Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate hits up California for Airshow and shoots down keyboard warriors

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has been off globetrotting again - and before you criticise him, he’s already firing back. Find out where he’s been and why

I have just left Huntington Beach, Southern California, where I witnessed first-hand the Pacific Airshow. I can best describe it in one word: incredible.

Gold Coasters will get the see this air show in August next year and I have no doubt it will be a game changer for our city and cement our reputation as a place with the capacity – and capability - to host the biggest international events on the planet.

The statistics from this show are mind-blowing: around three million visitors over the show weekend, generating around $100 million for the local economy – and attracting television viewers globally through various digital platforms.

My role at Huntington Beach was two-fold – to work with a Gold Coast City council transport official to assess the transport logistics we will need to adopt for our show in 2023; and to promote the Gold Coast to the millions of visitors standing on the foreshore to watch the aerial spectacle over the three days. I managed this with our city’s name broadcast across the event’s PA systems, inviting US spectators to make a beeline to the Gold Coast for 2023. I also promoted our city via the subscription, and free-to-air channels, that follow the air show. In every sense, our city scored a multi-million-dollar ‘free hit’ by showcasing what the Gold Coast has to offer.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Tertius Pickard

To achieve this required an on-ground presence to deliver maximum return. The anti-everything keyboard warriors will no doubt label it a ‘junket’ and bemoan why we couldn’t have just “skyped in’’. But I’ll leave them to their keyboards.

When the show takes to the skies off the Gold Coast next August, it will be the first time the event has left US shores. If there’s one thing about our city, it’s our tenacity to secure the biggest and best events on the planet.

The City and Major Events Gold Coast worked tirelessly together for over two years to lock in this incredible event … and the jets are heading our way.

Artist impression of the Pacific Airshow, which will be held over Surfers Paradise beach on the Gold Coast in August 2022

Gold Coasters will be able to watch the air show for free as the beach is the ultimate viewing deck. Of course, corporate hospitality and ‘money can’t buy’ VIP experiences will be on offer and I strongly encourage local businesses wanting to market their products to look at securing their seat in the cockpit.

Keeping it free for families is a number one priority of all councillors and I’m delighted we have achieved this for 2023 and beyond.

The Pacific Airshow, which will be held over Surfers Paradise beach on the Gold Coast in August 2022 is tipped to pump $100m into the local economy.

Our ‘events economy’ is built on three outcomes: employing more locals; creating work for more local businesses; and attracting new national and international visitors to our city. I’m confident the inaugural Pacific Airshow Gold Coast will bring huge benefits to our city economy and I am already hearing that accommodation - with absolute beachside viewing - is filling up fast. As a council we have been determined to broaden our economy with greater emphasis on sport, tourism, health and medical research, film, manufacturing, tertiary education and events.

Last financial year alone, the sports economy was worth $747 million to our city – and we have plenty more planned with the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics secured for the Gold Coast.

Let’s continue to set a future pathway for our city that shows we are serious when it comes to global entertainment, sport and the economy.