is likely to be the solution... YUK!

I too wonder that.....the longer this drags out the less time there will be to ready an alternative ground if they do the rebuild.

But with all logic pointing to the fact the Gabba is ageing....it is too small....it cannot even hold 1/2 of the Lions members....it barely hanging on to test cricket....light towers & power infrastructure needing replacement....etc etc......the Gov't will probably decide to leave it as is and skip the rebuild

 

[notliondown]

The surface problem can be sorted without too much fuss.
The underneath access problem is an opinion not fact and again one problem that could be worked around.

Sorry ML... Jake Anson has said a number of times the underground access is a security issue for world leaders attending the games as well as other benefits it brings with staging etc. The reality is the Gabba doesn't meet the needs of the event it is trying to host.

 

[McIvor]

Some of the modern stadiums are insane and I’m not sure a redevelopment of Gabba gets you anywhere close to modern standards.

I mean check out this of Real Madrids stadium which was an upgrade. Could we even come closely remote to such a redevelopment:

 

[M Malice]

Some of the modern stadiums are insane and I’m not sure a redevelopment of Gabba gets you anywhere close to modern standards.

I mean check out this of Real Madrids stadium which was an upgrade. Could we even come closely remote to such a redevelopment:

Unbelievable technology, imagine the upkeep costs alone on the disappearing playing surface, we wont ever have a stadium like that, but a couple of Billion dollar stadium would be pretty slick.

Real Madrid has an annual income revenue near on a Billion dollars and World football would be a Hundreds of Billions dollar business.

 

[Dalions]

Unbelievable technology, imagine the upkeep costs alone on the disappearing playing surface, we wont ever have a stadium like that, but a couple of Billion dollar stadium would be pretty slick.

Real Madrid has an annual income revenue near on a Billion dollars and World football would be a Hundreds of Billions dollar business.

Imagine if that all went wrong on game day!

 

[Jimmy Two Hands]

I too wonder that.....the longer this drags out the less time there will be to ready an alternative ground if they do the rebuild.

Perhaps I'm giving them too much credit, but if the recommendation is to stick with the rebuild, surely that also comes with a secondary recommendation for AFL/cricket alternatives during the demolition.

Also for people wondering about the details of a refurb, you can find the refurb options originally presented as options - from memory they were both $2b+ also.

 

[Black Panther]

The Australian reporting that "support for Brisbane 2032 has plummeted" in some ALP polling report

edit -

In the November survey of 1200 Queenslanders, support for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics plunged to its lowest levels, with only 38 per cent of voters agreeing the Games were a good idea for Brisbane.

 

[western royboy]

The thing is it’s not just the Gabba, it’s Allan Border Field & Albion Park - hard to see how it’s all going to get done in 8 years from a $$, materials, workforce point of view let alone the disruption to the three or four codes involved

 

[M Malice]

The Australian reporting that "support for Brisbane 2032 has plummeted" in some ALP polling report

We all know Politicians float with the prevailing wind and their prime concern is the current election cycle...., so if they are able they'll pull out of the Olympics and kick the can down the road in regards to the needed new oval stadium.

 

[Mighty Lions]

Sorry ML... Jake Anson has said a number of times the underground access is a security issue for world leaders attending the games as well as other benefits it brings with staging etc. The reality is the Gabba doesn't meet the needs of the event it is trying to host.

Not sure Jake said that but I see and talk to Jake weekly so I will ask him about that and get back to you. He has never said that to me but doesnt mean he didnt say it. I'm sure there are many Olympic venues that have not had underground facilities in the past. That said, terrorism may have changed all that in this modern age but again I dont totally agree that an underground facility is the only option for what you mention above as criteria the stadium needs to meet.
Increasing stadium capacity is an option in the facelift and one that is under consideration. If they decide The Gabba is the venue for the games but a re-build is out, then increasing the seating capacity is a top priority in my opinion.

 

[Andyz]

Not sure Jake said that but I see and talk to Jake weekly so I will ask him about that and get back to you. He has never said that to me but doesnt mean he didnt say it. I'm sure there are many Olympic venues that have not had underground facilities in the past. That said, terrorism may have changed all that in this modern age but again I dont totally agree that an underground facility is the only option for what you mention above as criteria the stadium needs to meet.
Increasing stadium capacity is an option in the facelift and one that is under consideration. If they decide The Gabba is the venue for the games but a re-build is out, then increasing the seating capacity is a top priority in my opinion.

Yes increasing seating capacity is a top priority in just about everyone's opinion too.....and is most definitely required if the Gabba wants to remain relevant. But that cannot be done in any meaningful way without a rebuild!
They can't just add another level onto cantilevered grand stands. The only seating capacity increase that would come from a 'facelift' would be if they ripped out 1/2 the seating & made it standing room!

Otherwise stands have to come down & be rebuilt....what sort of capacity increase can come from a progressive rebuild remains to be seen but from what I've read they can't increase it sunstantially without doing it all at once due to the deep excavation work required......but I am no engineer.

