Shock Stadium Being Considered As New Brisbane Home Ground
Without the Gabba, the Lions might have to play their games somewhere bigger.
In a few years, the Brisbane Lions may play games at the Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre (QSAC), as discussions over developing the Gabba continue.
The Gabba will probably need work before the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane, which could put the venue out of commission for a number of years before the international competition.
Since Brisbane was awarded the privilege to host the Olympics, efforts have been made to locate the Lions a new stadium to call home for the remainder of this decade.
The AFL may decide to use the Lions' new training facility in Springfield, but given its 10,000-seat capacity and the fact that it holds less than half of their average home attendance for 2022, it is unlikely that the ground will serve as the team's primary home site.
The Metricon Stadium of the Gold Coast Suns, which is more than an hour's drive from the Gabba, would also be considered.
However, the 48,500-seat QSAC stadium is reportedly being taken into consideration as a replacement facility for the Lions and BBL team the Brisbane Heat.
The Brisbane venue, formerly known as QEII Stadium or ANZ Stadium, is oval in shape, frequently used as an athletics field, and has a capacity greater than the Gabba's 42,000.
The Brisbane Broncos played their home games in the stadium from 1993 to 2002 before it opened in 1975 to host the 1982 Commonwealth Games.
The Lions would have at least three more seasons before maybe having to find a new home venue if they weren't forced out of the Gabba before the 2026 season.
Late last year, the club moved into its new training facility in Springfield, and the venue even hosted the AFLW Grand Final as a result of the Lions Women's side scheduling a home season-deciding game.
In the first 15 rounds of the 2023 AFL season, the Lions will play six games at the Gabba, and in the last nine rounds, which also feature five more Brisbane home games,are not yet complete.