BRIS2032 — Independent Coverage · Updated 5 November 2026
The Queensland Government is expected to name the group that will build Brisbane's new $2.5 billion indoor arena in mid-November. Both shortlisted groups lodged detailed proposals in October for the 17,000-seat venue at Woolloongabba.
Who is bidding
Ignite (formerly Brisbane Entertainment Alliance): Capella Capital, Lendlease, AEG, Legends Global
Gather Brisbane: Plenary Group, Oak View Group, Live Nation
What's being built
The arena will anchor the Gabba Entertainment and Housing Precinct, which will replace the existing Gabba stadium with homes, shops and public space. Construction is expected to start in the first half of 2027.
The project is a public-private partnership. It sits outside the federal and state funding deal that covers the main Olympic venues.
How it got here
The arena was first pitched in 2016 as Brisbane Live, above the new Roma Street station. In March 2025, Premier David Crisafulli dropped that site in the revised 2032 venue plan and called for a privately funded arena at Woolloongabba instead.
What happens next
We'll update this page when the government names its preferred group. See every Brisbane 2032 sport and where it's proposed to be held.
SOURCE: Australasian Leisure Management, 2 Nov 2026, citing The Courier-Mail and The Music; MICE, 27 Mar 2026
