NEWS FLASH: Lions reveals wild plans for home games

Lions reveals wild plans for home games when they’re kicked out of the Gabba for four years

• AFL team’s home ground will be demolished in 2025 
• Famous ground to be completely redeveloped 
• Alternative home ground has 20,000 capacity 

The Brisbane Lions could play some home games in Perth during the four years they won’t have access to the Gabba, which will be demolished at the end of the 2025 season for a $2.6m redevelopment.

Lions chief executive Greg Swann confirmed there were already ‘offers’ for the Lions to sell some of their 44 home games during the 2026-2030 AFL seasons, with Perth and even Melbourne on the radar.

He predicted that Brisbane’s membership would exceed 60,000 during those seasons as a result of the club reaching the AFL and AFLW grand finals.

‘We have two more seasons at the Gabba until it is demolished. We are currently in conversations with the government about where we will play in the meantime,’ Swann said on Wednesday.

‘There will be a four-year break. That’s a long time to be out of the mainstream. The ground will only hold low 20s [thousands] no matter where we go. We expect to have 60,000 or more subscribers, therefore we will have some hurdles in that area.

‘We had seven sellouts last season, so the code is flying. Our membership has increased by 25%. The advantage is that you transform into a whole new 55,000-seat stadium. We fill it fairly frequently and effortlessly.

‘However, it will cause some discomfort along the road. Now that the government has committed to the Gabba, we’re hoping to receive a commitment on where we’ll play.’

Swann and Lions coach Chris Fagan just returned from a trip to Europe where they saw new stadiums, including the home of English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, who is coached by Australian Ange Postecoglou.

Swann stated that the new Gabba would be “special,” and that selling home games during the Lions’ absence would be part of their strategy to “survive those four years we are not in there.”

‘We’ve discussed it,’ he told SEN.

‘We’ve had several offers to play one or two games somewhere.

‘We’re thinking about taking it to Perth or playing it at the MCG. I’m not sure, but there are some possibilities. There’s a lot going on in that area, but nothing is set in stone.’