The story behind light towers at Gold Coast Suns home at Metricon Stadium

Millions have been spent upgrading Metricon Stadium and surrounding precinct for the Gold Coast Suns AFL franchise, but there is one thing that came free when they made Carrara their home. This is the unlikely story of how night footy arrived on the Coast.

Yesterday marked 30 years to the day since what was then known as Carrara Oval hosted its first night game.

The Brisbane Bears played host to Geelong on July 15, 1989, in a milestone moment for the Queensland club and Gold Coast sport.

The then record crowd of 18,198 still rates as the 10th biggest attendance rate the venue has ever had.

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Geelong ran out 22.19 (151) to 11.11 (77) winners over a Bears team featuring Geoff Raines, the father of former Gold Coast AFL player and current Suns academy coach Andrew Raines, and a 17-year-old Marcus Ashcroft who went on to become the Suns inaugural football manager.

A year earlier Gary Ablett senior had booted 11 goals against Brisbane at the venue, 22 years before his son Gary Ablett Junior was signed by the Gold Coast Suns.

Carrara Oval in 1989.

Incredibly, the same light towers still stand today around what is now known as Metricon Stadium and are yet to be paid for.

Millions have been spent renovating the stadium and surrounding precinct that is home to the Suns but no money has changed hands for the development of the light towers.

The front of the Football Record magazine ahead of the Brisbane Bears first night game at Carrara Oval against Geelong on July 15, 1989.

Christopher Skase orchestrated the instalment of the $6 million flood lights but after his company, Qintex, collapse he field to Spain.

Liquidators tried to extract the money from the Gold Coast City Council for the lights but were unsuccessful and it was found to be cheaper to leave them in place.

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