Logies 2022: Gold Coast signals bid to retain hosting rights

The Gold Coast wants to keep television’s night of nights after its triumphant return, and its bid gets the thumbs-up from the Gold Logie winner. VOTE IN OUR POLL

The Gold Coast will fight to remain the long-term home of the Logies after the spectacular return of television’s night of nights.

Following two years’ hibernation due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Logies roared back to life on the Glitter Strip on Sunday night, and there are calls for the Gold Coast to become the permanent home of the event.

The Logies moved to the Gold Coast in 2018 after the Victorian Government withdrew funding, ending Melbourne’s three-decade association with the event.

Gold Coast Deputy Mayor Donna Gates said on Monday the Logies was a great fit for the city, and provided a timely economic boost worth tens of millions of dollars.

“We will go in boots and all,” she said.

“It is such a great event for our city.

“We really want to keep this event, so we will be working hard with the State Government and Tourism and Events Queensland to make sure this becomes the real home of the Logies into the future.”

Hamish Blake celebrates his Gold Logie the morning after at Nineteen at The Star. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The deal to bring the Logies to the Gold Coast from Melbourne was originally a three-year contract, but it stretched over five years in the end due to two cancellations.

That agreement is now finished, sending officials back to the negotiating table.

Major Events Gold Coast and Tourism and Events Queensland have been in talks with the Logies’ production company Rizer for several weeks about locking in the gala’s long-term future.

Major Events Gold Coast CEO Jan McCormick said the television industry’s night of nights was a perfect fit for the Glitter Strip and should not be going anywhere.

“It should never leave the Gold Coast,” she said.

“It just really works here.

“We already have a lot of sporting events on the coast, so it is wonderful to have major arts and cultural events as well.

“It’s very Gold Coast.”

Gold Logie winner Hamish Blake also backed calls to keep the event on the Gold Coast.

“They should definitely stay here. So far so good, everything should stay as is,” he said.

Gold Coast girl Sophie Monk gushed over the Logies being on her home soil.

“It’s just so awesome for it to be here on the Coast, just perfect,” she said.

The Star Gold Coast has played a major role in the staging of the Logies, and the property’s chief operating officer Jess Mellor said the company “would support any moves to keep the Logies as part of the Queensland major events program”.

“The Logies and the Gold Coast have been a perfect match – they’re fun and they’re exciting,” she said.

“The Logies have also delivered key economic benefits for the city, and we’ve loved having the opportunity to host TV’s biggest annual celebration.”

Host broadcaster Channel 9 is also a fan of keeping the event in Queensland.

Nine Queensland and northern NSW managing director Kylie Blucher said the Logies had been a ratings success, and the network hoped to keep the event in the Sunshine State.

“Last night’s TV Week Logie Awards achieved a national average audience of 1.252 million, peaking at 1.6 million,” she said.

“The program won its timeslot in all metro capitals, with the metro audience up 6 per cent on the 2019 audience,” she said.

“We look forward to entering into negotiations with the Queensland Government for the 2023 TV Week Logie Awards, and would love for the Logies to remain in Queensland.”

Stars dazzle in low-cut outfits at the Logies

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Originally published as Logies 2022: Gold Coast signals bid to retain hosting rights