Carrara Stadium

Last updated

People First Stadium
People First Stadium logo.png
Adelaide v Gold Coast - Carrara crowd.jpg
Stadiums Queensland Rating:
Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Carrara Stadium
Former namesLaver Oval
Carrara Oval
Gold Coast Stadium
Metricon Stadium
Heritage Bank Stadium
Location Carrara, Queensland
Coordinates 28°00′23″S153°22′2″E / 28.00639°S 153.36722°E / -28.00639; 153.36722
Owner Queensland Government
OperatorStadiums Queensland
Capacity Concerts: 50,000 [2]
AFL: 22,500 [3]
Cricket: 21,000 [4]
Field size161 m × 134 m (528 ft × 440 ft) [5]
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground1986
Opened1987 (Redeveloped 2010–2011)
Architect Populous (2010)
Tenants
Australian Rules

Gold Coast Suns (AFL) (2011–present)
Gold Coast Suns Women (AFLW) (2020–present)
North Melbourne Kangaroos (AFL) (2007–2008)
Brisbane Bears (AFL) (1987–1992)
Brisbane Lions (AFL) (2021)

Contents

Cricket

Australia cricket team (2018–present)
Brisbane Heat (BBL) (2019–)
Melbourne Stars (BBL) (2019–)

Rugby League

Gold Coast Chargers (ARL/NRL) (1996–1998)
Gold Coast Titans (NRL) (2007)

Rugby Union

Nerang Bulls (Rugby Union) (1983–1986)
East Coast Aces (ARU) (2007)

Baseball

Gold Coast Clippers (ABL) (1989–1990)
Daikyo Dolphins (ABL) (1992–1993)

East Coast Cougars/Gold Coast Cougars (ABL) (1993–1999)
Website
heritagebankstadium.com.au
Ground information
End names
River End, Road End (AFL)
Broadbeach End, Hinterland End (Cricket)
International information
First T20I17 November 2018:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia v Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Last T20I5 October 2022:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia v WestIndiesCricketFlagPre1999.svg  West Indies
Only women's Test30 September–3 October 2021:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia v Flag of India.svg  India
First WT20I7 October 2021:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia v Flag of India.svg  India
Last WT20I10 October 2021:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia v Flag of India.svg  India
As of 5 October 2022
Source: Cricinfo

Carrara Stadium (also known as People First Stadium under naming rights) is a stadium on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Carrara. [6]

The stadium is primarily used for Australian rules football, serving as the home ground of the Gold Coast Suns, who compete in the Australian Football League. In addition, the venue is used occasionally for cricket, including Big Bash League matches. Carrara Stadium received substantial redevelopment work prior to the entry of the Brisbane Bears to the VFL/AFL in 1987, but following the Bears' relocation to the Gabba in 1993, it was used for other sports including rugby league, rugby union and even baseball. The stadium has hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 Commonwealth Games as well as the athletics competitions. The venue would host Cricket for the 2032 Summer Olympics if Cricket is approved by the International Olympic Committee. [6]

History

Early history

In 1983, the Nerang Bulls Rugby Union Club was formed and were located at Carrara Oval. During 1983, the Bulls fielded one senior team and in 1984 they fielded two senior teams. The club spent two seasons at Carrara before moving to Glennon Park in Nerang in 1985.

On 7 October 1986, it was announced that Australian rules football club the Brisbane Bears had been granted a licence to enter the Victorian Football League for the 1987 VFL season. [7] Bears President, Paul Cronin, announced on 23 December 1986 that the club would use Carrara Oval as their home ground. The financial backer of the Bears, Christopher Skase, spent $1 million redeveloping Carrara Oval over a 10-week period at the beginning of 1987, which included upgraded player facilities, seating for 6000 spectators and new electronic scoreboard. On 19 April 1987, the Fitzroy Lions defeated the Brisbane Bears in the first VFL game played at Carrara Oval, before a crowd of 17,795. [7] [8] (The Brisbane Lions website records the crowd unofficially as 22,684.) [9]

In 1989, the Brisbane Bears and the Albert Shire Council signed off on a 30-year lease for the ground with an option for a further 10 years. Following that announcement, Christopher Skase orchestrated the installation of floodlights costing $6 million, which were never paid for. [10] With the collapse of Skase's company Qintex, he would flee to Spain and the cost of the floodlights continued to be unpaid. Liquidators attempted to extract money from the Gold Coast City Council for the lights but, after an unsuccessful trial, it was found cheaper to leave the floodlights in place at Carrara Stadium. On 15 July 1989, the Bears hosted the first ever night match at Carrara, against the Geelong Cats, in front of a then-record crowd of 18,198.

