The Queensland Government has released an Information Memorandum inviting private sector partners to deliver the new Gabba Entertainment Precinct, a 9-hectare mixed-use redevelopment centred on a 17,000-seat indoor arena in Woolloongabba.
Announced by Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie MP, the proposal aims to establish a globally recognised entertainment and lifestyle destination, forming a major legacy project ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The plan brings together two major land parcels — Gabba West and Gabba East.
- Gabba West will host Queensland’s new premier indoor entertainment arena, scheduled for delivery before the 2032 Games.
- Gabba East, currently the site of the Gabba Stadium, is earmarked for post-Games redevelopment once cricket and football relocate to the new Brisbane Stadium at Victoria Park.
After 2032, Gabba East would be transformed into a high-density mixed-use precinct featuring residential, retail, commercial, and hospitality uses, integrated with new public open space and transport infrastructure.
The arena is proposed to replace the ageing Brisbane Entertainment Centre at Boondall. With flexible configurations for concerts, sport, and events, the 17,000-seat venue would connect directly to Cross River Rail’s Woolloongabba Station and the South East Busway, ensuring rapid public-transport access from across the metropolitan area.
Benchmarking in the memorandum compares the proposed venue with major international facilities such as Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, and Berlin’s Uber Arena, positioning the Gabba venue within the top tier of mid-sized global arenas.
According to the memorandum, Greater Brisbane’s economy is valued at $201 billion in 2024 and forecast to reach $275 billion by 2041, with population growth averaging 2.1 per cent, the fastest among comparable Asia-Pacific capitals. The project aligns with the Queensland Government’s goals to deliver one million new homes by 2044, strengthen Brisbane’s “experience economy” projected to grow 41 per cent between 2021 and 2031, and support the Destination 2045 plan to make Queensland a global tourism leader.
Brisbane attracted 8.8 million overnight visitors in the year ending June 2024, spending $10.7 billion and generating more than 50 million visitor nights, figures expected to rise once the new arena begins hosting major international events.
The Gabba Entertainment Precinct sits within the Woolloongabba Priority Development Area (PDA) under the Economic Development Act 2012, providing a streamlined planning process managed by Economic Development Queensland. A draft amendment to the PDA Development Scheme, released in August 2025 — incorporates the precinct’s objectives, increasing allowable building heights and redefining land-use allocations to enable the transition from a single-use stadium site to a mixed-use residential and entertainment hub.
Expressions of Interest open 9 October 2025 through VendorPanel, closing 12 January 2026. Shortlisted proponents will proceed to a Request for Detailed Proposals in 2026, with appointment of a preferred proponent expected by Q3 2026. Early works are planned to begin in late 2026, with the arena operational by 2031.
The government will evaluate submissions based on experience in delivering large-scale infrastructure, venue operation, and master-planned precinct development. An independent probity adviser will oversee the process.
The precinct’s integration with Cross River Rail, the Clem7 tunnel and the South East Busway places it at the centre of Brisbane’s inner-city transport network, connecting to South Bank, the CBD and Fortitude Valley. Beyond the arena, the Gabba East redevelopment will introduce housing, commercial space and public realm areas, completing Woolloongabba’s transition from an industrial suburb to a dense urban neighbourhood at the heart of the 2032 Games legacy.
Bleijie said the project is a chance to “deliver a precinct that defines Brisbane’s future and enriches the lives of Queenslanders for generations to come.”
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