The Gabba, officially known as the Brisbane Cricket Ground, is a historic multi-purpose sports stadium located in Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The land was set aside for use as a cricket ground in 1895, with the first cricket match played on 19 December 1896 between Parliament and The Press. It has since evolved into one of Australia’s premier sporting venues, hosting a variety of sports including cricket, Australian Rules Football (AFL), rugby league, rugby union, soccer, baseball, and even greyhound racing in its early years. The stadium is named after the Woolloongabba suburb in which it is located and is operated by Stadiums Queensland, owned by the Queensland government.
History and Establishment
The Gabba’s cricketing history is particularly notable, with its first Test match played in November 1931 between Australia and South Africa, and the first-ever tied Test match occurring in December 1960 between Australia and the West Indies. It hosted its first One-Day International (ODI) in 1979 and its first T20 International in 2006. The venue has also been the home ground for the Queensland Bulls (domestic cricket), Brisbane Heat (Big Bash League and Women’s Big Bash League), and Brisbane Lions (AFL).
Significant redevelopment took place between 1993 and 2005 in six stages, costing A$128 million, transforming The Gabba into an all-seater stadium with modern facilities. A $35 million upgrade in 2020 further modernized public, corporate, and media facilities, including new bars, entrances, larger video screens, and LED lighting. The Gabba has hosted major events, including seven soccer matches during the 2000 Sydney Olympics and concerts by global artists.
The Gabba Seating Plan
The Gabba’s seat map layout is a bowl-style, all-seater stadium with a circular design, offering unobstructed views from most areas. The layout is divided into multiple tiers and sections, with variations depending on the event (cricket, AFL, or concerts).
Main Stands: The Gabba features several named sections, typically divided into lower, middle, and upper tiers. Key areas include:
- Northern Stand (near Vulture Street entrance): Often used for premium seating and members’ areas (Queensland Cricket Association and Brisbane Cricket Ground Trust).
- Southern Stand: Popular for general admission and family zones, with good views of the main scoreboard.
- Eastern and Western Stands: Flank the sides, offering varied price points; Eastern Stand often includes shaded seating.
Seating Tiers:
- Lower Tier: Closest to the field, ideal for immersive experiences, includes premium and corporate boxes.
- Middle Tier: Balances view and affordability, popular for reserved seating.
- Upper Tier: Offers panoramic views, typically the most budget-friendly general admission seats.
Event-Specific Configurations:
- Cricket: Capacity reduced to ~36,000 with larger scoreboards and a pool deck area, often in the Southern Stand. Sight screens may block some views in specific sections.
- AFL: Capacity ~37,478, with end zones popular for social atmosphere and upper tiers for shade.
- Concerts: Floor seating added, increasing capacity to over 50,000; stage placement affects seat availability.
The Gabba Seating Capacity
The Gabba’s seating capacity varies by event due to configurations such as temporary deck areas and scoreboards:
- Official Capacity: Approximately 42,000 for general events.
- Cricket Matches: Reduced to 36,000 due to larger scoreboards, wider sight screens, and a pool deck.
- AFL Matches: Approximately 37,478, slightly higher than cricket due to different configurations.
- Concerts: Can accommodate over 50,000 spectators with additional floor seating.
The Gabba Ticket Prices
Ticket prices at The Gabba vary depending on the event, seating category, and whether it’s a cricket or AFL event. Specific pricing is not consistently detailed across sources due to variations by events.
- AFL Events: Tickets for Brisbane Lions games are available with categories ranging from general admission to premium seating and corporate boxes. Prices depend on the opponent, match significance, and seating location (e.g., upper tiers for shade or end zones for a social atmosphere). General admission is typically the most affordable, while corporate boxes offer gourmet food and beverage packages for a premium experience.
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Cricket Events: Tickets for Queensland Bulls, Brisbane Heat, or international matches (e.g., Tests, ODIs, T20Is) vary in price based on seat type, stand, view, and match format. General admission tickets are budget-friendly, while reserved seating and members’ areas are more expensive.
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Corporate and VIP Options: Open-Air Corporate Boxes and Area VIP Lounge tickets offer premium experiences with reserved seating and catering, available through providers like The Golden Ticket for AFL matches.