Australian Paralympian wheelchair basketballers Matt McShane and Sam White, and the Sherwood Under 9s are backing The Gabba’s redevelopment.

For Matt and Sam, an upgraded stadium as spectators means not using the goods lift to get to their seats.

“It’s an old stadium and for us that have mobility issues, it’s tricky to navigate the long-haul to the seats and a world-class upgrade will mean no one will longer be loaded into the goods lift.

I’m excited about an accessible and inclusive stadium that will benefit anyone including mums with prams, the elderly with walkers, and obviously Chis and myself,” said McShane.

“The level of infrastructure investment announced is transformational,” said Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Catherine Clark.

“By revamping existing infrastructure and building new facilities, accessibility and inclusion come closer to the centre of our consciousness

The goal is to allow more members of the community to benefit from their facilities and the Gabba announcement is a promise of a truly accessible Paralympic and Olympic Games.

It’s a commitment to fully embrace the unprecedented opportunity that a Games brings to make generational change beyond sport.”

For Sherwood Under 9s coach and dad to Indigo and Sage, Chris Waxman, the new Gabba and Cross River Rail will make travelling to Brisbane Lions’ home games easier and safer.

Chris hopes to see his daughters playing in an AFLW Grand Final at an upgraded Gabba.

The Gabba rebuild will support professional and community sport and entertainment for decades beyond the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Construction is planned to start in 2026 for completion in 2030.

“The Gabba will be the first glimpse of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games for a global audience of around one billion,” said Tourism and Sport Minister and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement Stirling Hinchliffe

Rebuilding The Gabba is more than four weeks of elite sport, it delivers a lasting 2032 Games legacy for sport and entertainment for Queenslanders for decades to come.

Work on the current Gabba started 30 years ago, so it’s not up to modern accessibility standards and as a future Paralympic venue it needs to be.

The Gabba is a great opportunity to create a world-class, fully accessible stadium precinct everyone can enjoy with the convenience of Cross River Rail’s seamless public transport connectivity.

A new Gabba delivers more options for international sport and entertainment events that contribute millions of dollars to Brisbane’s visitor economy.”

Courtesy Queensland Government