Three Gold Coast stadiums could be on the way to attract international concerts and events

The fast-growing Gold Coast may have three entertainment and sports stadiums in time for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

It’s part of a strategy for the region to become a major entertainment, sports and exhibition hub that can draw international acts and events.

One new proposal is a 12,000-seat stadium as part of a $750 million doubling of the size of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Another is by the Southport Sharks football club to turn its Olsen Ave HQ into an entertainment, sports and leisure precinct with a hotel, residential towers and community facilities.

The venue would cater for outdoor concerts and events.

These are in addition to the 10,000 to 12,000 seat stadium that the Gold Coast City Council wants to construct to overcome many international superstars are bypassing the Coast because of inadequate venues.

It is believed that Council has had discussions with Live Nation and TEG to be involved.

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre expansion is being spearheaded by Harvey Lister, Brisbane-based APAC chairman and chief executive of venue management company ASM Global (Asia Pacific).

Lister told the Gold Coast Bulletin its proximity to Coolangatta airport and Surfers Paradise “close to thousands of hotel rooms, restaurants and bars, Star Casino and Pacific Fair” is essential to luring entertainment and conferences.

The expansion will also include three exhibition halls providing 14,000 square metres of exhibition space and a spectacular 2,000-seat rooftop ballroom which would be home to the Logies and host major charity and entertainment events.

AEG’s presence in Queensland includes the 52,000-seat Suncorp Stadium and ageing 11,000-seat Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Lister is the driving force behind the $750 million 17,000-seat Brisbane Live Arena, as well as the State Government-funded $2 billion project above the Roma Street underground train station.

Artist impression of Sharks stadium

Southport Sharks CEO, Dean Bowtell, said there had been “calls for a boutique stadium across the Gold Coast for a number of years”.

“Our detailed planning and investigations have confirmed that Southport Sharks is the best location in the city for this important piece of community infrastructure and that, at 8,000 – 10,000 people, we can deliver a fantastic experience in a venue that is the right size for the city,” he commented.

The Urbis-designed stadium will be accessed by two existing light rail stations and an existing bus network.

It could become Australia’s first green stadium by incorporating bioenergy infrastructure and a range of smart stadium technology.

Plans for the Gold Coast City Council’s stadium began some years ago with mayor Tom Tate’s strategy that the Coast needed diversity in events to add to its economy.

The initial plan is for a $20 million 10,000 seater with a closed or retractable roof.

But its capacity could grow to 12,000 or 15,000 depending on commitment from the private sector.

A final decision will be made in early 2022 on the site chosen from Parkwood, Southport and Miami.

Tate said: “Council’s final investment will depend on where the boutique stadium is built.”