Live Nation’s consortium will build Brisbane’s $1.4 billion arena at the Gabba, and the state pays nothing until it opens in 2031
Queensland has chosen Gather Brisbane, a consortium of Plenary, Live Nation, Oak View Group and Webuild, to build a 17,000-seat indoor arena and almost 4,000 homes on the Gabba precinct at Woolloongabba. The consortium designs, builds, finances and runs the $1.4 billion arena; the state makes a one-off $600 million payment only after it opens, due by 2031.
Live updates
- 10.40am AWSTLatest
Live Nation, Plenary, Oak View Group and Webuild named; $600 million state payment due only after the 2031 opening.
- Sunday morning AEST
The Queensland Government names Gather Brisbane as the successful proponent for the Gabba arena and housing precinct.
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Three things to know
- The arena holds 17,000 seated, or up to 18,700 for concerts, and replaces the 40-year-old Brisbane Entertainment Centre at Boondall, which the government says is at the end of its life.
- Taxpayers' $600 million is paid once, after completion, and is offset by handing the consortium parcels of the old Gabba Stadium land in stages for housing.
- Construction starts early 2027; the Gabba Stadium itself stays until after the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, then is decommissioned.
Brisbane has its arena builder. The Queensland Government on Sunday morning named Gather Brisbane as the successful bidder to deliver the Gabba Entertainment and Housing Precinct, a $1.4 billion indoor arena and almost 4,000 homes at Woolloongabba.
The consortium brings together infrastructure investor Plenary, the world’s largest concert promoter Live Nation, venue operator Oak View Group and Italian construction group Webuild. It beat a rival consortium, Ignite, whose members include Lendlease, AEG and Legends Global, after the pair were shortlisted in March from a global field of eight bids.
“The stage is now set for something special at Woolloongabba,” Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said.
What will be built?
An indoor arena of 17,000 seats, stretching to 18,700 in concert mode, with direct access from the new Woolloongabba Cross River Rail station. Around it: build-to-sell and build-to-rent apartments, co-living and purpose-built student housing, almost 4,000 homes in all, plus a pedestrian bridge over the busway and a larger public plaza linking to Stanley Street. East Brisbane State School stays.
Who pays?
This is the part that sets the deal apart. Gather Brisbane will design, build, finance, maintain and operate the arena, and carry the cost of every future refurbishment. The state makes a single $600 million capital contribution, and only after the venue opens in 2031. That payment is offset by releasing Gabba Stadium land to the consortium in stages. The state keeps ownership of the arena land until at least 2071.
The government contrasted the model with Labor’s abandoned plans: a Gabba rebuild for the 2032 Games it says blew out past $3.4 billion, and a $2.5 billion arena above Roma Street Station.
What does it mean for fans?
Brisbane’s main big-room venue, the Entertainment Centre at Boondall, is 40 years old and sits in the city’s northern suburbs. A Live Nation-run inner-city arena on a rail line changes the calculus for touring acts deciding whether to add a Brisbane date. “This arena will attract more touring artists to Brisbane,” Live Nation’s Guy Ngata said. Queensland duo The Veronicas said it would give young local artists a bigger stage.
Why now?
The Crisafulli Government scrapped the Gabba rebuild in March 2025 and moved the 2032 Olympic stadium to Victoria Park, leaving the Woolloongabba site free for housing and an arena after the Games. The arena is part of the government’s 2032 Delivery Plan.
VNN will update this story as more is confirmed.
How we got here
The key moments that brought this story into focus. Open any moment for detail.
March 2025Gabba rebuild scrapped
Premier David Crisafulli moves the 2032 Olympic stadium to Victoria Park and proposes a privately financed arena at Woolloongabba.
March 2026Two bids shortlisted
Gather Brisbane and Ignite are chosen from eight global bids; site drilling begins.
15 November 2026Winner named
Gather Brisbane selected to deliver the $1.4 billion arena and almost 4,000 homes.
What happens next
The government says arena construction begins early 2027 and the venue opens by 2031, when the state's $600 million payment falls due. The Gabba Stadium hosts the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games before it is decommissioned and its land released for housing in stages.
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