Corona Open Gold Coast: 'Unsanctioned' Gold Coast Open to be held after WSL/government dispute
One of the Gold Coast’s premier events is going ahead "unsanctioned" despite the global organisers pulling out of the city. READ ALL THE COMMENTS
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One of the Gold Coast’s premier surfing contests is planning to swell its events and go ahead despite the World Surfing League pulling out of the city.
The Gold Coast Open will be staged by Surfing Queensland as an “unsanctioned” event at Burleigh Headland from May 1-3.
Surfing Queensland CEO, Adam Yates said the event had been revamped with “innovative” changes following the WSL withdrawing from the Gold Coast after a dispute with the State Government.
“Surfers and spectators can expect a bigger and better event this year,” he said.
“We are introducing a number of changes to the surfing competition itself, as well as a range of activities and entertainment that will coincide with the contest and make for a memorable experience.”
“Burleigh Heads is one of surfing’s most prestigious locations, rich in history and provides the perfect platform to host our event.“Surfing Queensland has been growing the Gold Coast Open year on year, and we can’t wait to get this year’s new-look contest started,” he said.
Mr Yates said it would be focused on young talent as well as celebrating surf culture, with music, cinema and yoga events added to compliment the surfing
The Bulletin revealed in February that the long-running Corona Open Gold Coast has been axed and will be relocated to NSW.
At the time Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe claimed his government refused to bow to the WSL’s demands to foot the quarantine bill for the surf stars and their entourages, accusing the league of “chasing short-term dollars at the expense of surfing tradition”.
WSL Australian chief Andrew Stark refuted that and insisted: “The decision to cancel this event was not based on financials.”
Mr Yates said it was important for a decent surfing event to go ahead on the Gold Coast given the region’s historic ties to the sport.
FEBRUARY 17
PRO surfing bosses have broken their silence over the shock dumping of the world championship event on the Gold Coast, denying it was all about money.
The World Surf League confirmed a Bulletin report that the long-running Corona Open Gold Coast has been axed and will be relocated to NSW in another huge blow for the Glitter Strip’s already-battered tourism industry.
The news sparked a bitter backlash from Bulletin readers, who were quick to point out what they deem double standards.
“It should not be our (tax payers) responsibility to pay for overseas sports people’s quarantine!
It is ridiculous they are allowed to even travel,” Katrina wrote.
Fred added: “Typical Qld Government, won’t foot the bill for its own decisions.”
Allan wrote: “How hard is it to provide funding for the event and claim it was done as commercial in confidence like they did with the AFL and didn’t release any details.”
Dave had a different solution.
“The pro surfers are on huge money from sponsorships. Just get them or their sponsors to pay for it. If they don’t want to, then they don’t have to come and be seen competing?,” he wrote.
READ ALL THE COMMENTS BELOW
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe claims his government refused to bow to the WSL’s demands to foot the quarantine bill for the surf stars and their entourages, accusing the league of “chasing short-term dollars at the expense of surfing tradition”.
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But WSL Australian chief Andrew Stark told the Bulletin: “The decision to cancel this event was not based on financials.”
Mr Stark said NSW was the only state which would agree to receive a charter plane carrying international surfers and officials, but was not paying their hotel quarantine costs.
He said Queensland could not guarantee a COVID-19 “bubble” which the WSL had requested in case of another border shutdown.
“We requested a pre-approved bubble to operate our event and we requested Queensland
Police resource support for this bubble, and both items were knocked back by the government,” he said.
“We absolutely respect their position in this challenging time and we’re obviously disappointed to lose Snapper Rocks this year, given its iconic status and long history on the world tour.
“But we need to run events, de-risk and deliver our sport. The entire tour was cancelled last year and we need to do whatever it takes to get it moving again.”
The end of the Gold Coast event, which has run for nearly 20 years, sent shockwaves through the city’s surfing community on Monday, ahead of the WSL unveiling its new Australian tour schedule on Tuesday.
The league has already cancelled the Easter Bells Beach event in Victoria, relocating it to Newcastle from April 1-11.
The Queensland government is understood to have offered $500,000 towards staging the event at Snapper Rocks in May, but NSW and Western Australia offered upwards of $5 million.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk defended the State Government’s stance.
“My understanding is that we were not able to get to an agreed COVIDsafe plan with the people coming,” she said.
“COVIDsafe plans for sport have kept Queenslanders safe and if the chief health officer is not happy with that COVIDsafe plan then it cannot go ahead.”
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate on Monday said he felt “betrayed” by WSL bosses looking to take the competition elsewhere.
“This is a big blow for the Gold Coast and it appears they are making a decision based on money,” he said.
