News Gabba Upgrade & Olympics News

[PattyKwasagun]

I believe building on top of the new Cross River Rail site was briefly considered, but the complexities involved would have ballooned the cost out by a significantly greater figure than the $2.7 billion it's ended up as.

On top of that, the education department has been keen to move that school for a while anyway. It's in a difficult, unsafe location with buildings that are not at all fit for purpose and a campus that is hardly at all modifiable. The school was going to move in the next decade or two anyway. This has just sped the process up slightly.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

You're probably aware we're hosting the Paralympics also. Have you ever tried to take someone in a wheelchair to the ground? It's not an easy thing just getting to the ground. Then if by some stroke of entitlement you want to sit in the upper tier you have to wait for the elevator.

I see, and does this really require $2.7 billion to fix? I would think installing a better lift and building a smooth path to the ground would cost much less than that.

But you asked previously is it a big deal to build up across the road on the old GoPrint/Landcentre site? Given you'd be building on top of the new rail station, yes it's a huge deal.

Then we should find somewhere else if a full knock down and rebuild is that important.

 

[Keays2myBeamas]

I see, and does this really require $2.7 billion to fix? I would think installing a better lift and building a smooth path to the ground would cost much less than that.


Then we should find somewhere else if a full knock down and rebuild is that important.

Exactly. How much would it cost to build the same quality stadium on a massive site at Albion Park? Certainly a whole lot less.

Then you could knock down the gabba in 32

 

[Johnny Bananas]

I think you might be more invested in this school than you are letting on, P&C, or maybe music teacher.

I think you shouldn't ever give up your day job to become a detective.

 

[Maboo]

I think you shouldn't ever give up your day job to become a detective.

Phht, wouldn’t lower myself.

 

[briztoon]

Yes. Would you like to explain it?

The second tier bounces a fair amount when the Paraguayan fans jump up and down all match long. It’s quite unnerving.

 

[Section 5]

Exactly. How much would it cost to build the same quality stadium on a massive site at Albion Park? Certainly a whole lot less.

Then you could knock down the gabba in 32

It would end up a white elephant at the Albion Park site
That is something the IOC is trying to avoid

 

[Keays2myBeamas]

It would end up a white elephant at the Albion Park site
That is something the IOC is trying to avoid

Why more so there than at the current site? It would have exactly the same amount of use. You knock down the current Gabba after the Olympics, build residential there, and avoid having to find some temporary fix for 4 years.

If you’re committed to build a brand new stadium from scratch, why not pick the best possible site, rather than a heavily constrained site that just happens to have the old stadium?

I understand the cross river rail, but a station at Mayne, halfway between Bowen Hills & Albion would also link perfectly to CRR & runs all the other rail lines as well.

 

[briztoon]

Why more so there than at the current site? It would have exactly the same amount of use. You knock down the current Gabba after the Olympics, build residential there, and avoid having to find some temporary fix for 4 years.

If you’re committed to build a brand new stadium from scratch, why not pick the best possible site, rather than a heavily constrained site that just happens to have the old stadium?

I understand the cross river rail, but a station at Mayne, halfway between Bowen Hills & Albion would also link perfectly to CRR & runs all the other rail lines as well.

Because all the town planning and construction of the past decade has been done with Gabba being the site for the Lions and Cricket.

All the major southern transit corridors meet at the Gabba, or are very easy to link to.

Cross river rail was designed to further link the northern suburbs to the Gabba.

Having the Olympics at the Gabba reduces the need spend money on further transportation development.

 

[mighty_lions]

The second tier bounces a fair amount when the Paraguayan fans jump up and down all match long. It’s quite unnerving.

Or when linc takes hangers


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[The Flying Belgian]

I was initially keen on Albion Park as an option. There's few things against it. First, it's in a flood-prone area. Surrounding roads can go under during king tides, let alone rainfall events. Second, although there's OK public transport options there would still need to significant upgrades to get it to where Woolloongabba will be (as briztoon alluded to). Third, there are existing and planned uses (including other Olympic venues) for the precinct which would need to be moved elsewhere.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

I understand the cross river rail, but a station at Mayne, halfway between Bowen Hills & Albion would also link perfectly to CRR & runs all the other rail lines as well.

I've long thought this as well. It's a pity the yard expansion there went ahead, the rail yards would have been an excellent spot for a stadium and station. Still, other nearby places could suffice. And Victoria Park has Exhibition station nearby.

Because all the town planning and construction of the past decade has been done with Gabba being the site for the Lions and Cricket.

Plans change. Having a well-connected area is useful even without a stadium. It's a good place for businesses to set up and apartments to be built.

All the major southern transit corridors meet at the Gabba, or are very easy to link to.

The main busway line doesn't meet at the Gabba, which is on a spur line. They're intending to spend $430 million now to put it into the main line. The Cleveland line will require a transfer. So will the Ipswich line.

Cross river rail was designed to further link the northern suburbs to the Gabba.

No, its primary purpose was to create a second river crossing because the Merivale Bridge was projected to reach capacity this decade, although Covid changed that. Adding train access to the Gabba was a bonus.

