Featured image credit: Queensland Cricket
Queensland Cricket, the sport’s governing body in the Australian state, has suggested that Brisbane’s Allan Border Field undergo redevelopment work to enable it to stage higher-profile matches while The Gabba is rebuilt ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Queensland Cricket said the most efficient, cost-effective and timely option to ensure Brisbane retains its status as a top-level cricket destination would be an upgrade of Allan Border Field.
Allan Border Field has a current capacity of 6,500 and Queensland Cricket has floated the idea of an upgraded venue with capacity for 10,000 permanent seats. The governing body said expanding the stadium would help it “meet the needs of cricket” during an extended disruption period caused by The Gabba’s rebuild.
The Australian and Queensland Governments in February unveiled a A$7bn (£3.6bn/€4.2bn/$4.6bn) funding agreement to overhaul the state’s sporting infrastructure ahead of Brisbane 2032, with the rebuilding of The Gabba and the construction of the new Brisbane Live arena central to the plans.
The Gabba, formally known as Brisbane Cricket Ground, will receive A$2.7bn in funding from the Queensland Government. The 42,000-capacity stadium will be fully demolished and rebuilt to a 50,000 capacity.
The timeline for the rebuild of The Gabba is yet to be officially confirmed, but construction is likely to take four years, beginning in 2026 and finishing in 2030. Queensland Cricket said there are “significant unknowns” surrounding the Gabba project, with the planning and timeframes for delivery causing “considerable uncertainty” for cricket in Queensland.
In an open letter, Queensland Cricket chair Chris Simpson and chief executive Terry Svenson said the state faces the prospect of losing important Test and Big Bash League matches to interstate venues during the pre-Olympic displacement from The Gabba.
The Gabba is scheduled to host an Ashes Test in December 2025, after which point the rebuild project will begin. Queensland Cricket noted that this would result in BBL matches in January 2026 needing to be played elsewhere, along with the remainder of the Sheffield Shield and One Day Cup seasons.
Allan Border Field currently hosts women’s internationals, Women’s Big Bash League and domestic cricket matches, and Queensland Cricket feels increasing the stadium’s capacity would enable it to host BBL and men’s internationals in the years leading up to the Olympics.
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