Gold Coast music: TEG and Live Nation put up hand to help get the city a dedicated music hub

Two music promoters responsible for bringing some of the world’s biggest acts to Australia have revealed they are willing to work with local and state governments on a new music venue for the Gold Coast.

TWO of Australia’s major music promoters responsible for bringing some of the world’s biggest acts to our shores have revealed they are willing to work with local and state governments on a new music venue for the Coast.

Live Nation and TEG, which have brought the likes of Eminem, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Fleetwood Mac to Australia, both contacted the Bulletin on the back of reports the city is in desperate need of a new venue.

In a special report two weeks ago the Bulletin revealed the Gold Coast was “massively” missing out on attracting big name acts due to the city’s lack of a music venue that could cater to big Australian and international acts.

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The Foo Fighters at Metricon Stadium on December 2011. Queen and Adam Lambert will be performing next in February 2020.

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Live Nation Australasia CEO Roger Field said there was enough demand in the city for live music, but nowhere sufficient to bring the acts.

“The Gold Coast community has been under-served with venues of sufficient capacity to attract major touring artists to perform in the area,” Mr Field said.

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“At our recent Fleetwood Mac shows in Brisbane we saw nearly 15 per cent of our audiences coming up from the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales, many travelling a considerable distance to attend.

Fleetwood Mac in concert at Brisbane Entertainment Centre

Crowds at A Day on the Green at Mt Duneed Estate for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Picture: Stephen Harman

“There is clearly a demand for live music on the Gold Coast, but a glaring lack of venues of appropriate capacity.”

He said they would be willing to work with government to find a solution.

“We would welcome the opportunity to work with the Queensland Government and the Gold Coast City Council to deliver a major new live music venue for the Gold Coast for the benefit of the community,’’ he said.

“We are in constant discussions with governments and councils all over the country to look at opportunities to deliver new live music venues or events, especially where there are gaps in the market like the Gold Coast.

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UK rock band The Arctic Monkeys perform at Riverstage. Photo: Lisa Clarke

Meg Mac performs a sold out show at Miami Marketta. Photo: Emily Halloran

“Recently we worked with partners in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley to open the new Fortitude Music Hall, and we look forward to more of these ventures soon”

TEG CEO Geoff Jones said the city needed a venue to fit audiences of 8000 to 10,000 people, and strongly supported the idea of upgrading the convention centre at Broadbeach.

“We are very supportive of the Gold Coast as a destination and we would be happy to go in and contemplate some funding arrangement or supporting them to make this happen,” Mr Jones said.

“Our company is really into those sort of arrangements and we would be really happy to help both levels of government.”

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Billie Eilish fans at Riverstage in May. Photo: (Image AAP/Steve Pohlner)

TEG and Live Nation want to bring more big-named acts to the city and are willing to work with state government and council to build a dedicated music hub. (AAP Image/Josh Woning)

He said there was a “defining moment” with TEG recently when the organisation announced Queen would be performing on both the Gold Coast and in Brisbane.

“Promoters have always had the long-term view that you couldn’t do two big shows on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane on the same tour,” he said.

“Our belief was that it was old thinking. (The Gold Coast) is the sixth biggest city in Australia with a really big catchment area.

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Chief Executive Officer of TEG, Geoff Jones in his Sydney office. Photo: John Feder

“We put Queen on sale and we have sold out tickets on the Gold Coast and also in Brisbane.

“Southeast Queensland can sustain big shows. If you want an example of why the Gold Coast should have more big concerts, that’s the perfect example.”

Asked last week if the city council had been in discussions about funding a boutique stadium to fit up to 10,000 people, Mayor Tom Tate told the Bulletin: “If the Queensland Government are keen on the boutique 10,000 person stadium, I would say put out your hand. It’s a deal. We will go 50-50.”

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TEG would like to upgrade the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach.

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Both companies want to deliver an indoor venue.

Mr Field, of Live Nation, said “the highest demand on the Gold Coast is for an indoor arena” that could hold 5000 to 8000 people.

WHAT TEG WANTS

— An indoor venue that fits 8000 to 10,000 people

— Strongly supports an upgrading of the Gold Coast Convention Centre

WHAT LIVE NATION WANTS

— An indoor venue that fits 5000 to 8000 people