After years of speculation, a consortium of building and entertainment companies led by Live Nation has confirmed it will build the new Brisbane Arena.
The consortium, named Gather Brisbane, comprises Live Nation, Oak View Group, and Plenary Group. Together, they’ll build the new 17,000-capacity venue – or 18,700 in concert mode – in Woolloongabba, aiming to bring more major live music events to Brisbane.
Once it’s up and running, Brisbane Arena will provide the capacity and facilities required to attract major international and homegrown artists and events, with Brisbane kept on tour announcements alongside Melbourne and Sydney.
Live Nation’s in-house design and development group, Blueprint Studio, is designing the space in partnership with Cox Architecture and 3XN.
The new venue is directly connected to the Woolloongabba Cross River Rail station and is located just minutes away from Brisbane’s CBD. It’s accessible and easy to find, and can host music and sporting events, including the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
According to a press release, Brisbane Arena is expected to welcome over 1.2 million people each year and support more than 1,500 jobs, generating $844 million annually for the city’s visitor economy.
In a statement, Queensland’s Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jarrod Bleijie, said, “The stage is now set for something special at Woolloongabba. This will be transformational for the area and generational for millions of people who’ll come to live, visit and enjoy this new precinct.”
Michael Coppel, Chairman of Live Nation Australia and New Zealand, added, “Brisbane has the audience and the ambition to welcome more of the world’s biggest tours, but it needs the venues to match.
“This arena will help bring more shows to Queensland, strengthen Australia’s appeal as a touring destination and give artists and fans an arena they can be proud of for decades to come.”
Oak View Group CEO Chris Granger said, “We are incredibly excited to be part of bringing this landmark venue to life for Brisbane and its surrounding community.
“Working alongside our Gather Brisbane partners, we look forward to combining our collective expertise to create an exceptional destination that attracts the biggest events and becomes a source of pride for Brisbane for generations to come.”
Pop duo The Veronicas concluded, “Having played to home crowds in Brisbane throughout our careers, we know how much live music means to this city. This arena will give the next generation of Queensland artists a bigger stage to aspire to and give local fans more chances to see the artists they love.”
Live Nation already operates and backs venues such as The Fortitude Music Hall and The Triffid in Brisbane, the Palais Theatre and Festival Hall in Melbourne, the Hindley Street Music Hall in Adelaide and Anita’s Theatre in Wollongong.
