Evans: Bring on the AFL decider
SUNS chief executive Mark Evans says the club is well equipped to host the AFL Grand Final as the Gold Coast prepares for another influx of interstate teams.
All 10 Victorian clubs will be based in southeast Queensland while Greater Western Sydney and Sydney could join them as COVID-19 cases begin to force lockdowns in NSW.
It is believed no more games will be played in Victoria in the home-and-away season, although AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said no decision had been reached on the Grand Final.
The Suns have kept room in their schedule to host the AFL Grand Final, despite a date not being set, at Metricon Stadium should the league need it.
“I look forward to the AFL declaring Metricon Stadium as the official home of football, and as the official home there should be no other place we should play the Grand Final. Bring it on,” Evans said.
“We are up for it. We certainly have kept availability in our schedule for that to occur.
“The AFL will have a lot of things they need to take into account but if needed we are here.”
The capacity of Metricon Stadium is 25,000 but it can be increased to 40,000 with temporary seating, as done for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
It would mean little separates Queensland’s other major AFL venue, the Gabba, which holds 42,000.
The advantage Gold Coast has is it has control of Metricon Stadium, meaning it won’t be interrupted by potential cricket games later this year, while the Carrara precinct also has superior parking areas.
Evans said it could also open up the conversation regarding the Queensland government’s 2032 Olympic bid, something that may require the upgrade of seating at Metricon Stadium.
Gold Coast has been hammered by critics in its 10 years in the AFL, with calls to fold the club or relocate it.
Now the club and its facilities are the only reason the AFL season can continue.
“It is an incredible opportunity for the Gold Coast to show the entire AFL industry what we have in terms of facilities and capability,” Evans said.
“It will really help the AFL code grow in southeast Queensland. Right now it feels like we are playing such an important role to ensure the 2020 season gets to the end.”