Gather Brisbane to Deliver New Gabba Arena and Precinct

Work to build a new world-class entertainment and living destination in the heart of Brisbane will commence shortly, as the government finalizes a landmark agreement for the Gabba Entertainment and Housing Precinct in Woolloongabba. The project will be delivered by the Gather Brisbane consortium, bringing together leading infrastructure and entertainment expertise to reshape the area ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The centerpiece of the development will be a purpose-designed, 17,000-seat indoor arena with the capacity to host major concerts, sporting events, and up to 18,700 people in concert mode. Set to open by 2031, the venue will connect directly to the new Woolloongabba Cross River Rail station, providing streamlined access for visitors. This new facility will replace the aging Boondall Entertainment Centre.

Following the 2032 Games, the nearby Gabba Stadium will be decommissioned to make way for public open spaces and nearly 4,000 new homes, spanning build-to-sell, build-to-rent, co-living, and student accommodation. The project also preserves the East Brisbane State School while integrating year-round dining, plazas, and pedestrian connections.

Gather Brisbane will deliver a $1.4 billion indoor arena and thousands of new homes by 2031.

Gather Brisbane Consortium Details

The Gather Brisbane consortium comprises Plenary, Live Nation, Oak View Group, and Webuild. The group will design, build, finance, maintain, and operate the arena. The state government will invest a one-off $600 million capital sum upon completion, which will later be offset by releasing land at the decommissioned stadium site for the residential development.

Officials noted that the urban renewal initiative aims to establish Queensland as a premier events capital while addressing inner-city housing needs through a combined private and public partnership model.

Why it matters

This project transforms inner-city Woolloongabba by replacing an outdated entertainment venue with a state-of-the-art arena and significantly expanding local housing options. It directly impacts Brisbane residents, event-goers, and local businesses by reshaping urban transport connections, public plazas, and long-term tourism infrastructure.