Locals flock to Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 2024

Business operators in and around the GC500 precinct say surprise ticketholders are making a comeback, breathing new life into the major event. FULL DETAILS

Business operators in and around the GC500 precinct say locals are making a comeback.

Formally known as the week locals fled the Main Beach and Surfers Paradise street track, founder of Cross Promotions Billy Cross, Hot Shott cafe co-owner Jenna Finch and one of Queensland’s top restaurateurs Simon Gloftis all said locals have resurfaced trackside.

Mr Cross, behind the GC500’s concert after-parties, said there were more locals “than ever” were attending the Supercars precinct.

“I feel like the whole city is getting behind it now,” he said. “It’s a real great event for the Gold Coast and locals are really embracing it.”

Crowds enjoying the 2024 Gold Coast 500. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Mr Cross said Supercars CEO Shane Howard had built the Gold Coast stop into a fusion of sport and entertainment – making it more than just a car race.

“This year especially, it’s gone to another level,” Mr Cross said.

“It just keeps getting better with the CEO Shane Howard running everything – he knows the sport, he knows the entertainment industry, he merges it all together and creates an amazing event for the Gold Coast.”

Entertainment acts across the weekend included Peking Duk, Bag Raiders, Jet and Spiderbait.

Mr Cross said with heritage acts, it elevated the event into a festival atmosphere.

In Hot Shott’s eight year history on Tedder Avenue, Ms Finch she’d noticed more locals sticking around than before.

“In past years I’ve found many residents have fled the Gold Coast – for some reason this year more have stayed,” she said.

The restaurant/cafe owner said with regulars still in the area, business across the GC500 weekend was busier than previously.

Hot Shoot owners Jenna Finch and Kellie Rolfe. Picture: Jerad Williams

“We’ve been hectic – we’ve started a dinner service this week and last night we did 160 people so I was stoked,” she said.

“Our soft opening we had 80 people, so to do 160 was just crazy. Last night everything along Tedder was packed.”

Running the luxury Hellenika Lounge on the GC500 beachfront chicane corner, restaurateur Mr Gloftis said the environment was “unreal” – attracting familiar faces from his original Hellenika site at Nobby Beach which closed in 2019 before reopening in Brisbane.

“It’s good to see some of the old regulars from the Gold Coast days coming in, so that’s really nice,” he said.

The event’s official opening party and afterparty venue, Artesian Hospitality’s Cali Beach Club had what its boss was calling the “largest crowd ever seen” for a GC500 weekend.

Artesian managing partner Matt Keegan said even though locals were down, interstate visitor numbers were strong.

Simon Gloftis at his restaurant Hellenika at The Calilie in New Farm, Brisbane. Picture: Brad Fleet

“It’s a different demographic to some extent, the small downside is a lot of locals avoid the area because of traffic, but obviously it’s made up with interstate travel and international visitors, so it's a net win for us,” he said.

“Numbers across the weekend have been fantastic, we have partnered with the event so we do have a small advantage as we have drivers and teams come into the venues, so that helps with customer visitation.”