Star Gold Coast unveils open-air concert venue for Broadbeach
PLANS for a state of the art open-air concert facility are underway for the Gold Coast with the venue’s owners saying it will enable the city to compete for major touring acts.
Gold Coast
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THE Star Gold Coast is planning for a multimillion-dollar open-air concert venue at its Broadbeach Island capable of hosting world-class bands, community carols and opera.
It is the brainchild of Star Entertainment Group CEO Matt Bekier, who said it would enable the Coast to compete with capital cities to attract top touring performers.
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The Star Gold Coast’s proposal envisions a 1500-person venue, with a stage directed out across the canal towards Broadbeach’s Gold Coast Bulletin Centenary Park.
Star Entertainment Group spent $1m on the park to transform the vacant area in the lead up to last year’s Commonwealth Games.
Mr Bekier said the outdoor venue was still taking shape and Star would need to secure “all necessary approvals”.
“(But) we plan to develop an area that is currently vacant, canal-front land which could accommodate a stage, portable food and beverage outlets and a crowd of 1000-1500 people,” he said.
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“The elevated stage will be in full view of Gold Coast Bulletin Centenary Park. The park could be activated for larger concerts and free family-friendly events, increasing the audience considerably and creating that unique waterside experience.
“Secondly, the stage will be positioned so the music is directed towards the park and the highway.”
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Concert and events expert Harvey Lister, the CEO of AEG Ogden which has partnered with US-based entertainment industry giant AEG, said the Star venue would be in high demand.
“It’s a cracker of an idea for the Gold Coast and Star should be congratulated. There is so much Gold Coast talent and potential to anchor the music side there and also branch out into artists which are touring,” he said.
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“The vision Star has for that site has the potential to be really unique. There is a very strong market for acts that are touring and looking for something in the 1500-capacity range.”
Mr Bekier said Star had canvassed Mr Lister and other players in the music industry who were universally enthusiastic.
“Our plans include curating a calendar of events from full-scale concerts by world-class bands and performers to family-friendly picnic events like Carols at Christmas to smaller more intimate offerings like string quartets,” Mr Bekier said.
Star’s unveiling of the new venue plan comes two months after the Labor’s State Government approved the Star Gold Coast’s $2 billion masterplan.
Broadbeach Island is home to the Star Grand hotel and casino, new Darling suite tower and a third tower housing Australia’s first Dorsett hotel is under construction.
The masterplan has a further four towers - one every two years with feature pools, food and beverage - but Star has always made it clear progress depends on whether the State Government allows a second competing casino resort to be developed.
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