Insufficient public transport access to the stadium and the poor on-field performance of the Bears resulted in poor crowds at Bears games, prompting local media to refer to the situation as the "Curse of Carrara". [10] After the new owner of the Bears, Reuben Pelerman, lost a further $10 million between the 1990–1992 AFL seasons, the Bears moved permanently to the redeveloped Brisbane Cricket Ground in 1993. [7]

In 1988, Carrara Stadium played host to the very first Touch Football World Cup [7] in which teams from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the USA competed in the Men's, Women's and Mixed Opens, as well as Men's Over 35's divisions. Australia won all four division finals which were all played against New Zealand. The Gold Coast Clippers [7] played their 1989–1990 Australian Baseball League season at Carrara before changing their name to the Daikyo Dolphins and moving to nearby Palm Meadows. For the 1992–93 season, they moved back to Carrara as the Gold Coast Cougars. [7] The Cougars stayed at Carrara until the abolition of the Australian Baseball League in 1999. The Brazilian football team set up camp at Carrara Stadium for pre-tournament training before the 2000 Summer Olympics. [11] The Brazilians later commented that the surface at Carrara was one of the best in the world. [12]

The stadium prior to redevelopment Carrara stadium.jpg
The stadium prior to redevelopment

The ground was owned by the Shire of Albert, which transferred to the Gold Coast City Council when the two local authorities amalgamated in 1995. The field is officially known as Laver Oval after long-time Albert Shire Chairman, Bill Laver.

Growth

Following the folding of the Gold Coast Seagulls in 1995 [7] a newly formed Gold Coast rugby league team named the Gold Coast Chargers were created and began competing out of Carrara Stadium in 1996. They continued to use the ground until the end of the 1998 NRL season when they were excluded from the competition as a part of the rationalisation of the National Rugby League. Rugby league matches continued to be played at the stadium, with pre-season trials being played there annually from 2002 to 2005, [13] and NRL premiership matches played in 2001 and 2005. The ground's capacity was increased slightly during this time.

In 2005 the NRL announced that a licence would be awarded to the Gold Coast Titans, and that the stadium would be their home ground in 2007 [7] until the completion of the Robina Stadium, which was opened in 2008. [14] In response to the NRL move, the AFL scheduled three AFL 'home games' for the North Melbourne Football Club and a NAB Cup match for Carrara in 2007, and the Queensland State League began hosting grand finals there. The Titans would play ten games at Carrara in 2007 and miss the finals. Following the conclusion of the 2007 NRL season, Titans managing director Michael Searle warned the AFL that if a team were to be started on the Gold Coast it would disappear into the Carrara 'black hole' within five years. [15]

In 2006 it was announced the North Melbourne Football Club would play nine home games at Carrara between the 2007–2009 seasons. Following the 2007 AFL season the AFL offered the Kangaroos a $100 million package to relocate from Melbourne to the Gold Coast and be based out of Carrara. On 7 December 2007 the newly appointed Kangaroos chairman James Brayshaw announced the club would not be moving to the Gold Coast permanently and would continue to be based out of Melbourne. Subsequently, the Kangaroos games played at Carrara after the announcement suffered poor crowds. The AFL released North Melbourne from the final year of a three-year contract after they drew just 6,354 spectators to their first home match at Carrara for the 2008 season. [16]

Carlton, Richmond and St Kilda subsequently hosted the remaining home games during the 2009 season.

Redevelopment

View of the field and grandstand Sunny Carrara Stadium.jpg
View of the field and grandstand
The videoboard. Adelaide v Gold Coast - Carrara videoboard.jpg
The videoboard.
Fans allowed on the field following the completion of the Gold Coast vs Sydney match in 2023 Carrara Stadium 18-03-23.jpg
Fans allowed on the field following the completion of the Gold Coast vs Sydney match in 2023

