News Gabba Upgrade & Olympics News

[Section 5]

Channel 9 mentioned - 12.15pm next Tuesday. The Games puzzle revealed.
Not sure if it is live from the event or just updates as they are announced.
At least it is something relatively early in the day.

 

[Perrip]

Channel 9 mentioned - 12.15pm next Tuesday. The Games puzzle revealed.
Not sure if it is live from the event or just updates as they are announced.

Courier Mail livestreamed the 2024 event on their Facebook page last year, so hopefully that happens again this time around.

 

[Black Panther]

The rowing course on the croc-inhabited Fitzroy River

World record times incoming

 

[Perrip]

World record times incoming

You can't make this up.

The [Rowing Australia & Rowing Queensland] letter, obtained by The Courier-Mail, also warned the government needed to ensure any course and venue they picked had to comply with “the stringent technical requirements required for fair and exciting racing”.
While the mighty Fitzroy River hosts state and national championships, the high levels of boat destroying water hyacinth, the presence of freshwater crocodiles, and a current could pose problems in passing World Rowing standards.

 

[Perrip]

Hockey aren't happy at playing at Ballymore it seems. Hockey officials left shocked by Brisbane Games disastrous venue plan

BRISBANE’s Olympic venues plan has been rocked by an 11th hour protest from shocked hockey officials claiming the government’s choice will be a “disaster’’ for their code.
Hockey Australia was reeling on Sunday afternoon after being tipped off that Ballymore - home of the Queensland Reds rugby team - was likely to be named on Tuesday by the Queensland Government to host hockey at the 2032 Olympics.
“It is a disaster for hockey,’’ said Hockey Queensland chief executive Alison Lyons.
Hockey officials had submitted a detailed submission for an upgrade to the Gold Coast Hockey Centre on the Gold Coast, home of hockey at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
They felt it would only have needed “minimal upgrades’’ to make it Games-ready.
The concept of upgrading a permanent venue to make it a long term home was far more appealing to hockey than temporary pitches at Ballymore.
Hockey Australia had become extremely confident of getting the Gold Coast plan across the line after hearing it had been well supported and were shocked when tipped off the decision would go against them.
“If it goes that way it means a very successful Australian Olympic sport is shifted to the side and not considered for any infrastructure legacy.
“We don’t even understand how Ballymore was even flagged as a possibility for hockey and that it could remain the plan,’’ Lyons said.
“If they are going to build a $50 million hockey centre at Ballymore that’s fine. But drop in and ripped out pitches don’t provide us with anything. For the greater success of the game I don’t think it is the right choice.
“Also, the access in and out of Ballymore is poor.’’
“A new venue would have been great because we are very keen to host major events here which we have not been able to do since the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Before that it was the Champions Trophy in 1999. The reason is our facilities don’t meet international standards.
“Not only is there no legacy for hockey. It is also the fact that site constraints don’t allow for all the pitches to meet the requirements of the Federation of International hockey.
“And there is no guarantee we are going to get perfect weather. We have seen it flood in 2022 and just two weeks ago Cyclone Alfred came through.
“We have a hockey association at Downey Park on the other side of Ballymore and they were under water during Cyclone Alfred and could not get flood insurance.
“We were feeling very optimistic for the Gold Coast because we followed the terms of reference very closely to provide the authority for what they are looking for. But we are nervous that common sense will not prevail.’’

 

[dlanod]

Everyone's got their hand out of the cash right now.

Ignore them all but us please and thank you!

 

[Section 5]

Hockey aren't happy at playing at Ballymore it seems. Hockey officials left shocked by Brisbane Games disastrous venue plan

Yes, Ballymore is a crap venue to get to. Obviously, people will go there for the Olympics
Ballymore is the home of the National Wallaroos women's team and the National Rugby Training Centre.

Hardly any games played there now. Since 2016 a total attendance of 31,157 according to Austadiums.
From Austadiums
The recent redeveloped saw the construction of the new 3010-seat McLean Stand incorporating the National Rugby Training Centre, replacing the old grandstand. The hill remains but the temporary northern stand has been removed. With the eastern stand currently closed due to it no longer being considered safe for use, the venue's capacity has been reduced to around 6,000.

