Photo Credit: LinkedIn Profile Photo of Andrew N. Liveris
Brisbane 2032 Olympics chief warns that without a “legacy” stadium to meet future demands, the Queensland capital may lose major cricket and AFL events to regional areas.
His remarks follow Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli‘s criticism, stating that Queenslanders feel “embarrassed” by the decision to hold Olympic events at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) rather than the Gabba.
“I’ve been very, very clear that until we see numbers on QSAC, there is no position Brisbane 2032 has taken,” Brisbane Organising Committee (OCOG) president Andrew Liveris said
With the Gabba expected to become outdated by 2030, Mr. Liveris stated that it is up to the AFL and Cricket Australia to “stand up” and advocate for a venue that can accommodate the state’s growing population.
A $2.7 billion plan to rebuild the Gabba was rejected earlier this year due to increasing local opposition to the relocation of East Brisbane State School.
Mr. Liveris stated that once football and cricket leaders commit to ensuring the long-term viability of their sports, “then we will fold right in and support you.”
Mr. Liveris has returned to Brisbane following an extended stay in Europe for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.
He highlighted cricket as “a phenomenal revenue opportunity for Australia,” with the sport set to debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as one of five new additions.
“If you don’t have a decent stadium, okay, for legacy reasons, where are you going to put the cricket on?” Mr Liveris said.
Mr Crisafulli said Premier Steven Miles rejected the Gabba upgrade earlier this year “to try to relieve political pressure” and branded the QSAC decision the “greatest thought bubble of all time”.
“I think the premier regrets saying it because he knows it’s not the right option and he knows that Queenslanders don’t back it,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“QSAC is not the right venue. I haven’t met a Queenslander who thinks that’s either visionary or value for money, other than Steven.
“I don’t think there’s any scenario where any Queenslander looks at that plan and doesn’t see anything but cringeworthiness from a desperate government.”
Mr. Miles chose QSAC as a cost-effective compromise.
Mr. Liveris acknowledged that cost is a consideration, noting that OCOG remains committed to an overall budget of $5 billion.
“And we’ve got to get that budget right,” he said.
But he suggested QSAC would force Brisbane 2032 into other compromises.
“There’s a revenue side of that budget,” he said.
“I mean, you just have to be in the Stade de France watching the [Rugby Sevens] with 80,000 people providing revenue and top sponsors providing revenue to understand the power of having a right-sized stadium for the Olympics.
Mr Liveris said he was “very conscious” that the project evaluation report on QSAC will be released after the October 26 state election.
“So we’ll see what happens after the election,” he said.
Mr Liveris said Brisbane 2032 had “brought home quite a few learnings” from Paris.
“We have 2,865 days to get this right … Paris was still deciding on venues 600 days out.”
The LNP has committed to a 100-day review of Olympic venues if it wins office, but has also vowed that no new venues will be built.
“We want 100 days to sort it out,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“A hundred-day review and I’m sure Queenslanders will no longer be embarrassed.”
State Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace said Mr Crisafulli had backflipped over the Gabba.
“First he supported upgrades to the Gabba, now he says he never did. He said he backed Labor’s plan for a lower cost to taxpayers, with the legacy option of upgrading QSAC, yet now he’s backflipped again,” she said.
“We know the LNP is refusing to support QSAC because they’re secretly planning to spend $3.4 billion-plus on a new build stadium at Victoria Park.
“The only cringeworthy thing is the LNP hiding behind a 100-day Games review.”
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