Gold Coast development: Boutique stadium plans fast-tracked

Plans to develop a new stadium on the Gold Coast are on the fast-track, with city leaders appointing an investment tsar with a massive mandate. SEE THE PLANS

The push to develop a boutique stadium is being fast-tracked to capitalise on the big KISS concert, with the Gold Coast City Council appointing an investment tsar to drive the project.

More than 13,000 people rocked out at Cbus Super Stadium as the veteran rockers performed their final-ever Australian concert to a near sellout crowd.

City leaders are delighted by the result and say they want more.

Council has appointed Jeff McAlister as the council’s first-ever chief investment officer and Mayor Tom Tate has given him a mandate to fast-track a boutique stadium to allow the city to host more mid-level live music events.

Mayor Tom Tate has appointed an investment boss who will be tasked with building his boutique stadium plan. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

“KISS was a cracking success despite the challenge of selling out CBus Stadium at late notice. We nearly got there (sellout) but there were logistical challenges given the late notice of the venue and the fact that most diehard KISS fans had already secured their tickets for Brisbane, before the GC date was announced,” Cr Tate said.

“Last week, the city announced the appointment of its first Chief Investment Officer (Jeff McAlister).

“A priority for Jeff will be to assess where, and how, we can create a boutique stadium that will fill the critical gap between the large-scale Metricon Stadium capacity and CBus Stadium. A report will come to council in due course.”

Mr McAlister, who starts October 10, has done investment attraction and trade development work for the Queensland, Northern Territory and New Zealand Governments.

Since 2016, he has served as Deputy Director General with the Queensland Government leading the tourism development portfolio.

The Gold Coast will have at least two boutique stadiums built by 2032 as both the council and Southport Sharks develop plans.

The Bulletin understands the council’s project will have a closed or retractable roof and is planned for a site near the light rail route.

At least two locations in the city’s central region have been short-listed.

Both parties say their projects would not cannibalise the other as they would be targeted to slightly different markets.

The Sharks proposal is an outdoor arena for international sport and concerts. The council wants to zero in on concerts, e-sports and conferences.

Cr Tate said the boutique stadium was a critical to securing more concerts.

The next major act to play the Gold Coast will be Harry Styles.

“We want our future boutique stadium to have the latest bump-in/bump-out technology so it can host anything from e-sport to car shows, sports like football (soccer) as well as concerts for around 8000 to 10,000 patrons,” he said.

“I plan visiting Spark Arena in New Zealand before the end of 2022 to see that facility first-hand because it is recognised as one of the best in the southern hemisphere and has hosted Lady Gaga and Beyonce with a capacity for 12,000.

“The success of our future venue will be access to public transport as well as having the flexibility to be a multipurpose venue. It is highly probable the end product will be a public-private partnership between the City and the successful operator but let’s see what the CIO’s report back to council proposes.’’

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Originally published as Gold Coast development: Boutique stadium plans fast-tracked