Boutique stadium Gold Coast: Why state and federal leaders need to invest in city’s future

The Gold Coast is missing out on tens of millions of dollars annually yet the people holding the purse strings don’t appear interested in changing that, writes Andrew Potts.

You have to spend money to make money, or so the cliche goes.

But when it comes to public infrastructure, there’s no time like the present to be thinking of the future.

This past week Melbourne hosted a Southern Hemisphere first – a pre-season exhibition series of games played by the National Hockey League (NHL), one of the US’s most popular sports.

Held at Rod Laver Arena, normally home to tennis finals, the Los Angeles Kings and Arizona Coyotes played to sellout crowds of more than 13,097 on the Saturday and 13,118 on the Sunday.

The NFL Global Series was played in Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena in September 2023. Picture: Andrew Potts

Thousands of people, of whom I was among, made the interstate trip to see the spectacle and novelty of top-flight American sport played right here on home soil.

The event, broadcast to an audience of millions around the world, generated millions for Victoria’s economy and is already sparking calls for more NHL games to be brought to Australia given the clear fanbase and economic value.

These are the kinds of events the Gold Coast could be in the running for if we had the appropriate infrastructure and the political will to make it happen.

Yet plans to build a boutique indoor stadium which could host events such as this, and many more, remain in limbo.

The NFL Global Series was played in Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena in September 2023. Picture: Andrew Potts

Mayor Tom Tate has been pushing this barrow for nearly five years and, despite countless reports detailing the economic case for building the structure and the support of the very promoters who could bring key performances and sporting events to the see, there has been little movement or interest from the state or federal governments to cut a deal.

Sure, there’s been plenty of vague platitudes about the value of doing such a project but nothing in the way of cold, hard cash.

It’s not just Labor either – the LNP has shown little interest in engaging in the infrastructure or economic future needs of the Gold Coast.

The Bulletin reported last month:

“A site for an indoor stadium would need to be between 1.5 to 2ha with a price tag for the build ranging from $250 million to $350 million and – at its peak – $750 million”.

It will need to be built on council-owned land near the light rail, with both the Miami depot and Pizzey Park previously spoken of as possibilities.

Andrew Potts argues political leaders need to have a long-term view towards the benefits of investing strongly in events and an appropriate venue.

An expression of interest campaign closed in August.

Councillors were warned earlier this year that the city needed to build a boutique stadium or face missing out on future opportunities to other markets with appropriate venues.

Critics of the idea argue that a boutique stadium is unnecessary given the existing sports facilities at Robina and Carrara.

Cr Tate argues otherwise, saying in August: “For years, I have heard from global festival and concert promoters, as well as local sports and events organisations, how there is a gap in our built-form infrastructure when it comes to venues.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has been pushing for a boutique stadium for years Picture Glenn Hampson

“C-Bus is great, Heritage Bank Stadium is great and other indoor venues are also enjoying strong bookings but there is no doubt we have missed out on a lot of opportunities to host sporting events, or festivals, where the promoters are seeking an audience around 10,000-12,000 people. The time is now given we are charging towards a population of one million people.”

So why is there little interest from both sides of politics to get behind this project?

The spectre of inflation and high construction costs looms large, as does the political headache of being seen committing tens of millions of dollars on what some would perceive as a non-essential project amid a cost of living crisis. While this is understandable, it is endemic of the same short-term thinking behind calls to halt the light rail.

The Gold Coast could bid for more events like this (Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images)

The long-term benefits of a boutique stadium are self-evident and would pay off over the years, helping to bring millions of dollars and visitors to the Gold Coast.

A classic example of this long-term benefit can be seen in the decision making of both Labor and the then-National Party government in the 1980s surrounding Indy.

Amid the tough economic times of the late 1980s, the Nationals bid on the event and secured it for the city starting in 1991.

Labor came to office in late 1989 and was under pressure to cancel the contract in 1990 as the recession bit into the economy.

Yet they persevered and it became the Gold Coast’s biggest money-spinner for 15 years.

The Bligh Government, citing the cost amid the financial crisis, abandoned Indy in 2008.

Now, 15 years later, few would argue this was the right move.

Investment begets a long-term return.