Hopefully they release some details behind their decision making process.....but I suspect we'll just get told the Gabba is no longer part of the Olympics and therefore no improvements to be made - mainly bc that is the easy option for Miles.

Of course that would be completely ignoring the fact it needs to be done regardless of the Olympics......and it will be us fans paying the price being locked out of more & more games due to sell outs. Not to mention we'll be lucky to keep any tests or attract other major events that would be good for the local economy going forward.....

 

[notliondown]

Not sure Jake said that but I see and talk to Jake weekly so I will ask him about that and get back to you. He has never said that to me but doesnt mean he didnt say it. I'm sure there are many Olympic venues that have not had underground facilities in the past. That said, terrorism may have changed all that in this modern age but again I dont totally agree that an underground facility is the only option for what you mention above as criteria the stadium needs to meet.
Increasing stadium capacity is an option in the facelift and one that is under consideration. If they decide The Gabba is the venue for the games but a re-build is out, then increasing the seating capacity is a top priority in my opinion.

All good, I'd love to see where he thinks this will end up. He mentioned a number of times on The Roar Deal when interviewed over a couple of years... but a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then.

I think the underground itself leads to a bigger issue - and that is access and escape from the venue itself. Part of that design would include the ability to leave in a hurry if required... Something that is almost impossible now.

 

[MSB ROYS]

All good, I'd love to see where he thinks this will end up. He mentioned a number of times on The Roar Deal when interviewed over a couple of years... but a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then.

I think the underground itself leads to a bigger issue - and that is access and escape from the venue itself. Part of that design would include the ability to leave in a hurry if required... Something that is almost impossible now.

Surely a fleet of helicopters and hovercrafts would suffice during an emergency.

 

[BuntonRules]

Surely a fleet of helicopters and hovercrafts would suffice during an emergency.

Not if they have enough drones.

 

[Thomasno]

Numbers are capped at the maximum capacity. The Department of Education doesn't allow schools to enrol more than what the maximum capacity is. According to this article, the max capacity is 309 and there are 305 kids enrolled, so there's a very healthy level of demand for places in the school. The problem is the school has never been refurbished to allow greater capacity using taller building and lifts. Maybe it should.

I can definitely provide you with numbers showing Woolloongabba's population is increasing. I find it very hard to believe that none of those new residents will have kids (now or in future) and want to send them to a state school. That area needs a school, and if the state government wanted to resume the land, they should have bought other land to keep a school in the area instead of sending it 2km down the road.


How?

My brother in christ, the reason the school hasn’t been refurbished and replaced with “taller buildings” is because it’s made up of a couple of heritage listed buildings, and is on the smallest bloody block I’ve ever seen a school be on - it’s almost cruel for the kids tbh, what would a 6 story building add? The experience of working in an inner city office job for a 10 year old? Great idea.

Unlike the Gabba rebuild itself, the background work to move the school is already underway. Gabba rebuild or not, the school will be gone in 10 years, and the 5 families affected by this news will be extremely upset about it I’m sure.

 

[Thomasno]

I wonder how quickly we find out what is going to happen once Steven Miles's review is done in mid March.

If it is decided to go ahead with the Gabba demolition and rebuild there will have to be a quick decision re where we are going to play our home games. Sadly the longer it drags on the worst possible outcome(Metricon) is likely to be the solution... YUK!

To be honest I’d be okay with Metricon if they did one thing - fix the shit turf. I imagine it’s a lot cheaper for the gov to redo the turf than build a new RNA stadium

 

[Viceregal]

When we had the G20 here in Brisbane all of the Heads of State and higher level others were all whisked from place to place with police escorts for the journey and in and out of underground entry/exit points that were able to be secured against randoms.

That is currently, 100%, not the Gabba... ... ...

btw is it also 200% not whatever it is called down near Mt Gravatt.

Does anyone know if the extant plans for the new Gabba precinct allow for motorcade ingress/egress without totally stuffing up Stanley/Vulture/Mains etc?

 

[Thomasno]

When we had the G20 here in Brisbane all of the Heads of State and higher level others were all whisked from place to place with police escorts for the journey and in and out of underground entry/exit points that were able to be secured against randoms.

That is currently, 100%, not the Gabba... ... ...

btw is it also 200% not whatever it is called down near Mt Gravatt.

Does anyone know if the extant plans for the new Gabba precinct allow for motorcade ingress/egress without totally stuffing up Stanley/Vulture/Mains etc?

Actually with QSAC they’ve got the opportunity to do the most metal shit ever and have the entrance to the carpark under this hypothetical stadium be built so that you enter through the cemetery

 

[Johnny Bananas]

My brother in christ, the reason the school hasn’t been refurbished and replaced with “taller buildings” is because it’s made up of a couple of heritage listed buildings, and is on the smallest bloody block I’ve ever seen a school be on

My sister in Muhammad, the school isn't just heritage listed buildings, or it wouldn't be able to be knocked down for the Gabba expansion at all.

it’s almost cruel for the kids tbh, what would a 6 story building add? The experience of working in an inner city office job for a 10 year old? Great idea.

