News Gabba Upgrade & Olympics News

[Section 5]

Compare Boondall (nightmare) but has lots of car parks compared to BHA. See image below.

P - Paid parking if lucky
P2 - Park and ride but don't expect full access. Needs a certain number of park spaces for P & R patrons.
P3 - Used at present but future housing/business. I am not sure if it is paid or free.
P4 - Private school with paid parking if they decide to open.

Other parking: - Street, shopping center but you could get a fine or towed away.

Parking within the oval precinct is for game day officials, players, media transmission trucks and staff.

 

[Section 5]

And it's a nightmare to get out of afterwards. I usually park the other side of the station on Aberdeen Pde. But that's irrelevant to Springfield anyway. I was just making the point that they're roughly analogous in terms of infrastructure and ingress/egress. And that Boondall is s**t.

Yes, i agree.
Was just pointing out that Boondall is horrible, but at least has a large number of carparks compared to BHA.

 

[M Malice]

Compare Boondall (nightmare) but has lots of car parks compared to BHA. See image below.

P - Paid parking if lucky
P2 - Park and ride but don't expect full access. Needs a certain number of park spaces for P & R patrons.
P3 - Used at present but future housing/business. I am not sure if it is paid or free.
P4 - Private school with paid parking if they decide to open.

Other parking: - Street, shopping center but you could get a fine or towed away.

Parking within the oval precinct is for game day officials, players, media transition trucks and staff.

View attachment 1855221

Just on another issue... is the 2nd Oval going to be where that carpark is?

Looks like the only spot it could go.

 

[Section 5]

Just on another issue... is the 2nd Oval going to be where that carpark is?

Looks like the only spot it could go.

Yes, top of that "P" carpark.
I have not been past that spot since the AFLW GF so not sure on the progress since then.
Games i have attended since the GF i parked in Springfield shopping center.

 

[Mr Ripper]

The Olympic Games are a shit sandwich for the footy club. The New-Fangled Gabba would want to have a machine that spits out number one draft picks and winning Powerball tickets as a pay-off for it to be worth it.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

Yes, top of that "P" carpark.
I have not been past that spot since the AFLW GF so not sure on the progress since then.
Games i have attended since the GF i parked in Springfield shopping center.

It's still a carpark. At the moment if you buy an AFLW ticket and request a car park ticket upgrade, that's where your allocated parking space is. No idea what the timeline is on the second oval. One for Michael Whiting

 

[Section 5]

It's still a carpark. At the moment if you buy an AFLW ticket and request a car park ticket upgrade, that's where your allocated parking space is. No idea what the timeline is on the second oval. One for Michael Whiting

Thanks, i do know the carpark is still in use and has about 230 car spaces. A good revenue raiser for the Club on game days.
It's very important in regard to parking in the area for AFLW games and AFL preseason games.
I just have not been past that area recently to know how much progress has been made on the ground itself.

Where is "spidercam" when we need it?

Without detailed plans for oval 2 it's a bit hard to comment.
However, if they proceed as per the image below that carpark is to be removed.
It will be relocated north. New entrance off Springfield Greenbank Arterial and looks like it may have only half the spaces.
That then becomes a longer walk to attend AFLW games and AFL preseason matches.
Also, less car spaces if BHA get the approval (unlikely) for when the Gabba is out of use.

 

[Warwick]

Springfield would be a terrible option.

This whole process has been a complete shambles. How do we not have a solid plan in place this late into the piece?

It looked like Carrara was the easiest option when the games were announced, and nothing has changed in that space.

 

[briztoon]

Springfield would be a terrible option.

This whole process has been a complete shambles. How do we not have a solid plan in place this late into the piece?

It looked like Carrara was the easiest option when the games were announced, and nothing has changed in that space.

Lack of funds all of a sudden.

 

[SizeMatters]

I'd be surprised if carrara isn't involved more than a bit part. Olympics has and will lock up every major building development contractor in QLD. We already have a skilled labour deficit so upgrading the Ekka grounds or a 20k capacity Springfield stadium just isn't going to happen. We just don't have the construction workers available.

Even if the Qld Olympic committee felt generous to divert resources to the Lions it would cost a bucket load. Olympics are a priority and until that's all settled and on schedule, I'm afraid Lions won't get anything decent. It's just the facts.

Think what the Hawks poster said would be close to on the money imo.

