Brisbane Roar, Gold Coast Suns involved in council turf war over Metricon Stadium training ground
The Gold Coast Suns are facing off against Brisbane Roar – over the right to train at a Glitter Strip stadium.
Gold Coast
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THE Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Roar are involved in a turf war about rights to train and use administration facilities at Carrara’s Metricon Stadium.
The Bulletin can reveal councillors are divided in support for the two teams with Ashmore’s Bob La Castra, who poured divisional funds into the area, backing soccer’s Roar.
But Cr La Castra was strongly opposed by Deputy Mayor Donna Gates who talked up the Coast’s strong junior AFL base during strong debate at full council at the Evandale Chambers on Tuesday.
A majority of councillors backed a recommendation that council CEO Dale Dickson take care of the negotiations between the two teams.
An officer’s recommendation, supported by a majority of councillors, is for work to start on another “elite playing field” at the Gold Coast sports precinct.
The training field agreement will be amended to allow the city’s national AFL team to be the primary user, and the CEO to negotiate the relocation of the Roar.
Both the CEO and Mayor Tom Tate will negotiate with the State Government about a funding agreement to cover facility improvements and hire fees for potential other venues.
In October, the Roar indicated its intentions to switch its training and administration base to the Coast.
Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane asked the Roar to honour its venue contract, despite the club planning to move its home matches to Redcliffe.
Outside the council chambers, Cr Cameron Caldwell said the council was trying to welcome Roar to the city, “but we don’t want that to be at the expense of the Gold Coast Suns”.
He said the council determined that the Suns should be recognised as the primary user of the sporting field.
“We hope that they can reach agreement with the Brisbane Roar in order to facilitate both teams,” he said.
“But if that is not the case we come up with an alternative that can still accommodate Brisbane Roar in our city.”
Cr Caldwell would not elaborate on the options but the Bulletin understands the Roar could be based for training at Runaway Bay Super Sports Centre.
Asked if it was for a short-term stay, Cr Caldwell replied: “We are hoping that the Brisbane Roar will relocate for a longer period of time and we want to make sure they feel welcome in our city and we want to put forward some options for them to negotiate with the Gold Coast Suns.”
Cr Caldwell confirmed the Brisbane Roar had reached “an agreement” with council to train and run their administration.
Asked if council would provide funds to hire another venue, Cr Caldwell said council would work with the State Government to consider other options.
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