The emerging popularity of T20 cricket and the Brisbane Heat will see the first sell-out crowd at the Gabba in 10 years, since Ricky Ponting's team began their 5-nil Ashes rout in 2006.

More than 36,000 cricket fans have bought tickets to the Heat's Friday night game against the Hobart Hurricanes.

The Brisbane Heat have sold out the Gabba for the first time since 2006. Credit:Morne de Klerk

Friday's game is now a sell-out, with Brisbane Heat general manger Andrew McShea confirming it was the first time since the 2006 Ashes Series, when 39,315 packed the ground on day two, that the Gabba had sold out.

"We put the sold out sign up officially at around 9.30am this morning," McShea said on Thursday.