 

[Pacman82]

It'll obviously be the old home ground Carrara and I think anyone who says otherwise is seriously clutching at straws. Thought I even heard Greg Swann say on SEN Radio a while back it'll likely be Carrara with the possibility of a few home games in Melbourne. As far as capacity goes Carrara currently holds over 24,000 for AFL matches and it's expandable to hold 35,000, as seen for the Com Games. Official announcement's probably being held up by backroom negotiations between the AFL, Government/Tourism QLD and the Clubs as to how best milk the situation & split the pie.

 

[M Malice]

I'd be surprised if carrara isn't involved more than a bit part. Olympics has and will lock up every major building development contractor in QLD. We already have a skilled labour deficit so upgrading the Ekka grounds or a 20k capacity Springfield stadium just isn't going to happen. We just don't have the construction workers available.

Even if the Qld Olympic committee felt generous to divert resources to the Lions it would cost a bucket load. Olympics are a priority and until that's all settled and on schedule, I'm afraid Lions won't get anything decent. It's just the facts.

Think what the Hawks poster said would be close to on the money imo.

The RNA stadium has to be upgraded for the Olympics anyway(Equestrian) so I don't find it out of the question that it could happen.

I could be wrong though, my opinions have been a couple of times in the past.

 

[Viceregal]

The longer it takes to spread the news the less likely I am to like it ... if it was good/great/awesome folks would be on the front foot and claiming the credit ... when it sucks it is held back and blamed on the process/circumstances etc

 

[Gibbo_88]

Would you stick around to play for the lions if you have to play home games at the GC and a few in a suburb of Ipswich for years?

If we are still shuffling players and coaches around in 2026 chasing our 1st premiership with this group, we're not going to be the most appealing club for those in the final years of their career.

I was considering cancelling my membership because I've got a newborn but then realised these next 2 seasons at the Gabba might be as good as it gets for a long time. Decided to keep them to share them around with family and friends when I can't go.

 

[Section 5]

I'd be surprised if carrara isn't involved more than a bit part. Olympics has and will lock up every major building development contractor in QLD. We already have a skilled labour deficit so upgrading the Ekka grounds or a 20k capacity Springfield stadium just isn't going to happen. We just don't have the construction workers available.

Even if the Qld Olympic committee felt generous to divert resources to the Lions it would cost a bucket load. Olympics are a priority and until that's all settled and on schedule, I'm afraid Lions won't get anything decent. It's just the facts.

Think what the Hawks poster said would be close to on the money imo.

I don't think BHA will get the nod in regard to playing AFL games during the Gabba rebuild.
However, BHA is still expected to host the Modern Pentathlon in 2032.
I see some improvements made to accommodate the crowds. That will be 50/50 Federal & State funding.

Time between The Gabba rebuild and the Olympics.
It is likely that a fair few Gabba seats will be available to the Lions should they want them.
Maybe even a Grandstand like they did for Cazaleys in Cairns.
More likely is to use the Gabba seats by attaching them to the 3 concrete tiers around the ground at BHA.
This will increase the capacity a fair bit as you don't have people spread out as they do now.
They were designed for people to sit on the concrete area for maximum attendance.
A lot of people sit on the grass section in between and lean back. that stops people using the seats behind them.

Then find some money to install suitable shading for that area.
They can't wait till the Olympics to do this so the Club will have to find some money for shading.
AFL may help out seeing the position we find ourselves in.

By doing something along these lines i see a ground with a mixture of good/reasonable seating options.
Some cover from the sun and rain
Also, the end result being a stadium that holds about 13K which covers most of the grounds needs.

 

[SizeMatters]

Apologies for the confusion on my end. Not the ekka grounds but the other option that has been flagged on this board. Just can't recall the venue.

Regardless. Think the most likely outcome will be at least two venues for the Lions. Also wouldn't surprise me if the AFL provides us with those “home” games in NT/FNQLD and big payment options that go along with them. It sucks but we have to deal with it.