RECENT ATTENDANCES​

DATE	SPORT	EVENT	CROWD
14/07/24	Rugby Union	Wallaroos v New Zealand	5,365
16/03/24	Football	A-League: Brisbane Roar v Macarthur FC	3,178
9/03/24	Football	ALW: Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners	1,100
3/02/24	Rugby Union	Super Rugby Trial: Reds v Force	3,000
19/11/23	Football	ALW: Brisbane Roar v Western United	2,486
4/11/23	Rugby Union	Queensland Reds v Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights	3,000
21/10/23	Football	ALW: Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC	3,679
15/06/19	Rugby Union	GRR: Kagifa Samoa v Western Force	1,500
8/02/19	Rugby Union	Super Rugby Trial: Reds v Chiefs	4,821
10/08/16	Football	FFA Cup: Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory	3,028

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Everyone's got their hand out of the cash right now.

Ignore them all but us please and thank you!

Hockey officials have been shocked for the past three years apparently.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Crocs aside, if true the Fitzroy River news is laughable. Rowing is meant to occur on still water, not flowing or tidal.

Edit: never mind, it's just Yeppoon resident Matt Canavan talking shittrying to score himself some brownie points with the local constituency.

 

[Perrip]

Crisafulli backflip on stadiums will put Olympics funding deal in doubt

A state-Commonwealth funding agreement for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics will have to be renegotiated on the eve of the looming federal election if David Crisafulli goes ahead with a proposal to dump a $2.5bn indoor arena project and build a 60,000-seat stadium.
The Queensland government on Tuesday will publicly detail its plans for the rollout of Olympics venues, with the widely speculated announcement of a new $3.4bn-plus stadium at Victoria Park, breaking a key promise of Mr Crisafulli’s election campaign last year.
Ahead of the October 31 election, Mr Crisafulli repeatedly assured voters his government would not build a new stadium despite condemning the Labor government’s plans to revive the ageing Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre as the main Olympic’s stadium.
Under the $7.1bn intergovernmental agreement, the state funds the Olympics stadium while the federal government covers the $1bn cost of a series of smaller venues and the 17,000-seat arena, which was to host the Olympic swimming with a drop-in pool, before becoming a permanent venue for concerts in the inner-city.
A 100-day review of the Olympics venues, ordered by Mr Crisafulli after winning power, is understood to have recommended the new stadium at Victoria Park and retention of the arena, and move it from its proposed location in Roma Street to a site next to The Gabba, in Brisbane’s inner south.
But it’s understood that Mr Crisafulli and deputy premier and infrastructure minister Jarrod Bleijie will take a plan to cabinet on Monday to scrap the arena and, instead, build a $600m aquatic centre beside the proposed new stadium at Victoria Park to host the Olympics swimming events.
If endorsed by cabinet, the plan will invalidate the existing state-Commonwealth Olympics funding agreement.
The terms of that deal was struck in February, 2023, more than 18 months after the former Morrison federal government agreed to evenly split the cost of the Olympic venues.
It is understood that Mr Crisafulli hopes to use the savings from the dumping of the arena to cover the extra construction costs of the Victoria Park stadium.
Last year, federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King wrote to Mr Bleijie warning him against attempting to rewrite the funding agreement.
“It is the Commonwealth’s expectation that this agreement continues,” she said.
Last week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese publicly backed the benefits of the arena, saying the city would not be overlooked by global musical acts if it had an indoor venue close to its city centre.
A government insider said there were serious concerns about the aquatic centre and whether it could justify its price tag outside the week-long Olympic swimming events and its use as a training facility.
On Sunday, Mr Bleijie refused to specifically answer questions about the government’s plans and if it was going to dump the arena and build a new stadium.
Mr Bleijie did not directly respond to a question about whether the government was still committed to its election promise of not building a new stadium for the Olympics.
“What we’ve committed to is to be not embarrassed on the world stage, to provide generational transport and road and rail infrastructure, and a plan that Queenslanders can be proud of,’’ he said.
Mr Bleijie said he and Mr Crisafulli had had discussions with the federal government and other stakeholders in the past two weeks.
He said he intended to brief the newly-elected president of the International Olympic Committee Kirsty Coventry of the government’s plans on Sunday night.
Mr Bleijie also confirmed a report in The Weekend Australian that the government was looking at finding savings in the $3.5bn construction of the athletes’ villages.
It was revealed that consideration was being given to moving the main athletes’ village from a proposed riverside site to the RNA showgrounds, potentially savings billions of dollars.
“There might be opportunities with the private sector for athletes’ villages across the state.
“We’ve been, obviously having looking at the assessment of the three athletes’ villages.’’