On 7 May 2009, it was confirmed that the Carrara Stadium would receive a $126 million redevelopment, providing a suitable stadium for new AFL club the Gold Coast Suns. [17] The last event at the old ground was Richmond vs Adelaide in front of 11,174 fans. On 30 October 2009, demolition of the old stadium began. [18] By January 2010, demolition works were complete. [19] Foundations for the grandstands as well as construction for the player and corporate facilities began in May 2010. [19] By October 2010, the eastern grandstand was nearing completion. [19] Just three months later in January 2011 the whole horseshoe-shaped grandstand was completed. [19] By April 2011, the turf had been laid and the 23-by-8.5-metre (75 ft × 28 ft), LED-powered high-definition video board had been installed. [19] [20]

The redeveloped stadium cost $144.2 million to build and seats 25,000 spectators (with the ability to house an additional 15,000 temporary seats). [21] [22] [23] The stadium features an AFL oval capable of accommodating an ICC-compliant cricket oval, an IAAF Athletics field and a FIFA World Cup football field, facilities for 2,000 corporate patrons, AFL team and officials' changing facilities, AFL media facilities, and team and officials' suites. [24] Watpac were contracted for the construction, which was scheduled for completion in mid-2011. The stadium then played host to an International rules football in November 2011, with 12,595 watching Ireland defeat Australia by 50 points to 29. [24] MakMax Australia was contracted to complete the fabric roof of the stadium. [25] [26] The stadium was opened for an open day on 22 May 2011, before the first match on 28 May 2011. [27] [28] The ground recorded its biggest ever crowd when 24,032 people watched the Suns play Collingwood in Round 16 of the 2014 AFL season, a game the Suns won by 5 points.

The venue hosted the inaugural Grand Final of AFL Women's on 25 March 2017. The Adelaide Crows defeated the Brisbane Lions 35 points to 29. The Lions won the right to host the match, but Carrara Stadium was used because the Lions' preferred venue, the Brisbane Cricket Ground, was unavailable. A men's QClash took place at Carrara Stadium on the same evening. [29]

The Gold Coast's successful bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games resulted in the stadium being upgraded to a temporary seating capacity of 35,000, which was dismantled after the Games and restored back to 25,000. The stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the athletics. [30] [31]

The stadium was used extensively during the 2020 AFL season, which was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as several non-Queensland teams spent extended periods of time in Gold Coast quarantine hubs and played home games at the ground, as a means of carrying on the season while state borders were restricted or closed to interstate travel. The stadium hosted several double-headers, and at the peak of hubbing in round 6, 2020 hosted four senior matches in two days. [32] [33] In all, the ground staged 42 matches in 2020, the most of any ground, and including its first ever finals match. [34]

Stadium uses

Carrara is the home ground for Australian rules football club the Gold Coast Suns, who compete in the Australian Football League (AFL), and also hosts events such as junior representative championships and QAFL games.

Gold Coast Suns

Media facilities at Carrara Stadium. Adelaide v Gold Coast - Carrara media facilities.jpg
Media facilities at Carrara Stadium.

The Gold Coast Suns have played their home games at Carrara since mid-2011. The Queensland Government contributed $60 million towards the redevelopment of the stadium, increasing the capacity to around 25,000 of which 23,500 is seated. [35] The Gold Coast City Council also contributed $20 million [36] and the AFL $10 million. [37]

The Gold Coast Suns played their first game at the reconstructed stadium on Saturday, 28 May 2011, in Round 10 of the 2011 AFL season. [23] [28] [38] The Suns lost the match against Geelong by 66 points. A round 18 game against 2010 premiers Collingwood attracted a then-record crowd of 23,302, selling out two months before game day. [39] On Saturday 11 August 2012, the Suns won their first game at the venue, defeating Greater Western Sydney by 30 points.

Crowds would not reach in excess of 20,000 again until Round 12, 2014, when 21,354 fans watched the Suns take on the Sydney Swans in a game that marked the first time Gary Ablett Jr. and Lance Franklin went head-to-head since defecting from their original clubs, as well as this being Franklin's first match on the Gold Coast as an AFL player. [40] [41] The record crowd was broken in 2014 when 24,032 attended the Suns' Round 16 game against Collingwood, which the Suns won by five points despite losing their captain Gary Ablett to a season-ending shoulder injury. [42]

