After venturing to the MCG multiple times - which is in the middle of a large park - it seems nonsensical to spend billions on a stadium squashed in on all 4 sides by very busy roads. Especially if it means the stands have to be built high & steep to try and fit the capacity in - that would make a crap viewing experience.
Large stadiums belong in parks, and the other major cities have all followed the same design principle too which make for a far nicer atmosphere & safer entry/exit from the stadium and means the stadiums can easily be expanded in the future.
The Gabba was poorly located at the start & if they spend billions trying to rebuild it at the same location well that will be a substandard result for it - albeit better than no result at all I guess.
With cricket already having dumped the Gabba, I wonder if the Lions would consider a new home elsewhere if Qld / Brisbane don't seem to think they deserve a decent stadium? You'd think with the Lions recent success and evergrowing membership & supporter base that they are foregoing a large amount of money every home game being limited to just 37,000 ticket sales per match. Not to mention the finals where they could have probably sold out a 60k stadium multiple times the last few years.
Also seems strange the state Gov't seems to have no interest whatsoever in the local economy....all the jobs & tourism that would flow on from keeping cricket and having much larger crowds each home game...wonder how many millions losing the opening test has cost the local economy....and how many jobs? And lack of tv exposure for Brisbane....could go on but what's the point!