Railways lines have two directions. CRR also links the southern suburbs to Victoria Park via Exhibition station. That makes it an equally good location, since it's already next to the busway.

Having the Olympics at the Gabba reduces the need spend money on further transportation development.

Besides the $430 million on the busway. But even accepting that, the need for spending $2.7 billion to rebuild it in exactly the same spot is questionable.

 

[lionraven]

Why more so there than at the current site? It would have exactly the same amount of use. You knock down the current Gabba after the Olympics, build residential there, and avoid having to find some temporary fix for 4 years.

If you’re committed to build a brand new stadium from scratch, why not pick the best possible site, rather than a heavily constrained site that just happens to have the old stadium?

I understand the cross river rail, but a station at Mayne, halfway between Bowen Hills & Albion would also link perfectly to CRR & runs all the other rail lines as well.

Why do you assume the Gabba is not the best location for an inner city Brisbane oval stadium? Decades of town planning indicate that the Gabba is the best site for a stadium. Open up google maps and have a look at Albion Park compared to the Gabba. The answers are obvious.

• a major freeway is right next to the Gabba
• a bus rapid transit system/"Metro" is right next to the Gabba
• a new major rail system is right next to the Gabba
• Albion park is not near a freeway. You need to take really congested arterial roads to get onto a freeway
• Albion park does not have a bus rapid transit system next to it
• It has a train line but not an interchange between multiple lines so more people will have to change trains to get to it.
• Albion park is next to creeks and will flood

It would be absolutely stupid to spend decades worth of money and town planning building up infrastructure in one area to cater to mass transit then build a stadium that requires mass transit (particularly if we are aiming to get 50k people to events) in an area with limited transport options already built. This ignores the new active transport corridor that is going to be built around the Gabba to link it to South Bank and the green bridge that will link it to the CBD via Kangaroo Point. (or all the upgrades/new venues/hotels/casinos/Brisbane Live arena etc that is going to be built along the CBD in the next 10 years). I don't want Brisbane's premier oval stadium to be as pathetic as Carrara stadium; an irrelevant piece of shit built on top of marshes in the public transport wasteland.

Town planners probably have a lot more data than idiots like me and my google maps. I trust that they did look into anything green and potentially round shaped before coming up with just sticking with the Gabba.

Also a knockdown rebuild is usually much cheaper than trying to preserve large sections of it. I dont know what the internal infrastructure of the stadium is like but the patron-facing infrastructure is pathetic. My mother has hip issues and she can barely get in and out of the upper decks of the Gabba. There is one service lift that serves as 'disability access'. Its ****ing pathetic that people have to wait for lifts with cargo just because they have a disability. The wifi/internet connectivity is absolute garbage. The overall canopy cover for the stadium is rubbish. The lighting and AV stuff is so mediocre compared to whats available at the much maligned Marvel stadium (and absolute garbage compared to Adelaide Oval). Its embarrasing how mediocre the Gabba is. If the public facing stuff is already so meh; I'd hate to actually have to work at the Gabba and deal with its internal infrastructure. Knocking everything down and actually building a proper modern stadium is the legacy I expect as a minimum from the Games.

 

[Fatcat08]

In the end the fact that the transport infrastructure was already being built sealed it. The estimated build to get Vic Park or Albion to a semi comparable level was in excess of 5 billion on top of a build. Thats roads, public transport, other related services.

Personally I don't love it but at the end of the day it was inevitable given crr was already in motion

I'm surprised that more hasn't been talked about a 2.5 billion price tag for a sub 20k seat indoor stadium. And people complain about the Gabba economics.

 

[weevil]

In the end the fact that the transport infrastructure was already being built sealed it. The estimated build to get Vic Park or Albion to a semi comparable level was in excess of 5 billion on top of a build. Thats roads, public transport, other related services.

Personally I don't love it but at the end of the day it was inevitable given crr was already in motion

I'm surprised that more hasn't been talked about a 2.5 billion price tag for a sub 20k seat indoor stadium. And people complain about the Gabba economics.

But you don't understand. Some people have feelings it could be magically done somewhere else cheaper and more practically.

 

[briztoon]

I've long thought this as well. It's a pity the yard expansion there went ahead, the rail yards would have been an excellent spot for a stadium and station. Still, other nearby places could suffice. And Victoria Park has Exhibition station nearby.


Plans change. Having a well-connected area is useful even without a stadium. It's a good place for businesses to set up and apartments to be built.


The main busway line doesn't meet at the Gabba, which is on a spur line. They're intending to spend $430 million now to put it into the main line. The Cleveland line will require a transfer. So will the Ipswich line.


No, its primary purpose was to create a second river crossing because the Merivale Bridge was projected to reach capacity this decade, although Covid changed that. Adding train access to the Gabba was a bonus.

Railways lines have two directions. CRR also links the southern suburbs to Victoria Park via Exhibition station. That makes it an equally good location, since it's already next to the busway.


Besides the $430 million on the busway. But even accepting that, the need for spending $2.7 billion to rebuild it in exactly the same spot is questionable.

I believe the two posts after yours cover everything to refute the above.

I don’t know what your specific crusade is, but there’s enough evidence that the Gabba is the best site, and that a pull down and rebuild of the Gabba is the best option.