 

[Mighty Lions]

The longer it takes to spread the news the less likely I am to like it ... if it was good/great/awesome folks would be on the front foot and claiming the credit ... when it sucks it is held back and blamed on the process/circumstances etc

I am 100% sure the club & QLD Govt are not holding back their decision to piss people off even when it's overdue for some time now. This decision and everything to do with the Olympics is megahipametanic (that means bigger than anyone has seen ) and if they need to take more time to sort out the best solution so be it in my opinion.
I don't think it will be down the Gold Coast and I sincerely think its the worst decision to accept out of all the options on the table. Everything mentioned by posters and more regarding the challenges in moving us to a temporary home are important and critical in helping the Lions be relevant in the AFL competition while the new development of the Gabba goes ahead.
I believe that the people involved in making this decision will chose the best option for the club overall. That said, I also believe a fair handful on here will be pissed off, want to cancel memberships, go follow another team, vow never to come back to the club..... no mater what the decision is.
I agree 100% with what Mr Ripper said in a earlier post (the Olympics will be a s**t sandwich for the club) but its going to happen in some way that we will all have to deal with while it happens.
The only positive thing I see is that once the Olympics is done & dusted, we will have a world class stadium to call home which the NRL and all it's supporters are already bitching & moaning about....you gotta love that right???

 

[Dalions]

I am 100% sure the club & QLD Govt are not holding back their decision to piss people off even when it's overdue for some time now. This decision and everything to do with the Olympics is megahipametanic (that means bigger than anyone has seen ) and if they need to take more time to sort out the best solution so be it in my opinion.
I don't think it will be down the Gold Coast and I sincerely think its the worst decision to accept out of all the options on the table. Everything mentioned by posters and more regarding the challenges in moving us to a temporary home are important and critical in helping the Lions be relevant in the AFL competition while the new development of the Gabba goes ahead.
I believe that the people involved in making this decision will chose the best option for the club overall. That said, I also believe a fair handful on here will be pissed off, want to cancel memberships, go follow another team, vow never to come back to the club..... no mater what the decision is.
I agree 100% with what Mr Ripper said in a earlier post (the Olympics will be a s**t sandwich for the club) but its going to happen in some way that we will all have to deal with while it happens.
The only positive thing I see is that once the Olympics is done & dusted, we will have a world class stadium to call home which the NRL and all it's supporters are already bitching & moaning about....you gotta love that right???

Why are NRL bitching and moaning?
It’s not gonna be any bigger than Suncorp. Newer maybe, but not any bigger. And Suncorp is still a World class Stadium.

 

[Mighty Lions]

Why are NRL bitching and moaning?
It’s not gonna be any bigger than Suncorp. Newer maybe, but not any bigger. And Suncorp is still a World class Stadium.

You think the NRL are happy we get an Olympic Stadium to call home regardless of what they got?

 

[Dalions]

You think the NRL are happy we get an Olympic Stadium to call home regardless of what they got?

I am sure Suncorp will be used for things like Soccer at the Olympics so it is an Olympic Stadium isn’t it?

 

[Pacman82]

New Gabba will be 30 years more advanced than Suncorp so the Gabba would bypass it as the cities premier stadium all things considered. Andrew Dillon was lobbying for an upgrade to Springfield in October, I agree would be huge for the club if it gets over, I'm just not that optimistic myself.

AFL still trying to find new home for Lions as four-year Gabba absence looms large

AFL still trying to find new home for Lions as four-year Gabba absence looms large

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[M Malice]

Best possible outcome is we play all 11 home games at a redeveloped RNA Stadium.

Worst possible outcome is we play 7-8 home games at Metricon and sell the leftover home games to interstate or regional Qld venues.

No matter what happens I will not be giving up my Lions membership.
__________________________________________________________
Our flag window is open as wide as possible and the 2024-25 seasons before the Gabba demolition is definitely the sweet spot for us.

 

[Dalions]

Best possible outcome is we play all 11 home games at a redeveloped RNA Stadium.

Worst possible outcome is we play 7-8 home games at Metricon and sell the leftover home games to interstate or regional Qld venues.

No matter what happens I will not be giving up my Lions membership.
__________________________________________________________
Our flag window is open as wide as possible and the 2024-25 seasons before the Gabba demolition is definitely the sweet spot for us.

Best result even at the RNA is probably 9-10 games because there would probably be a 4 week hiatus during the ekka period every year.

 

[M Malice]

Best result even at the RNA is probably 9-10 games because there would probably be a 4 week hiatus during the ekka period every year.

Just play a sting of away games during that period and include the away Q Clash in that group of matches so we don't have to travel multiple weeks in succession... which gives us a clump of home games pre or post the Ekka.

 

[Dalions]

Just play a sting of away games during that period and include the away Q Clash in that group of matches so we don't have to travel multiple weeks in succession... which gives us a clump of home games pre or post the Ekka.

That is where I don’t mind the idea of selling a few home games to Victoria preferably at the G but it would probably be Marvel because it is AFL owned. But atleast that way it gets VIC fans 1-2 more games per year for the 4 year period.