Gold Coast Show organisers aggressively pursue new grounds after drop in attendance

GOLD Coast Show organisers are on the hunt for a new home for 2018 to save the event after a downturn in numbers across the three-day weekend.

GOLD Coast Show organisers are on the hunt for a new home for 2018 to save the event after a downturn in numbers across the three-day weekend.

Stall holders blame competition from rival events like Mudgeeraba Mania and Father’s Day for a drop in numbers but Gold Coast Show CEO Lavinia Rampino says the downturn has been gradual since the event shifted to the Turf Club in 2014.

“They (numbers) have been a little bit down which has been a bit disappointing,” she said.

“There are 16 events on across this weekend so it’s a big weekend.”

Gold Coast Show 2017

VIEW GALLERY

The Gold Coast Show Society lost the Southport Parklands in 2013 when the venue, widely considered the best showgrounds in Australia were slated to become the 2018 Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village.

But with the Commonwealth Games set to be wrapped up in April next year, Ms Rampino says the Show Society is aggressively pursuing a new home — potentially the Games precinct nearby Metricon Stadium at Carrara.

Gold Coast Show hopes to move venues next year. Picture Mike Batterham

“It’s no secret that we’ve been looking at our own showgrounds only so we can do other events and bring back a lot of the community events (we did) at Parklands,” Ms Rampino said.

“Anything that’s out there that people say is a possibility, we’re going to obviously pursue it and look into it. We’ve got a great committee that will do that now.

“We’re pretty much ready to go as soon as someone says ‘here’s your new home’.

“And bring back the equestrian — that’s a big thing. We’ve got a huge equestrian family here on the Coast … they haven’t been able to compete for four years.

Gold Coast Show on Sunday, Picture Mike Batterham

“The equestrian at Parklands would have had between 500 and 600 competitors each day.

“The three-day scheduling was jam packed.”

One food stall operator, who asked not to be named, said he had worked at the Gold Coast Show for much of the last 15 years and believed a transition to another venue like Carrara would help to address the event’s dwindling attendance numbers.

“After the Comm Games I think they should (move). This is a terrible showground,” he said.

Lolly shop stallholder Dale Slater said he thought the Mudgeeraba Mania event might have impacted trade over the weekend.

Numbers were down due to several factors. Picture Mike Batterham

“I did it the year before (last) ... it seems to be a lot quieter,” he said.
“It’s Father’s Day ... we’ve also got the other show on in Mudgee.”

Doughnut shop stallholder Michael Azeri said it was his first year at the show but said he had been staggered by how little trade he had done over the weekend.

“We won’t even earn our rent. It’s awful,” he said.

“It’s my first time. We were expecting better because normally we are doing three or four times more than this (when we set up in Surfers Paradise).”

Kay-Dee Promotions boss Michael Thomas, who provides all rides at the Gold Coast Show, said he did not think business was down overall in comparison to last year.

But Mr Thomas said he would be supportive of a shift to another venue next year.