You’re probably happy with the alternative, no Olympics.

That doesn’t change the fact that the Gabba has a limited life span and would still need to be rebuilt sometime in the next two decades, or that the Roma street development would still go ahead with or without the Olympics.

 

[Maboo]

But you don't understand. Some people have feelings it could be magically done somewhere else cheaper and more practically.

Reminds me of the Springfield debate, random green spaces being thrown up as alternate locations.
I do feel for the music teacher at the school though.

 

[Section 5]

The Gabba will continue its rise from humble beginnings to a world class stadium.
Interestingly, its capacity of 37,000 is still the same as it was in in the beginning.
...........................
The Woolloongabba Cricket Ground, aka THE GABBA, was established in 1895 , with a capacity of 37,000, lush grassy banks, and beautiful Moreton Bay fig trees for shade.

An Intercolonial match in progress on 21 January 1899 (SLQ).

Panorama of the Woolloongabba Cricket Ground ca. 1906 (SLQ).

The first Test Match was on 27 November 1931 against South Africa. Here a huge crowd watches the game. Some of the business premises and surrounding area can be seen in the background over the stands of the sports ground (SLQ).

 

[BuntonRules]

Bring back the dog track, I say.

 

[Section 5]

A more visual detail of what has been proposed for the surrounding area.

Gabba revitalisation to change the city

 

[Warwick]

A more visual detail of what has been proposed for the surrounding area.

Gabba revitalisation to change the city

Looks great.

Are they bulldozing more schools and orphanages to build those walking tracks?

 

[dlanod]

Looks great.

Are they bulldozing more schools and orphanages to build those walking tracks?

It's not on the map, but that's what they're using for the aggregate to build the tracks.

 

[M Malice]

Looks great.

Are they bulldozing more schools and orphanages to build those walking tracks?

And it is my understanding 2 Nursing Homes sadly.

 

[Section 5]

Below link to a Government site about The Gabba rebuild.
Some information may or may not be well known to people.

Gabba redevelopment to deliver affordable housing

..........................

Additional Facts:

The Gabba redevelopment

• Four options were considered which included variations of full demolition and rebuild, refurbishment of the existing stadium, and partial demolition and refurbishment.
• Given the complexity of building on a constrained site, completely rebuilding the Gabba is cheaper than trying to bring it to a truly accessible, modern standard
• This option provides the best value for money. It also achieves the Government’s aims including being a catalyst for neighbourhood renewal and investment, ability to attract and host world-class events, enabling operational optimisation to support economic resilience, and importantly, enhancing user experience.
• This option also makes The Gabba fully compliant with the requirements of hosting Brisbane 2032 events.
• The Gabba redevelopment will mean better spectator viewing, more seats, deliver better accessibility, improved and future-proofed digital connectivity, sport and spectator facilities for all genders, purpose-designed access to new transport infrastructure, and increased comfort for spectators and athletes, including more roof coverage to protect sports fans from the elements.
• The redevelopment includes:
  • Changeroom facilities for female athletes
  • Larger entry concourses for general admission
  • Lifts and escalators
  • Range of dining options and member spaces, including kitchens and food and beverage outlets and a general store
  • Merchandise stores
  • Media facilities
  • Team facilities with direct access to pitches and practice wickets
  • Construction contingency
  • Targeted 6-star green star rating
• The heritage buildings within the East Brisbane State School will be refurbished and repurposed and integrated into the operations of the Gabba Stadium.
• With the preferred redevelopment option confirmed, the Queensland Government will continue with finalising the Project Validation Report.
• A competitive tender process with the market is expected to commence in the second half of 2023 at which point a final design process for the Gabba will get underway.
• Construction is likely to take four years from 2026 and be ready for use by 2030.

East Brisbane State School

• Online submissions are now open here and the dates of community meetings will be announced shortly.
• The Department of Education will be consulting on three options:
  • Relocating EBSS to new facilities at the Coorparoo Secondary College site
  • Merging EBSS with Coorparoo Secondary College to become a P-12 school
  • Students at EBSS to enrol at other local schools, with additional infrastructure built at those schools if needed
• Initial consultation will be open until the end of Term 1 (March 31) and there will be further consultation throughout as the project progresses.

Woolloongabba PDA

• The current Woolloongabba Cross River Rail Priority Development Area (PDA) will be expanded to encompass more of Woolloongabba and the Stanley Street precinct to South Bank,
• A PDA is a proven planning pathway for resolving complex planning and development matters that unlock value for the surrounding communities.
• Importantly, the process will involve community consultation in preparation of a development scheme for the expanded PDA.
• There is a process to be followed under the Economic Development Act which the department has commenced, including the preparation of an interim land use plan and revised PDA boundary.

 

[M Malice]

4 full seasons without a home ground is a long long wait, I assume we will be able to use it in 2030-31 and then we will be homeless again for a decent chunk of 2032 because of pre games and post games work.... Hopefully we can get a run of fixtured away games during the Gabba's unavailability and play our full home fixture at home, it would be great to get a fixture like the Pies/Tigers get every season and play our last 6-7 games of 2032 at home.