There are calls for Springfield’s Brighton Homes Arena to be made a bigger venue to bring more Brisbane Lions home games to the stadium.
The arena is currently being eyed off as an option to replace the Gabba, which is to undergo a $1 billion worth of works for the 2032 Olympic Games in two years time.
Springfield City Group Chairman Bob Sharples says an extra 25,000 seats would allow the Lions to host the majority of their home games.
“There would probably be crowds larger than that, which would probably look to play those games somewhere else in a bigger venue but the commerciality of that is just compelling,” he says
Mr Sharples says that the demolition of the Gabba also means that there will be no events there and that the Brisbane Lions men’s team will need to play somewhere else for about four or more years.
“So there’s a few different options being considered, and we think having an upgrade of what is the Lions home ground makes a lot of sense,” he says.
The Springfield City Group Chairman wants the government to step in and fund the expansion of Brighton Homes Arena.
“The community is getting behind it and we know that the Ipswich City Council sees it as a very significant economic contributor to the area,” Mr Sharples says.
The Gold Coast Metricon Stadium and Brisbane Showgrounds are also being considered as replacements for the Gabba once construction works get underway.
