Gold Coast Arena plans: Why getting the design right will be crucial

Choices made now will determine whether the Gold Coast Arena becomes an icon of the city or a missed opportunity. A visit to one of the world’s greatest venues tells us what it needs to be.

The roar of the crowd, the electric atmosphere, the sheer spectacle. Last Friday I was lucky enough to witness the magic of New York’s Madison Square Garden first-hand.

Stepping into the cavernous arena, I was immediately enveloped by a wave of excitement. The crowd, a sea of passionate New York Knicks fans, roared with every basket, every save, every highlight play. It was a sensory overload, a symphony of light and sound.

The only moments of silence came when the visiting Milwaukee Bucks enjoyed a rare decent moment.

This is the kind of experience we should aspire to on the Gold Coast. The proposed arena at Carey Park has the potential to be more than just a venue – it could be a destination, a cultural icon.

The early proposals are promising. The location – so close to light rail and the Broadwater Parklands – cannot be beaten. The golden coliseum in the initial design is eye-catching. It’s an infinitely better suggestion than the tawdry second casino idea put forward in the past.

However, infused by my travels in loud and proud New York, this column would say one thing: With this venue, we need to think big and to dream big.

We can’t afford for it to be undercooked.

The New York Knicks versus the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on Friday November 8. Video: Keith Woods.

Many cities have venues of the nature proposed. Close to home, the enormously expensive Brisbane Live arena is due to be with us by the time of the Olympics.

How might the Gold Coast venue stand out, so that it becomes a ‘must visit’ arena for spectators, and a ‘must play’ arena for performers? How can we ensure that in the long term, big names want to play the Gold Coast as much as they want to play Sydney or Brisbane?

How can it, like Madison Square Garden, become not just an arena, but a cultural touchstone?

We know from our history here in Australia that getting a design right can make an extraordinary difference. The Sydney Opera House is a global icon, while the Arts Centre Melbourne, despite on paper boasting similar attributes, remains relatively unknown.

Now I know many readers of this column will scoff. The Gold Coast is no Sydney, they will say. And it is certainly no New York – and nor should it want to be.

Correct of course. But if hundreds of millions of dollars are to be spent on this venue, and public land given up, we need it to be as good as it can possibly be. 

While the initial concept design looks impressive, does it do enough to capture the brilliance of its setting?

Is it a good idea that pedestrians disgorged via a grand plaza shown to the venue’s south should find themselves needing to cross a busy street to reach the Broadwater Parklands light rail stop?

Perhaps some solution can be found to continue that concourse above that busy road, or to somehow sink the road beneath it.

Artist impression of the proposed Gold Coast Arena boutique stadium at Carey Park, Southport. Picture: Supplied by Gold Coast City Council

It’s a controversial opinion, but this column would argue the most recent similar project on the Gold Coast – the HOTA art gallery – somehow missed the mark.

Yes, it’s popular with locals, but frankly, I’ve yet to hear of anyone from outside this city who has heard of the place, much less putting it on their bucket list of locations to visit. Changing that will not be easy.

Despite also being well located, the Convention Centre remains beset with problems and limitations.

The Gold Coast’s tourism business especially could do without another expensive misfire.

The arena proposed for Southport is sensible, well located – and badly needed.

Get the design right and in decades to come we may even be able to add iconic to that list.

Follow @keithjwoods

Originally published as Gold Coast Arena plans: Why getting the design right will be crucial