Gabba likely to get naming rights sponsor

Stakeholders voice agreement with report calling for selling rights to name Brisbane's iconic Gabba cricket ground to pay for upgrades.

A general view of The Gabba in Brisbane, Australia.

The Gabba's name may be sold off to boost revenue for Stadiums Queensland. (AAP)

The naming rights for Brisbane's iconic Gabba cricket ground appear all but certain to be sold after tenants and the Queensland government gave the idea their approval.

An interim report handed down on Friday into Stadiums Queensland by an independent task force made the recommendation along with 16 others.

Sports minister Mick de Brenni said selling the naming rights would generate significant revenue and help facilitate upgrades.

Normally the home of cricket's first Test each summer, the Gabba was demoted by Cricket Australia after it fell behind Perth and Adelaide in the national pecking order.

Queensland Cricket chief executive Max Walters backed the plan as long as the bulk of any income was directed to upgrading the ground.

However, he cautioned that the price needs to be right.

"Australian Cricket remains broadly supportive of naming rights but we have advice that suggests the mooted $2 million fee for the Gabba is undervalued," Mr Walters said in a statement.

Brisbane Lions' chairman Andrew Wellington also welcomed the recommendation, saying the Gabba's naming rights were an underutilised asset.

"I think the direction of travel is positive," the AFL club boss told AAP.

Mr Wellington said although the Gabba had "good bones" the last time any significant improvements were made was in the late '90s.

Additional recommendations to create an entertainment precinct around the Gabba and improve cross-river rail transport were also steps in the right direction, he said.

The Lions also backed the ground being used for other purposes to generate additional income for Stadium Australia.

Transport costs for stadium operators on the Gold Coast, which have been as much as 52 per cent higher than Brisbane, were also highlighted.

Gold Coast Titans chief executive Graham Annesley says he's pleased the report addressed the inequity.

Mr Annesley also welcomed recommendations to improve traffic flow on game days, along with calls for more parking around Metricon Stadium, the Robina town centre, and the train station.

Gold Coast Suns chief executive Mark Evans said the report also addressed the broader costs of being a tenant at the Metricon Stadium.

Mr Evans said if the recommendations were adopted, the Suns would be able to attract more concerts and other sporting events, like Twenty20 Big Bash cricket.

The task force has been looking at how the nine Stadiums Queensland venues are working for the stakeholders.

It follows complaints by Queensland sporting teams, including the NRL's Titans, the Brisbane Roar in the A-League and the Suns, about the cost of using Stadiums Queensland venues and its management.

Earlier in the month, Mr de Brenni replaced the board of the stadium operator.


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Source: AAP


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