GOLDEN GLOVES
Coast booked as back-up venue for Horn-Pacquiao rematch
CBUS Super Stadium at Robina has been booked as a possible venue for the Jeff Horn versus Manny Pacquiao rematch later this year. Dean Lonergan, director of Horn’s promoter Duco Events, said he had secured the stadium for several dates in November, although Brisbane was the preferred location for the fight. “I like CBUS because it’s a rectangle and the stands are very close to the field,” Lonergan said.
RYAN KEEN
A GOLD Coast stadium has been booked for Jeff Horn versus Manny Pacquiao II as the city becomes a “real option” for the blockbuster boxing rematch.
Dean Lonergan, director of Horn’s promoter Duco Events, confirmed last night to the Bulletin he had booked CBUS Super Stadium for several dates in November as a potential rematch location.
Mr Lonergan had considered the Coast’s Metricon Stadium — unavailable anyway due to Commonwealth Games construction works — but didn’t like its oval shape: “I like CBUS because it’s a rectangle and the stands are very close to the field.”
The Queensland Government has first right of refusal for putting on the rematch but no date or location has yet been pinned down and final confirmation from Pacquiao’s camp is still awaited.
Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, with capacity for about 50,000 people, hosted Horn’s stunning upset in July.
But a source close to the negotiation said the State Government was also considering the Gold Coast because of conHe cerns about securing dates at Suncorp and the heat later in the year.
The Gold Coast is about two degrees cooler on average, a factor in the city’s favour with the source calling the Coast “a real option”.
Mr Lonergan estimated they could pack 27,000 into the CBUS stands plus 12,000 ringside on the field. Gold
said Duco was looking at erecting a “substantial” temporary roof for CBUS over the ring and a large portion of seating to guard against summer heat or a tropical storm.
Mr Lonergan said he was being “prudent” booking CBUS along with other options interstate.
“We’ve got to respect our original partners from Brisbane and will exhaust all venue options there first but the Gold Coast is just down the road from the fight’s biggest market which is Brisbane.
“And I love the Gold Coast, the weather’s amazing, it caters for tourists better than any place in Australia and has a huge amount of accommodation.”
Mr Lonergan said another factor was the city’s international airport at Coolangatta.
Chris Hannay, principal of Gold Coast law firm Hannay Lawyers, which sponsored Horn over a year ago, is lobbying Mr Lonergan hard to have it locally.
“What better place than the Gold Coast?” an excited Mr Hannay said.
Major Events Minister Kate Jones said: “We want the rematch of Horn versus Pacquiao in Queensland and will be looking at all options.”