Vertical campuses are seen at schools across the world. Why shouldn't they be here too? There's already one in Fortitude Valley and several in Melbourne.

As to what they add:

Students told me they wanted access to outside and inside play spaces, even when the weather was bad. They said covered terraces, rooftop gardens and wide hallways allowed students to play in rainy weather.

This is where vertical schools can have an advantage over regular schools. Regular schools often have limited indoor play spaces or their covered outdoor learning areas are easily flooded. As one 9-year-old student said:

We play out here [on the terrace] a lot […] when there’s a wet day […] It’s very good to get fresh air when you’re stuck inside.

While vertical schools generally have limited space on school grounds, they are usually built in central urban locations with parks or green spaces close by. These provided children with access to a variety of outdoor environments within walking distance, an opportunity which is not necessarily available in a suburban school.

Vertical schools are increasingly common. This is what students want in ‘high’ school design

In a new study, students say they want access to indoor and outdoor play spaces at vertical schools. But they don’t want too much noise.

theconversation.com

I think that's a compelling benefit.

Gabba rebuild or not, the school will be gone in 10 years, and the 5 families affected by this news will be extremely upset about it I’m sure.

You sound pretty heartless. Pack up your lives and get out of the way of the greater good, little people!

 

[mighty_lions]

You sound pretty heartless. Pack up your lives and get out of the way of the greater good, little people!

you do realise people have to move houses all the time for the greater good, you make it out like these people are the only ones ever to be moved, I also don't understand why they need to "pack up there lives" to take there kids to a school a few km down the road

 

[M Malice]

To be honest I’d be okay with Metricon if they did one thing - fix the s**t turf. I imagine it’s a lot cheaper for the gov to redo the turf than build a new RNA stadium

I could put up with Metricon for a few games a season BUT 4 full seasons of "home" games at Metricon would decimate our membership numbers IMO.

Maybe half a season home games at Metricon in 2026(time getting tight) while they are getting their finger out sorting something else out for the Lions eg. upgraded Springfield or RNA main oval.

 

[Andyz]

you do realise people have to move houses all the time for the greater good, you make it out like these people are the only ones ever to be moved, I also don't understand why they need to "pack up there lives" to take there kids to a school a few km down the road

Actually it’s only 1.5km walk away!
A whole brand new new school….

The vertical school info is a misdirection because that’s not what’s there now & can never be….especially when they argue can’t touch heritage listed buildings anyway

 

[Andyz]

I could put up with Metricon for a few games a season BUT 4 full seasons of "home" games at Metricon would decimate our membership numbers IMO.

Maybe half a season home games at Metricon in 2026(time getting tight) while they are getting their finger out sorting something else out for the Lions eg. upgraded Springfield or RNA main oval.

I can’t work out why the govt can’t do a deal with RNA for a permanent upgrade to the oval with permanent 30,000 capacity stands….that would seem a real valuable asset to have - the talk Olympics & money has been confused & interpreted by many as don’t spend anything. Well that is ar$&se up, it should be to build things that are long term improvements & benefits to our city that will be well used.

A 30,000 permanent stadium at RNA would be awesome as it is so central to the city & would get plenty of use. Especially if Brisbane Live doesn’t get built at Roma st. Although maybe there’s something with the shape of the oval that they can’t make permanent for footy when the modified oval shape there now is required? That I don’t know.

If a 30,000 stadium could be started now it could potentially be ready in a couple of years? And then be Lion’s home for a few years - while it’s a small capacity it’s only 6,000 smaller than Gabba and bigger than Metricon so maybe a fair compromise while we wait for a bigger & better world class Gabba!

 

[M Malice]

Actually it’s only 1.5km walk away!
A whole brand new new school….

The vertical school info is a misdirection because that’s not what’s there now & can never be….especially when they argue can’t touch heritage listed buildings anyway

Yer when I was a boy I would leave the no TV, no air con tin can we were living in in Cairns and walk to school in bare feet in the searing tropical sun and humidity with no hat.. toughen up princesses.

 

[dlanod]

I can’t work out why the govt can’t do a deal with RNA for a permanent upgrade to the oval with permanent 30,000 capacity stands….that would seem a real valuable asset to have - the talk Olympics & money has been confused & interpreted by many as don’t spend anything. Well that is ar$&se up, it should be to build things that are long term improvements & benefits to our city that will be well used.

A 30,000 permanent stadium at RNA would be awesome as it is so central to the city & would get plenty of use. Especially if Brisbane Live doesn’t get built at Roma st. Although maybe there’s something with the shape of the oval that they can’t make permanent for footy when the modified oval shape there now is required? That I don’t know.

If a 30,000 stadium could be started now it could potentially be ready in a couple of years? And then be Lion’s home for a few years - while it’s a small capacity it’s only 6,000 smaller than Gabba and bigger than Metricon so maybe a fair compromise while we wait for a bigger & better world class Gabba!

The state government don't want to do that because they don't own that stadium.