An international team with deep experience in major sporting venues has been appointed to design Brisbane’s new stadium at Victoria Park, a centrepiece project for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Australian founded firms COX and Hassell will partner with Japan’s Azusa Sekkei, following a three month selection process run by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority. The appointment brings together designers behind Perth’s Optus Stadium, the redeveloped Adelaide Oval and work at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, alongside a practice that has delivered more than 120 stadiums and arenas worldwide, including Tokyo’s Japan National Stadium.
The new Brisbane Stadium is planned as the main venue for the opening and closing ceremonies and athletics in 2032. After the Games, it is intended to operate in legacy mode with a capacity of around 63,000 seats, becoming the city’s primary stadium and home ground for teams including the Brisbane Lions, Queensland Bulls and Brisbane Heat.
GIICA confirmed the architects were selected after an open call for expressions of interest in September, followed by detailed assessment by an expert panel. Engineering firms Arup and sbp will support the design, particularly on the stadium roof, an element expected to play a major role in managing Brisbane’s climate.
Governments at both federal and state level have presented the appointment as an early step in rebuilding momentum around Games delivery in 2026. Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the project was moving from planning towards early design and validation work, with a focus on delivering the venue on time and within budget. She described the stadium as a future home for global sporting events and concerts, as well as local teams.
Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the selection of the design team was part of a broader effort to restore confidence in the Games program, which has faced public debate over cost, timing and location of venues. He said the concept put forward reflected Queensland’s lifestyle and character and would guide design and construction over the coming years.
Those debates are unlikely to fade quickly. Victoria Park’s redevelopment has drawn interest and concern from community groups, particularly around the balance between new infrastructure and access to green space. The overall Games Venues Infrastructure Program carries a budget of $7.1 billion, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments, and includes 17 new and upgraded venues across the state. With public investment at this scale, scrutiny around design choices, environmental impact and long term use is expected to continue.
GIICA chairman Stephen Conry said the authority looked closely at design quality, collaboration and delivery experience. He pointed to the team’s mix of local knowledge and global resources as key factors in the decision. According to GIICA, early design work will now begin alongside further project validation, a phase that often shapes cost controls and construction timelines.
The architects have framed their approach as a response to Brisbane’s climate and setting. COX Architecture director Richard Coulson said the design draws from the traditional Queenslander, with an emphasis on shade, breezes and long views across the parklands. He said the stadium should feel grounded in its place, connecting the city with the surrounding landscape rather than standing apart from it.
Hassell managing principal Lucy O’Driscoll said adaptability was central to the proposal, with the venue designed to accommodate a wide range of sporting and cultural events beyond major international competitions. She said the aim was to create an asset that works for the community over decades, not only during the Games period.
Azusa Sekkei’s involvement brings experience from large scale events in dense urban settings, including Olympic and Paralympic venues. While the firm’s work on Tokyo 2020 has been widely cited by governments, that project also faced criticism over rising costs and late design changes, a reminder of the challenges that can accompany projects of this size.
For Brisbane, the appointment marks a shift from debate to delivery, though many details remain unresolved. Final designs, environmental assessments and construction schedules will shape public opinion as much as early concepts. As the city prepares for a global audience in 2032, the success of the stadium is likely to be judged not only by its appearance on opening night, but by how well it serves Brisbane long after the Games have ended.
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