Brisbane Olympics momentum continues with significant procurement openings

This momentum offers opportunities for domestic and international contractors who have experience and a proven record in delivering major stadiums and infrastructure.

The Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) has opened an ‘invitation for prequalification’ (IFP) for the delivery contractor for the main Victoria Park Stadium to be used for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The IFP is open until 5pm AEST on Friday 7 November.

Following the IFP process, GIICA stated that successful contractors will be asked to participate in an ‘invitation to offer’ (ITO) to secure one of two ‘early contractor involvement’ (ECI) roles.

The opening of the IFP follows the commencement of borehole drilling in October for the Victoria Park precinct, which will be used to inform the location, design and delivery of the Victoria Park Stadium and National Aquatic Centre.

Gabba Entertainment Precinct

The Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning has opened an ‘expression of interest’ (EOI) to deliver a new entertainment and housing precinct in Woolloongabba.

The Gabba Entertainment Precinct is a 9-hectare redevelopment opportunity across two parcels of land separated by Main Street. The two parcels of land are known as ‘Gabba West’, where the Woolloongabba Railway Station is currently being constructed as part of the Cross River Rail project; and ‘Gabba East’, the current location of the Brisbane Cricket Ground, known colloquially as the Gabba.

According to the state government’s plans, a 17,000-seater indoor arena will be developed on the Gabba West site. This will replace the Brisbane Entertainment Centre at Boondall as Queensland premiere indoor entertainment venue.

After 2032, Victoria Park Stadium will host AFL and cricket in Brisbane, allowing the Gabba to be decommissioned. The Gabba East site will be redeveloped by the private sector in exchange for delivering the indoor arena.

Key development focuses for the Gabba East site include mixed-use development with housing and accommodation, a focus on connectivity to employment through public transport, retail such as a supermarket and convenience stores, a hospitality and lifestyle precinct supported by public open space and commercial offerings connected to the public transport network.

The EOI for the precinct is open until 4pm AEST on Monday 12 January 2026, with an information memorandum available to interested parties.

The EOI evaluation focuses on the experience of respondents, including any consortia members, in the successful delivery and financing of large scale social and economic infrastructure projects, the successful operation of major events and entertainment venues, and development and financing of large, complex and transformational master-planned precincts.

Following the EOI process, the department advises that indicative timelines are currently:

• notify shortlisted respondents in the first three months of 2026;
• commence ‘request for detailed proposal’ (RFDP) phase in the second quarter of 2026;
• appoint the successful proponent from the third quarter of 2026;
• commence early works by the end of the year; and
• indoor arena operational by 2031.

Gold Coast Indoor Arena

The Gold Coast Indoor Arena is intended to be delivered and operated by a private investor. An EOI process public-private partnership, led by Invest Gold Coast, is open until 4pm AEST on Thursday 27 November.

Following the EOI process, Invest Gold Coast advises that indicative timelines are:

• a RFP process is expected to commence in February 2026;
• construction is expected to start in 2027; and
• indoor arena operational by 2030.

The Gold Coast Arena will be delivered by the City of Gold Coast with GIICA oversight.

Potential Suncorp Stadium expansion

Suncorp Stadium is Brisbane’s main rugby league, rugby union, football and outdoor stadium concert venue. The Brisbane Broncos are one of Suncorp Stadium’s main tenants and averaged home crowds of more than 40,000 in 2025, with regular sell outs of the venue’s current 52,500 seat capacity.

Further demonstrating the need for a capacity increase, the club currently has 60,000 members – more than the capacity of the stadium – and the reported demand for tickets to the home preliminary final was the equivalent of 250,000 tickets.

Adam Reynolds, Brisbane Broncos captain, made this plea to the state government during his acceptance speech for the National Rugby League teams’ 2025 premiership victory: “To the premier, build a bigger stadium because we sold that one out and we'll sell it out again.”

Redeveloped for the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup at a cost of A$280 million, and with rectification work completed after flooding in 2011, the stadium is regarded as one of the best rectangular sporting venues in the world. Despite Suncorp Stadium not being one of GIICA’s 17 projects, Queensland premier David Crisafulli has confirmed that planning for improvements to Suncorp Stadium’s standard and capacity is underway, instead of building a new rectangular stadium.

Public suggestions have included an increase in capacity to at least 65,000 seats and the installation of a retractable roof. Whilst there appears to be in principle support from local and state government for improvements to the stadium, there are practical limitations on what can be achieved with the existing structure. The stadium is bound to the east and west by Hale Street and Castlemaine Street respectively, meaning that temporary seating is impractical. Removing the existing roof of the stadium to add another tier will also be a significant undertaking.

Harvey Lister, chairman of Suncorp Stadium operator Legends Global APAC, told ABC Radio Brisbane on 7 October that any standard and capacity improvements would need to preserve the existing spectator experience and sightlines and the angle of the seating cannot exceed 34 degrees, which the stadium was already close to.

He also said that the current structure and site does not easily allow for 65,000 seats without a large government co-investment, there is an opportunity for private sector investment with some level of government funding, and it is possible for this work to be completed prior to 2032.

These comments raise the potential for further opportunities in redeveloping Suncorp Stadium through one of changes to the existing seating bowl, infill seating in the corners of the top tier, an additional tier, a retractable roof or a combination of these additions.

Seating being placed in the corners of levels two and three and building up level three to an equal height would appear to be the most reasonable solution for expanding Suncorp. Other options include extending levels two and three of the stadium towards the pitch in a similar way to what is already done at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which could impact sight lines for some seats. Finally, a fourth tier could be built, but this is likely the most expensive and time consuming option.

Other challenges for redeveloping Suncorp include the amount of time required to complete any works, which would have to be completed in the National Rugby League offseason and would potentially impact other tenants, such as the Brisbane Roar A-League team, and concerts held at the venue.

GIICA delivery partner

Following the completion of an EOI process in August 2025, it is reported that the following partnerships are in contention to be GIICA’s delivery partner:

• Laing O’Rourke and AECOM;
• Bechtel and Jacobs; or
• GHD, Arcadis, APP and EY.'

The delivery partner model was used for the London Olympics. Pinsent Masons advised the London Olympic Delivery Authority on a range of infrastructure law matters for those Games and continued to advise the successor body, the Legacy Development Corporation, on securing the London 2012 Legacy.

The delivery partner is expected to provide project management services, including cost and program management, downstream procurement management services and advice on claims, interface and integration across most Olympic venues.

GIICA is aiming to have the successful delivery partner in place by the end of 2025.