News Gabba Upgrade & Olympics News

[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.

 

[McIvor]

Will be very interesting to see how our player retention goes throughout this period particularly if a premiership window has or is closing and a lot of the boys don’t fancy being travelling nomads for an extended period and or want to experience playing in a traditional footy state and for a team that is pushing for a flag. Hopefully loyalty and being a one club player means something to them.

 

[Mighty Lions]

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.

Not my best possible outcome but if its at RNA so be it.

Agree that playing at Heritage would be my least preferred.
I wont be giving up my Lions membership either. Its times like this that the club needs it's loyal members to help and understand this is not their doing in any way. The club will be leaning heavily on the state govt and the afl for assistance while we are homeless.

Agree that our flag window is wide open right now but think it should go into 2026/27 with the list we have right now along with who is coming on board into the future.

I also believe that the club will try to get our blockbuster games (35K-40K expected crowds) played in Melbourne and will also request these to be played at the MCG rather than Marvel. Not sure how they identify those games and how nice the AFL will be in playing ball.

 

[M Malice]

Not my best possible outcome but if its at RNA so be it.

Agree that playing at Heritage would be my least preferred.
I wont be giving up my Lions membership either. Its times like this that the club needs it's loyal members to help and understand this is not their doing in any way. The club will be leaning heavily on the state govt and the afl for assistance while we are homeless.

Agree that our flag window is wide open right now but think it should go into 2026/27 with the list we have right now along with who is coming on board into the future.

I also believe that the club will try to get our blockbuster games (35K-40K expected crowds) played in Melbourne and will also request these to be played at the MCG rather than Marvel. Not sure how they identify those games and how nice the AFL will be in playing ball.

Interested to know what is your personal best possible outcome ML?

 

[Mighty Lions]

Interested to know what is your personal best possible outcome ML?

Providing infrastructure is invested in BHA to get 20,000 fans to the game & home again without kaos, I would prefer Springfield. It definitely helps the club financially.

 

[briztoon]

Interested to know what is your personal best possible outcome ML?

I remember when Mighty Lions was very much anti Springfield.

Appears to very much toe the club line these days.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Providing infrastructure is invested in BHA to get 20,000 fans to the game & home again without kaos, I would prefer Springfield. It definitely helps the club financially.

That's a pretty big commitment if it can be done. And a pretty big "if".

 

[T Rick]

I remember when Mighty Lions was very much anti Springfield.

Appears to very much toe the club line these days.

Why be so nasty...

 

[Mighty Lions]

I remember when Mighty Lions was very much anti Springfield.

Appears to very much toe the club line these days.

If you think about it rather than find a way to have a shot at me, I was against moving out to Springfield...and still wish it was not so far outside of Brisbane BUT, its there now so I accepted that rather than be a salty complaining individual.
Now, looking at a very different situation than before re: location of the facility, BHA is best for the club to call home while the Gabba rebuild is happening and I will always want what's best for the club I support...don't you?

 

[Walshawk]

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.

If they push back Ekka two weeks it would not affect that H & A season, but then finals would need to be elsewhere. For GWS, they are off Showgrounds for eight matches.

Also, it you are forced to play at Metricon and/or a small capacity Springfield, there is no way you would want to play less than 11 home games in QLD.

 

[Elixuh]

I remember when Mighty Lions was very much anti Springfield.

Appears to very much toe the club line these days.

Briztoon I know you're nervous with the draft about to begin, but no need to resort to this my good sir.