STADIUM TALKS LIVE
Mayor wants boutique venue built in two years
THE State Government is in talks with an international music promoter to build a boutique stadium on the Gold Coast. Mayor Tom Tate says he wants it finished within two years, complete with retractable roof and esports facilities. Tourism Minister Kate Jones says the Government has met with Live Nation “several times” about a location. Entertainment bosses have long lamented the lack of a specialised music hub to attract A-list acts such as Ed Sheeran and Bon Jovi. Owen Park at Southport and Pizzey Park at Miami are the leading contenders for the proposed 10,000-seat stadium.
THE State Government is in talks with an international music promoter to build a boutique stadium on the Gold Coast.
And Mayor Tom Tate wants it finished within two years and come with a retractable roof and facilities to attract the lucrative esports market.
Tourism Minster Kate Jones told the Bulletin she had met with Live Nation about making the 10,000seat stadium a reality.
“I can confirm that the State Government has met with Live Nation several times about their plans to scope out a location for a new music venue on the Gold Coast,” Ms Jones told the Bulletin.
“We are working with council to support Live Nation. It’s an exciting time for the Gold Coast.”
Live Nation has expressed interest in partnering with the State Government to build and operate a venue, saying there was enough demand in the city for live music but nowhere for them to play.
Live Nation is a USbased entertainment giant that has brought headline acts such as U2, The Pixies, Rod Stewart and the Dave Matthews Band to Australia in the past year.
None of them played the Gold Coast because the city does not have a specialised music hub. Bigger stadia such as Metricon Stadium at Carrara is considered unsuitable.
The Bulletin understands a shortlist of three sites has been drawn up for a boutique stadium. Two are on the existing light rail route and another located near its future extension. Southport’s Owen Park and Miami’s Pizzey Park are considered frontrunners by industry insiders.
Cr Tate, who is in the US, refused to speculate about the location, saying prospective sites were “commercial in confidence”. Cr Tate will tour a boutique stadium during his annual leave before putting it on the council’s agenda if successfully reelected in March.
He said the stadium would be a “multi-function” complex that would have capacity for between 8000-12,000 people.
He hoped it would be used to host musicians such as Maroon 5 and Pink, as well as attracting smaller games for the Gold Coast Titans and Gold Coast United, should it regain its status in the A-League.
Cr Tate said it would be designed with a retractable roof to allow for both sporting events, concerts, conferences and esports – the now-multibillion-dollar professional video game industry.
“The piece de resistance, which is the main motivation here is e-gaming. This is the one dearest to my heart,” he said.
“We are at the forefront of new and innovative ideas and this is a perfect time for us to have e-stadiums similar to those in New York, Los Angeles and Korea.
“It is already established, it’s a multi-billiondollar industry and it is an opportunity for the Gold Coast to get the latest technology.
“This is targeted towards the younger generation who are the ones with the disposable income and greater longevity. My kids loved Mortal Kombat when they were younger and they still love it.”