Deep dive for pool sponsor
GOLD Coast councillors are hoping to lure one of Australia’s biggest companies to put its name on one of the city’s biggest sporting venues.
The Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, which has been one of the main venues for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, is at the heart of a push to bring in extra income for the city and boost its prestige.
The council has called for expressions of interest for a naming rights sponsor for the aquatic centre after the Commonwealth Games.
Teleco giant Optus was secured as the temporary naming rights holder for the Games.
The Bulletin understands the company wants to continue its relationship with the centre in the future.
Council chief executive Dale Dickson said the push could deliver benefits for the city.
“This is an opportunity to leverage the Games and we see an opportunity for the benefit of ratepayers,” he said. “Similar outcomes flowed from the Glasgow Games experience.”
If successful, the aquatic centre would become the city’s third major sporting venue to have a naming rights sponsor, after Carrara’s Metricon Stadium and Robina’s Cbus Super Stadium.
Councillors say a naming rights sponsor would create a new stream of revenue for the city and would help fund upkeep of the $41 million centre.
Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow said securing a sponsor would add another feather to the city’s cap.
“Securing this would help get the Gold Coast more events and you can imagine it would be worth a lot of money,” she said.
“We are going for more and more events, even the Pan Pacific Games and doing this will improve our chances of securing those.”