The Brisbane 2032 Olympics chief says the Queensland capital risks losing major cricket and AFL events to the regions without a “legacy” stadium to meet future demands.
His comments come after Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said Queenslanders are “embarrassed” by a decision to stage Olympic events at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) instead of at 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 today.
But with the Gabba set to reach the end of its usefulness by 2030, Mr Liveris said it was up to the AFL and Cricket Australia to “stand up” and argue for a venue that can support the state’s growing population.
“The Olympics can’t take the lead there,” Mr Liveris said.
A $2.7 billion Gabba rebuild plan was rejected by the Miles government earlier this year. (ABC News: Christopher Gillette)
A $2.7 Gabba rebuild plan was rejected earlier this year amid rising local opposition to the resulting relocation of the East Brisbane State School.
Mr Liveris said once football and cricket leaders had made a decision to ensure the viability of their sports, “then we will fold right in and support you”.
‘Where are you going to put the cricket on?’
Mr Liveris is back in Brisbane after an extended stay in Europe for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.
He said cricket represents “a phenomenal revenue opportunity for Australia” as one of five new sports to feature at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
“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.”
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Cost versus revenue
Mr Miles opted for QSAC as a cost-effective compromise.
Mr Liveris acknowledged that cost is a factor, saying OCOG remains committed to an overall budget of $5 billion.
“And we’ve got to get that budget right,” he said.
Mr Miles opted for QSAC (pictured) as a cost-effective compromise. (ABC News: Dean Caton)
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.
“If QSAC ends up being the answer based on cost and revenue, then we will have to look at where we do events.”
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.
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Mr Liveris said Brisbane 2032 had “brought home quite a few learnings” from Paris.
“Don’t panic, we’ve got this,” he said today.
“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.”