Big surprise there are concerns about the aquatic centre and whether it can justify the price-tag. Who could've seen that coming? Lol

 

[SizeMatters]

Crisafulli backflip on stadiums will put Olympics funding deal in doubt

Big surprise there are concerns about the aquatic centre and whether it can justify the price-tag. Who could've seen that coming? Lol

according to my source “no one” in government likes the swimming centre.

Personally, I too think it’s a waste of money. GC or Suncorp (unsure how that would work?) is where insiders want it unless some other council or organisation comes up with a majority self funded proposal. I just can’t see it.

 

[Bjo187]

according to my source “no one” in government likes the swimming centre.

Personally, I too think it’s a waste of money. GC or Suncorp (unsure how that would work?) is where insiders want it unless some other council or organisation comes up with a majority self funded proposal. I just can’t see it.

Using Suncorp would be cool if it's possible. The L.A. Olympics are using a big stadium for swimming too.

Just looking at the dimensions you could use 3 sides of the stands, then put temporary stands on the field side. No doubt the nrl will have their hand in the tax payer jar again to get some Suncorp upgrades.

 

[Zacs_Magic_Tooth]

They’ve been trying to secure hockey upgrades for years as an international standard pitch would likely see the sport move its base here from Perth, but neither party is willing to play it seems. Not too surprising because hockey in Brisbane and Queensland is run by absolute muppets.

 

[Section 5]

Using Suncorp would be cool if it's possible. The L.A. Olympics are using a big stadium for swimming too.

Just looking at the dimensions you could use 3 sides of the stands, then put temporary stands on the field side. No doubt the nrl will have their hand in the tax payer jar again to get some Suncorp upgrades.

View attachment 2259291

Just like Paris had the swimming in an indoor 36k capacity football field. Around the same size as Suncorp.
The swimming capacity for that 36k venue was reduced to half being only 17K.
Reason being a warmup pool is needed so 2 pools across the field with a partition separating them having a small stand which i think was for media only anyhow.

So, you may get 26k watching the swimming at Suncorp instead of regular 52k for rugby 7's and soccer.

Makes no sense to me seeing the footy requires no money compared to whatever costs to put in two pools.
Then you have to take them out and repair the grass in the middle of Rugby League season.
Not to mention no roof but the swimmers would just have to put up with the outside temperature as both pools would be heated to Olympic standards.

 

[Section 5]

At least cabinet is meeting today to approve whatever they approve.

So, after this cabinet meeting any leaked rumor is most likely spot on.

I still worry that decisions like rowing to Rockhampton is nothing but a political decision.

The IOC would not imagine any country would consider Olympic rowing on a flowing tidal river that has regular croc sightings.
Maybe it's to get the media attention away from "broken promise" but i doubt it works.
Labor and Miles were bad, but this is a terrible decision up there with QSAC but without the big price tag.

 

[Gadzorks]

Everyone's got their hand out of the cash right now.

Ignore them all but us please and thank you!

We all want legacy builds.

Hats off to politicians, no matter that they do there is always push back and people bagging them.

It's a crap job. The politicians I know started off genuinely wanting to help their community but it's a soul corrupting job.

