Tennis Queensland reveals plan for Tennis Centre upgrade for 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games

An ambitious plan to add another eight courts and a 3,000 seat arena to the Queensland Tennis Centre (QTC) in order to host competition at the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games has been unveiled by Tennis Queensland.

The $113 million plan upgrade to the QTC was submitted to the Queensland Government’s 100-day review into infrastructure for the 2032 Games which is due to announce its delivery plan on 25th March.

Commenting on the plan, Tennis Queensland Chief Executive Cameron Pearson said the state didn't have a facility that was "fit for purpose", stating “we don't have enough courts, we don't have enough seating and our player facilities are not big enough.

"If we can't get the funding and the required number of courts and seating here at the Queensland Tennis Centre we will have to look elsewhere.

"It would be a travesty if we weren't able to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games here."

However, Pearson said he had "full faith" the Queensland Government would help deliver the appropriate infrastructure, adding “you can't play tennis in late July in Melbourne with a top temperature of 12 or 13 degrees.

"I don't think the players would be too keen on doing that and I suspect some of them wouldn't even come."

Mainstream media reports have focussed on Tennis Australia indicating that Brisbane risks losing the Games tennis tournament matches to Melbourne unless its facilities are upgraded.

A Tennis Australia spokesperson advised “it currently does not meet the necessary standards - that’s why Tennis Queensland is advocating for additional government funding to upgrade the facility as part of the Olympic review process - and if unsuccessful we would consider hosting it in Melbourne

The Queensland Government is expected to finally announce the location of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games venue at the end of this month.

When submitted in 2021, the Queensland Government's bid to host the Games advised “in our plan, over 80% of venues are existing or temporary, reducing the Games' overall cost and environmental impacts, while minimising disturbances to our community in the lead up to 2032.”

Images: Concepts for the upgrade of the Queensland Tennis Centre. Credit: Blight Rayner.