NFL: Gold Coast City Council’s secret deal to build US football facility

A super majority of councillors have backed a secret deal by the Gold Coast City Council to help create an academy for the NFL on the Glitter Strip.

A super majority of councillors have backed a secret deal by the Gold Coast City Council to help create an academy for the NFL on the Glitter Strip.

After meeting for just more than an hour in a closed session on Monday, councillors voted 13-1 in support of the deal.

The details about “the international sporting organisation attraction” remain on confidential papers including council’s proposed funding outlay.

Mayor Tom Tate declined to comment at length but said it was “a very significant” investment for the city. “We have got super majority support for it,” he said.

The Bulletin understands an announcement with the American football giant is expected to occur at the end of this month. The City beat several other cities in securing the partnership.

The timing would coincide with the worldwide coverage of the NFL draft.

Only new councillor Dan Doran voted against the recommendation. Cr Peter Young was absent. Senior Cr Bob La Castra said the partnership was a “big win” for the city.

Councillor Dan Doran voted against the NFL proposal.

He said the community benefits would include a “state of the art sporting field open to the community to use”.

“It’s not just about an international sports organisation. It will also generate major events for our city,” he said.

Cr Glenn Tozer described the deal as a “no-brainer” and he was “super excited about it”.

The recommendation backed by councillors show the deal is expected to create major capital investment of more than $269 million across 10 years, contribute to 50 new jobs and $160 million in “broader strategic economic impact”.

That economic benefit would include:
* More than $4 million in direct local expenditure through more interstate and international bed nights over 10 years.

* $10 million in terms of sporting events.

* A new state of the art performance field.

* Support for local sporting groups.

Najee Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball up the field in the second quarter of a game against the Baltimore Ravens. (Photo by Patrick Smith / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

But Cr Doran said he was concerned about community access for a council spend that was not on public land.

He said it would have been more beneficial for new councillors if the funding was debated through the budget process.

He added that it was a “low participation sport in Queensland and Australia with limited female participation”.

The Bulletin had reported the council late last year had held secret talks with the NFL, kicking off the potential for a major deal with one of the world’s biggest sporting brands.

But a majority of councillors in November punted it out of the door.

The proposal was kept quiet because it was on “grey papers” and discussed behind doors and its commercial confidentiality prevented any further comment.

It involved the US professional football league and a northern Coast private school.

At the time, Councillor William Owen-Jones, supported by Deputy Mayor Donna Gates, were backed 8-5 in stopping it.

They were supported by Mark Hammel, Peter Young, Pauline Young, Hermann Vorster, Daphne McDonald and Gail O’Neill. New councillor Shelley Curtis did not vote.

Mayor Tom Tate starts his historic 4th term as the new Gold Coast City Council is sworn in at Council Chambers in Bundall. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Wanting the deal to go ahead then were Mayor Tom Tate, Brooke Patterson, Bob La Castra, Glenn Tozer and Darren Taylor.

Cr Tozer, in a brief address in open council, at the time said: “I want to make sure that people from the community know, that international sporting organisations are expressing an interest in our city, they want to invest here.

Cr Glenn Tozer as the new Gold Coast City Council is sworn in at Council Chambers in Bundall. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“And we have made it a habit over at least the last decade of making it known we are open for business. As soon as we start saying ‘no’ to businesses who want to invest in our city, that reputation is not one we want.”

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