OPINION- Surely, it’s stumps for the Gabba

The Gabba has become a festering, purulent zit on the face of an adolescent Queensland sporting landscape and makes a mockery of the Government’s own Activate! Queensland 2019-2029 plan. Over the top? I think not…

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In what should be a time of vision, growth, excitement, and emergence with an Olympics looming ever closer there seems to be a persistent want to cling to the past. The Activate! plan talks to activating success through major sporting facilities that provide a great fan experience, of increasing access, of universally designed infrastructure appropriate to women and girls, of constructing best practice infrastructure and of building cohesive relationships… yet one of the state-run jewels in the crown falls terribly short on many of these measures.

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The Sport Venue Review, an independent review of Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic venue infrastructure led by former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, provided comprehensive commentary of the Gabba’s current state and the necessity for redevelopment. Some key findings included:

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1. That the ageing Gabba without an upgrade in around 25 years is in poor condition.
2. The stadium’s operational inefficiencies and outdated amenities reduce it ability to compete with other venues.
3. Poor accessibility with 200 fewer accessible seats than required and no field access for patrons in wheelchairs.
4. It is not fit for purpose.
5. It falls well short of the quality of facility expected and experienced in almost all other stadiums in Australia.
6. Is non-compliant with the current Disability Discrimination Act and with modern building codes.
7. AFL changeroom facilities are well below standard, appalling for visiting teams and not suitable for female participation with no change or WC areas.
8. An ambulance is unable to enter the field of play.

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I could go on, but you get the gist….

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Then there is the field of play itself which looks pretty good to the average punter. But looks can be deceiving. The surface has been described as ‘rock hard’ and ‘like concrete’ – far from ideal from an AFL perspective which has led to a chorus of complaints over several years from many including prominent AFL figures such as Leigh Matthews and Jonathan Brown. It seems only a matter of time before the surface condition is blamed for injuries sustained with knees and concussion issues likely to be at the forefront. Cue the lawyers… ?

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It seems unbelievable that our elite play on this deck when local grounds serve up much better surfaces. Contrast this with facilities and surfaces in other states and you could understand consternation amongst prospective AFL draft or trade players. It’s a tough enough game without being behind the eight ball on such matters.

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It strikes me as entirely logical to kill two birds with one stone. Get serious with a proper Gabba and precinct rebuild as the centrepiece for the Olympics and as an entertainment venue that attracts events to Queensland and provides appropriate and safe conditions for both cricket and the AFL. In the past, the cricket fraternity have been vocal and resistant to any tampering with the playing surface but surely this is now moot considering the Gabba’s continual slide down the pecking order as a Test venue. You can play Big Bash on a road so I’m not sure there’s any argument there in relation to the wicket.

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Any way you look at it the Gabba is long overdue for an upgrade and of course we’ve all heard the different options on the Olympics front. My hope is that come the weekend - if votes fall as expected and a tidal wave of blue washes away the confusion and indecision of the recent past, we might finally get some clarity and direction. I think I speak for most in sport and recreation circles when I say QSAC is nowhere near good enough- lunacy in my view and that its’s time to get on with building world class venues.