Plan for 20,000-seat stadium to temporarily replace Gabba kicks off Queensland funding row

An artist's impression of the proposed 20,000-seat temporary stadium that would host AFL and cricket matches at Brisbane's showgrounds while the Gabba is being rebuilt for the 2032 Olympics Illustration: supplied by the Queensland government.

A proposal to upgrade Brisbane’s showgrounds with a temporary 20,000-seat stadium – to act as the city’s home of AFL and cricket while the Gabba is rebuilt – has quickly become a political football.

The Queensland government announced on Friday it would commit $46m to create the temporary stadium but requested the remaining $91m cost be shared between Brisbane city council, AFL and cricket authorities and the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland, which runs the annual Ekka show at the venue.