 

[Black Panther]

Rowing is meant to occur on still water, not flowing or tidal.

From what I have read on the rowing reddit, the Fitzroy River rowing course is on the other side of a dam wall so is not affected by tides and is internationally accredited, and was a training centre for Sydney 2000

Also found out that the rowing at LA 2028 will be held on a shorter 1500m course rather than 2000m as their venue is too short

 

[The Flying Belgian]

I still worry that decisions like rowing to Rockhampton is nothing but a political decision.

The IOC would not imagine any country would consider Olympic rowing on a flowing tidal river that has regular croc sightings.
Maybe it's to get the media attention away from "broken promise" but i doubt it works.
Labor and Miles were bad, but this is a terrible decision up there with QSAC but without the big price tag.

Maybe some some merit behind it, but to me it looks like Rocky locals lobbying for it. Just because it has the crocodile element, it makes it more newsworthy. Just because this Ch9 bloke reports it, doesn't necessarily mean it's a leak.

 

[OGeez]

Haven't really seen any public around Vic park unless they're walking to the driving range. Absolutely joke that people are starting to protest now after it was only changed from a golf course a few years back. Vic Park stadium wont even take up a third of the parkland so really its a win win. Best decision that they could make for a stadium would be to build it there.

 

[briztoon]

Haven't really seen any public around Vic park unless they're walking to the driving range. Absolutely joke that people are starting to protest now after it was only changed from a golf course a few years back. Vic Park stadium wont even take up a third of the parkland so really its a win win. Best decision that they could make for a stadium would be to build it there.

They’re not protesting the stadium build. They are protesting the crowds in their quiet, peaceful suburb.

 

[OGeez]

They’re not protesting the stadium build. They are protesting the crowds in their quiet, peaceful suburb.

They just don't understand the scale and improvement that they will get. So much development and growth. Spring Hill for a inner-city suburb isnt that bad, but could be better however the close proximity of the stadium will help the suburb become so much nicer than it is bridging the gap between the city and vic park. They just need to get their head around a big crowd every second week wont be too bad if good public transport around the ground.

 

[Andyz]

They’re not protesting the stadium build. They are protesting the crowds in their quiet, peaceful suburb.

I don't think anyone living 3k's from the cbd can really expect their suburb to remain quiet and peaceful when it's in the 3rd largest - and fastest growing - city in Australia. It's just progress....these days you're lucky just not to have an apartment tower built next door overlooking your backyard!

 

[Section 5]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/plans-to-host-2032-brisbane-olympics-rewritten-ahead-of-new-scheme/news-story/e5c83c413d96582012862a3b065c0a89

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

The new plan would likely feature a new 60,000-seat stadium to be built in the city’s Victoria Park, according to reports.

Crisafulli said he had discussed the revamped plan with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose Labor government faces general elections in May.

The federal government had committed to paying for much of the Brisbane Games infrastructure in the previous scheme.

“Of course, that there’s been some strong negotiations,” Crisafulli said in a joint news conference with the Australian prime minister.

“Two people of Italian descent, you’d expect that,” he said. “But there’s nothing that can’t be solved over a bit of common sense and a cannoli.”

 

[Nunez]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/plans-to-host-2032-brisbane-olympics-rewritten-ahead-of-new-scheme/news-story/e5c83c413d96582012862a3b065c0a89

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

The new plan would likely feature a new 60,000-seat stadium to be built in the city’s Victoria Park, according to reports.

Crisafulli said he had discussed the revamped plan with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose Labor government faces general elections in May.

The federal government had committed to paying for much of the Brisbane Games infrastructure in the previous scheme.

“Of course, that there’s been some strong negotiations,” Crisafulli said in a joint news conference with the Australian prime minister.

“Two people of Italian descent, you’d expect that,” he said. “But there’s nothing that can’t be solved over a bit of common sense and a cannoli.”

View attachment 2259817

Truer words never spoken.

 

[Black Panther]

Only 2 hours until Tim Arvier reveals all about what type of cannoli