Brisbane Cricket Ground, Cricket field in Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Australia
Brisbane Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Woolloongabba, a suburb south of the city center, used primarily for cricket. The oval playing field is surrounded by multi-level stands that rise on all sides, forming an enclosed space.
The land was set aside for cricket in 1895, and the first match was played on 19 December 1896 between Parliament and The Press. The first Test at the ground followed in 1931, when Australia met South Africa from 27 November to 3 December. A greyhound track installed in 1972 hosted night meetings for 21 years, until the last one on 5 February 1993. Redevelopment in six stages between 1993 and 2005, costing A$128 million, produced the current two-tier stands and extended the oval to 170.6 by 149.9 metres.
The nickname "the Gabba" comes from Woolloongabba, the suburb around the ground. The site has hosted cricket since a match between Parliament and The Press on 19 December 1896, and greyhound meetings were held here in 1928 and again weekly from 1972 until the last meeting on 5 February 1993. The venue also hosted seven men's football matches at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and two Adele concerts in March 2017.
The ground is hemmed in by Vulture and Stanley streets to the north and south and by the East Brisbane State School to the east, so the grandstands overhang these boundaries. Cricket internationals are capped at 36,000 seats and AFL matches at 37,478, so check which sport is playing before choosing a section.
During day matches, the roof of the Stanley Street Stand casts a moving shadow across part of the playing surface, which players take into account when choosing their position. Birds sometimes land on the grass during quiet moments and need to be shooed away by ground staff.
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