The Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation (AASCF) permanently relocating to Gold Coast
Cheerleading’s national championships have found their permanent home on the Gold Coast, positioning the city as the sport’s capital ahead of the Olympics.
Bring it on.
The Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation (AASCF) has announced it is permanently relocating its national championships – the largest cheerleading and dance competition outside the United States – to the Gold Coast.
Rather than continuing the tradition of alternating each year between the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre and Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre, this city is now officially the Australian capital of cheerleading.
And we should all be celebrating this coup.
Yes, OK, I’m a cheer mom (you can’t say mum, it just doesn’t work in this context) and of course I’m happy we no longer have to fly to Victoria, but this is not just a personal financial victory.
This is a win for team Gold Coast.
After wrapping up the last AASCF national competition at Melbourne this week – the largest event in its 20-year history with record athlete, team and program participation – this is big news for our city and its cheerleaders.
When we last hosted the nationals in 2024 and 2022, it brought more than 40,000 competitors and fans to the Gold Coast, injecting a massive boost to our bottom line between accommodation, dining and shopping.
Best of all, AASCF said they made the move because it’s not only what the cheerleaders want, but what the city can deliver.
The cheerleading body, which is headquartered in Melbourne, said the Gold Coast was selected following the post-2024 Nationals feedback survey, in addition to its capacity, accessibility, and proven event infrastructure, offering a scalable home for the federation’s flagship championship.
“This move allows us to plan for the next stage of Nationals’ growth,” AASCF said.
“We’re focused on a smooth transition and ensuring the best possible experience for athletes, coaches and families.”
The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre is certainly cheering on the move.
“As a venue primarily dedicated to business events, we are proud to embrace opportunities such as AASCF as a valuable extension of our event portfolio, recognising the significant value they bring to the destination. With its national reach and scale, AASCF delivers lasting impact to the Gold Coast,” general manager Nick Jeffrey said.
The best part about this move is that it perfectly positions both the city and the sport in the run-up to the 2032 Olympics.
As one of the fastest growing sports in the world (and yes, it is a sport), it stands a good chance of making its debut in the Brisbane Games, which makes this move make perfect sense.
In 2021, the International Cheer Union was awarded full recognition by the International Olympic Committee, making the sport eligible for selection in 2032.
While its scoring system is a little complicated (do not ask me for details, after years of cheering on my cheerleader I still struggle to understand why hitting zero is a good thing), surely they can make it work.
I mean, it’s got to be better than breakdancing, right?
Globally, cheerleading has a massive fan base, with its high-flying performances made for a televised audience.
Series like the Netflix documentary Cheer and America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders ensure that base is only growing.
Plus, cheerleading promotes gender equality with both all-girl and co-ed teams, as well as CheerAbility for all abilities, which aligns with the Olympic movement’s commitment to inclusivity.
So securing our status as Australia’s cheer capital is an absolute victory – and we should expect more sports to stake their base in the city sooner rather than later.
Even as we agree to brand ourselves co-hosts of the Brisbane Games, let’s admit that this is yet more proof of why we should have just given the Gold Coast the Games to begin with.
Go team!
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