ACT Sports Minister Yvette Berry calls on Commonwealth to chip in for Civic Stadium

The ACT government is exploring options to build a replacement stadium in either Civic or Exhibition Park, with clouds hovering over the future of the current venue in Bruce.

It leases Canberra Stadium from the federal government, which is considering redevelopment opportunities for the site once the contract expires in 2024.

A government-commissioned study provided to The Canberra Times detailed the territory government's preferred option for an 'infinity bowl' design in Civic, giving Canberra a modern stadium unlike any other.

The study looked at four seating-bowl options for a stadium with a capacity of at least 25,000 at the Civic Olympic pool site.

For a 2032 finish, it would cost between $560 million and $707 million depending on the roof type and facade.

And then there's the logistical challenge of Parkes Way, as the southern site boundary would need to move into the main road's corridor by up to 12 metres.

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Berry said the city stadium was a "longer-term aspiration" and significant work would need to be done, considering the realignment of Parkes Way and other traffic arrangements.

She also held concerns about its cost, saying the ACT government would need help from the federal government to push forward with construction of the square stadium.

"With the support of the Commonwealth government, we could really get that work actually started. There's significant work that would need to happen with moving road and traffic arrangements et cetera," Berry said.

"But again, we have GIO Stadium that the ACT government has been investing in to make sure that we can keep that going for as long as we possibly can.

"And then look towards investing into a more modern stadium, to make sure all our sports get a chance to play there as well.

"Look, it seems to be at the moment the preferred model but is an expensive one and we would need the support of the federal government to do that."

The Commonwealth contributed $100 million into North Queensland Stadium as part of the Townsville City Deal was signed in 2016.

Townsville was in the most marginal seat in the lead-up to the last federal election, with the $293 million stadium the centrepiece of multiple pledged projects across the region.

Berry would welcome Commonwealth funding towards a new stadium in Canberra, saying it shouldn't take being a marginal seat for them to chip in and get it over the line.

"An investment like that in the ACT, the nation's capital, will be remarkable and we would absolutely receive that with open arms," Berry said.

"Well it shouldn't [take being a marginal seat to get it over the line.] This is the nation's capital and I know that's something other people might get jealous about across the country.

"But you know, we've done our bit. We've made sure that we can keep those national institutions like the [AIS] Arena and GIO Stadium going for many years.

"It's time now for the federal government to chip in and give the ACT government a hand and put our community ahead, so that have facilities that are modern and meet the needs of our community - but also the region as well."

There's multiple design options for the rectangular stadium that would affect its cost, as well as its construction timeline.

A Civic stadium opening in 2027 would cost almost $506 million. That's with a drip-line roof and no facade. The cost increases to about $637 million with a full-cover roof and facade.

But for a 2032 finish, the most expensive option would be closer to $707 million.

Should a stadium be built by the earliest proposed time frame of 2027, construction would need to begin in 2024.

The preferred design, the bespoke 'infinity bowl', looks square-shaped as the north and south grandstands would be single-tiered - while the east and west stands two-tiered.

It has the potential for vertical building elements in corners, which would reduce structural span if a fully-enclosed roof was pursued.

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