“Loyalty works both ways and we have been loyal to surfing competitions for decades on end, yet in the blink of an eye it has been lured down to NSW for a few dollars.
“Everyone has the right to make a business decision but when you do it with minimal warning and rip down there for a year or two is the wrong call.
“Yes (I feel a sense of betrayal), it is a signature event and when you lose something you helped build then you do feel a sense of disappointment when the rug is pulled from under you.”
Surf Queensland chief executive Adam Yates said he felt “a certain level of disappointment” about the event’s exit from the Gold Coast.
“For our members and constituents the event itself has changed into a very commercial model,” he said.
“We would now seek to work with the state government and council to ensure the rich surfing culture of the Gold Coast stays.
“All is not lost.”
MONDAY
THE GOLD Coast’s premier surfing event for 2021 looks set for certain wipe-out amid a stoush over the costs of COVID-19 quarantine requirements.
The World Surf League (WSL) is understood to be shopping the Corona Open to New South Wales towns after the Queensland Government refused to foot the bill for COVID quarantining the champion surfers and their entourage.
NSW and Western Australia are believed to have created a war chest of up to $5 million to attract major events to the state.
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The event, which traditionally opens the world surfing tour, was also cancelled in March 2020 as Australia was plunged into its first major COVID lockdown.
The Queensland Government is understood to have offered $500,000 towards staging the event at Snapper Rocks in May, but NSW and Western Australia have offered upwards of $5 million.
Queensland also directed the WSL pay its own way for quarantine, as was the case with the AFL grand final and NRL events held here during the pandemic.
The Bulletin understands the WSL had prepared to announce the fate of the Gold Coast event on Tuesday.
The WSL did not respond to multiple requests for comment by the Bulletin on Sunday.
State Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe confirmed the event’s departure, saying he was deeply disappointed.
“I am less disappointed with the NSW Government than I am with the World Surf League’s decision to chase short-term dollars at the expense of surfing tradition,” he said.
“The breaks at Snapper Rocks are highly regarded worldwide, as are those at Bells Beach in Victoria.
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“The WSL made it clear holding the event at Snapper Rocks this year was conditional on the Queensland Government picking up the quarantine tab for the WSL’s international competitors.”
Mr Hinchliffe also hit back at the NSW Government.
“Quarantine expenses for sporting events have always been the responsibility of the organising body,” he said.
“If that’s what NSW has agreed to pay to lure the WSL, then NSW taxpayers who have paid for hotel quarantine out of their own pocket should ask for a refund.”
Tourism industry leaders have been scrambling in recent days to try and save the southern Gold Coast event, which annually brings millions of dollars and the sport’s biggest names to the city.
“We didn’t expect to be engaged in a bidding war with NSW and Western Australia who put together a war chest of taxpayer funds as a lure,” an industry source told the Bulletin.
“Essentially the Government were hamstrung because Queensland, like Victoria, stood firm on forking out taxpayer funds to put up athletes.
“So now rather than keeping it where it should be, WSL are now trying to give the classic to the highest bidder rather than keep it on the Gold Coast which is the home of surfing.
“There’s just no way you can compete with $5 million.”
The league was forced to cancel the Easter Bells Beach event in Victoria, relocating it to Newcastle from April 1-11.
The Gold Coast event, and the Margaret River Pro in Western Australia, are still marked as “tentative” on the WSL website.
Gold Coast surfing commentator Andy McKinnon said the WSL’s reluctance to foot the COVID bill likely came from a strained financial position.
The WSL, which relies heavily on sponsorship and media deals for revenue, has had its income hammered in the past 12 months.
“We didn’t have a world tour last year and the WSL is probably facing some pretty big problems as far as keeping afloat,” Mr McKinnon said.
“I know how much it costs to run one of these events – it’s around $4 million.
“Obviously this is really costing WSL and they’re probably really dependant on government support.”
Mr McKinnon said qualifying events, which allowed up-an-coming surfers to earn a place on the tour – had been particularly hard hit.
He said the league should consider a complete overhaul of its format, perhaps focusing on virtual heats at surfers’ home breaks and culminating in a single final event.
“I feel for the WSL, the competitors and organisers,” he said.
“Maybe it’s still a bit premature to try and go ahead with a world tour in 2021.
“The Gold Coast has a great history of world tour events, and we don’t want to lose this one.”
Business leaders say they are devastated by the prospect of the southern Gold Coast losing one of its only major events.
“Losing this event would definitely hurt our economy,” Greater Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce president Hilary Jacobs said.
“We would not like to see any event lost from the south but at the same time we don’t think the State Government should have to pay for surfers.”
Originally published as Corona Open Gold Coast: 'Unsanctioned' Gold Coast Open to be held after WSL/government dispute
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