Brisbane Stadium design locked in: Victoria Park location and MCG-sized field confirmed

Stadium design locked in for Victoria Park

The design team for the new Brisbane Stadium has confirmed the venue will be built in a central position within Victoria Park near Gilchrist Avenue. The 63,000-seat arena will feature a field of play equivalent in size to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

According to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA), the final decisions on field size, orientation and location were locked in just over two months after the design team was appointed.

Key design decisions confirmed

The stadium bowl will sit in a valley between two ridges, creating a naturally occurring amphitheatre that nestles the structure into the existing topography. This central location maximises access to public transport and reduces congestion in the critical northeast zone of the park where spectator entry points converge.

The field of play will adopt an east-west configuration following analysis of sun position, winds and legacy operational needs for the AFL and cricket. This orientation eliminates the requirement for a second media centre under combined AFL and cricket usage, according to GIICA.

Designers compared four major oval venues across Australia to determine the final shape, including the Gabba, Perth’s Optus Stadium, Marvel Stadium and the MCG. The MCG and Optus Stadium were found to be significantly longer than Marvel and the Gabba, better accommodating an athletics track required for the 2032 Games.

A Queensland response to the landscape

The concept design builds upon a winning “Queensland response” that embeds the new stadium into Victoria Park’s topography with a verandah inspiration and a floating roof form. The design statement describes the venue not as a building in a park, but as a park that flows around and through a stadium.

Spectators will pass through nature and parkland rather than climb toward a monument, allowing the landform and vegetation to do the work. The design privileges shade, breeze, movement and everyday access to ensure the venue is generous and open on non-event days.

GIICA CEO Simon Crooks stated the team is seeing a truly Queensland take on the traditional stadium emerge, bringing the outside in and celebrating the natural environment. He noted that early works will start later this year, with full construction due to begin in 2027.

Historical context and political shifts

The decision to build a new stadium marks a significant shift from the 2024 state election campaign, where the LNP promised not to build a new venue for the Games. Premier David Crisafulli has previously apologised for breaking this pledge after the project was recommended in GIICA’s 100-day review.

Under the previous administration led by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, the Gabba was flagged as the main stadium for the 2032 Games. However, the Gabba is now set to be demolished following the Games to make way for urban renewal.

Local opposition to the project remains strong, with the group Save Victoria Park opposing the move. The group argues they want the green space preserved for future generations rather than developing it into a major sporting precinct.

The design team consists of Australian firms COX Architecture and Hassell, alongside the Japanese group Azusa Sekkei. These firms have previously worked on Perth’s Optus Stadium and redeveloped the Adelaide Oval and the MCG.

Impact on inner-city suburbs and transport

The proposed siting near Gilchrist Avenue is intended to seamlessly connect with existing transport infrastructure, benefiting residents of New Farm, Teneriffe, Newstead and Fortitude Valley. The location is seen as a long-term city-shaping investment aligned with broader urban renewal outcomes for the inner city.

COX Architecture Director Richard Coulson noted that the evolving arrangement of the stadium in the park will be a key part of unlocking connectivity with the wider precinct and the city. This connectivity aims to serve the local community every day, not just during global events.

The broader Victoria Park precinct is expected to anchor a major inner-city “health and knowledge corridor”. This development will support new housing, transport links and economic development, potentially altering the demographic and economic landscape of the immediate suburbs.

Construction is expected to commence from June 2026, as soon as land tenure is transferred to GIICA and planning approvals are secured. A build timeline of approximately five years targets completion ahead of the 2032 Games.

Economic scale and future legacy

The new Brisbane Stadium is part of the $7.1 billion Games Venues Infrastructure Program jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments. The main venue is estimated to cost about $3.6 billion, though some projections suggest costs could rise further due to inflationary pressures.

Hassell Managing Principal Lucy O’Driscoll described the project as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead the design of a venue that showcases Queensland to the world. She emphasised that every element of the design responds to Queensland’s unique climate and lifestyle.

In its legacy mode, the stadium will transition to become Brisbane’s primary venue for AFL, cricket and major events. It will also host the opening and closing ceremonies and athletics at the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Early site preparations are due to begin from 1 June 2026 once the land is transferred to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority. Queenslanders will start to see the project shift from plans to progress as the new major events home takes its next steps toward 2032.

Sources

https://giica.au/news/brisbane-stadium-location-locked-in-as-design-forges-ahead