Gold Coast Suns unveil bold plans to expand People First Stadium, explore secondary boutique stadium

A Gold Coast sporting club has stated its bold aim to construct a secondary boutique stadium. Find out what it would be used for.

Expansion to People First Stadium and the construction of a second boutique stadium are among the grand plans of the Gold Coast Suns as the club hopes to build upon its record season of sellouts.

For the first time in club history, the Suns achieved three sold out home games in 2024, and optimistic CEO Mark Evans believes it is just the tip of the iceberg.

“The club is into its 14th year of existence and it’s really starting to come of age, it feels like it means so much more to the Gold Coast than it did at the start,” Evans said.

“The crowds that we’re attracting are increasing, our membership is increasing, corporate hospitality is increasing. It’s good to see that level of demand.

“People have been sceptical of the Gold Coast having the ability to make things work for elite sport. Many clubs have tried in the past and not succeeded.

“Right now, there’s strong belief that the Gold Coast Suns and the Gold Coast Titans are ready to put the Coast on the map.”

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Gold Coast Suns Chief Executive Mark Evans speaks to the media during a press conference. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

Evans hopes to see the club’s membership base double from 25,000 to 50,000 in the next six years, and while he conceded that the sell out games were reliant on a strong contingent of travelling fans, it was an indication that it was time to start planning for the future.

“If we get to a position where more than half the matches are selling out we’ll need to upgrade quickly and start planning for it now.”

The official capacity of People First Stadium is 27,500 and its website states that figure is capable of being extended to 40,000 in the future. “We’ve still got quite a bit of development that needs to happen, so that could easily get it to the mid 30,000s,” Evans said.

The Stadium is primarily used for AFL, but the club is optimistic it can continue to host other major events such as cricket and concerts.

“If we can increase the capacity of the ground it’s also more beneficial for them to choose the Gold Coast over another venue,” Evans said, describing the stadium as “much-loved” by promoters and artists alike.

People First Stadium hosting a round 18 AFL clash. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

If cricket is to be confirmed as a 2032 Olympic sport, at least two venues would be needed and People First Stadium has the highest capacity of any sporting oval outside of the Gabba in Queensland, which would place it in the box seat to host matches.

Evans also revealed the option of building a secondary boutique stadium – with a capacity between 2500 and 5000 – was set to be considered in the coming years.

“We even see benefit from creating a mini-stadium that could be used for AFLW, VFL matches and national carnivals,” he said, citing that Gold Coast’s academy has 1000 participants.

“Whether there’s an opportunity to build infrastructure at Carrara or partner with another venue to deliver that.

“I think we would need to solve most of these issues or at least have plans to in the next two to five years.”

With growth at the fore of the Suns’ thinking, the club is also cautious further expansion isn’t plausible without improved transport options to its Carrara base.

“The bigger the crowds we get here the more we’re going to have to turn our head to transport solutions,“ Evans said.

“It feels like that will be heavily to do with rapid transit bus networks in the interim, and that has to connect well into the tram and train system.

“One of the ways would be to contemplate bus interchanges on both sides on Nerang-Broadbeach Road connected by bridge, which would allow the bus and vehicle pathways not to impeded by pedestrians who are leaving the stadium.

“We’ll look into many ways with the state government and council as to how we can improve the efficiency.”

Originally published as Gold Coast Suns unveil bold plans to expand People First Stadium, explore secondary boutique stadium