Cross Promotions co-owner Billy Cross says venue like Brisbane’s Riverstage would bring Paul Kelly, Fatboy Slim to Gold Coast

A Gold Coast concert promoter says the city will get 20-25 more big gigs from touring acts a year if a boutique stadium is built

A GOLD Coast concert promoter says the city will get 20-25 more big gigs from touring acts a year if a boutique stadium is built.

Cross Promotions co-owner Billy Cross, long an advocate for an 8000-to-10,000 seat concert stadium, said yesterday a permanent outdoor stadium like Brisbane’s Riverstage would put the Gold Coast on the map of touring acts.

Cross Promotions co-owner Billy Cross.

“We have small venues and we have big Metricon Stadium but nothing in between. Paul Kelly played Riverstage to 7500 people – that could be a Gold Coast show too but we miss out.

“You put a Riverstage on the Gold Coast and we would get 20 to 25 shows a year,” Mr Cross said.

“We’d get Paul Kelly, we’d get Fatboy Slim. You have to make it user friendly for the promoters.”

Mr Cross said the Gold Coast had the ability to host concerts for 10,000 but the set-up was temporary and too expensive for most promoters of touring acts to consider.

“When it’s a fixed venue like Riverstage you already have the stage, you already have the fencing, you ­already have the toilets in place.”