Cricket

The Gold Coast District Cricket Club was formed in 1990 and shared tenancy of Carrara Stadium with the Brisbane Bears. [43] They would continue to be based at Carrara until 1993 when they moved to Robina. The stadium hosted an international cricket match between Queensland and England in January 1991. Controversy fell over the ground when touring English players David Gower and John Morris chose to go for a joy-ride in two Tiger moth biplanes without telling the England team management and buzzed the stadium in the middle of play. [44] Gower and Morris also posed for press photographs with the plane later that afternoon. Both players were subsequently fined £1000 for the prank, a penalty that could have been steeper had Gower elected to release the water bombs he had prepared. [45] Carrara also played host to a 50-over match between Queensland and the West Indies on 1 January 1992, which the visitors won by 7 wickets. [46]

Carrara hosted its first international cricket match since redevelopment on 17 November 2018 with Australia taking on South Africa in a Twenty20 match in front of 12,866 spectators. [47] Carrara hosted three games during the 2018–19 Big Bash League season, two of those games hosted by the Brisbane Heat and the other game hosted by the Melbourne Stars. [48] The stadium remains a potential future home ground for a Gold Coast-based Big Bash League side that enters the competition. [49] [50]

Carrara Stadium was selected to host all Brisbane Heat home finals in the 2023-2024 Big Bash League season. The first final (The Qualifier) is set to be hosted at Carrara with another to be played on the 22nd (The Challenger). This is due to the Australia vs West Indies test match being hosted at The Gabba. [51] The Qualifier final against the Sydney Sixers attracted a Gold Coast cricket record crowd of 20,191 spectators. [52]

Musical acts

Carrara hosted a triple header of entertainment events on the Easter long weekend in 2001. The first night saw Kiss perform and become the first international act to play at the Stadium. Former KISS lead guitarist and foundation band member Ace Frehley revealed in his 2011 autobiography that he punched then-tour manager Tommy Thayer in the jaw while in the dressing room at the conclusion of the Gold Coast concert in 2001. [53] The stadium served as the venue for the last leg of the Kiss Farewell Tour and Thayer would later replace Frehley as the lead guitarist in the band. The next night saw rock legend Alice Cooper perform at the stadium. [54] The third and final night of the long weekend saw the Anthony Mundine-Timo Masua boxing match take place at Carrara.

On 10 December 2011 the Foo Fighters performed at Carrara and set the all-time attendance record for any event ever held at Carrara Stadium, 37,000 people attended the concert. The stadium is also featured in the Foo Fighters film clip of "These Days". Filming took place during the concert on 10 December 2011. On 19 January 2014, the venue hosted the Gold Coast leg of the Big Day Out. The stadium was set to serve as the host of the two-day SandTunes Music Festival on 30 November & 1 December 2019, prior to its cancellation. The line-up included acts such as Travis Scott, Dean Lewis and Carly Rae Jepsen. [55]

Queen + Adam Lambert played at the stadium on 29 February 2020 in the final concert of their Australian leg of The Rhapsody Tour and pulled a record crowd of 40,000 attendees. [56] In November 2020, it was announced Guns N' Roses would play at the stadium on 6 November 2021. [57] The show was later postponed to 24 November 2022. [58]

Commonwealth Games

Carrara Stadium prior to the opening ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Carrara Stadium, Gold Coast, Queensland 05.jpg
Carrara Stadium prior to the opening ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Carrara Stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 Commonwealth Games as well as hosting the athletics events. The athlete's village was originally going to be located next to Carrara Stadium but instead was constructed in Southport. The stadium was temporarily upgraded to hold 35,000 people prior to the start of the opening ceremony. [30] [31]

Naming rights

The stadium lacked a naming rights sponsor in its formative decades, bearing the names Carrara Stadium and Gold Coast Stadium between its opening in 1987 and 2011. On 15 March 2011, the Gold Coast Football Club announced that nationally active home builder group Metricon Homes had signed a $3 million, 5-year deal for naming rights of Carrara Stadium, to be known henceforth as Metricon Stadium. [59] In March 2016 Metricon Homes signed a 5-year extension deal with the Suns until 25 March 2020 for the naming rights of the stadium. [60] The agreement was later extended to the end of 2022. [61] In 2023 the stadium was renamed Heritage Bank Stadium, after a contract was signed with mutual bank Heritage Bank. [62] In the same year, Heritage Bank merged with People's Choice Credit Union based in Adelaide, South Australia to create People First Bank. Therefore, the stadium was renamed People First Stadium in March 2024.

Transport access

Public transport access
ServiceStation/stopLine/routeWalking distance
from Carrara Stadium
Kinetic Group Aiga bus trans.svg Carrara Stadium74550 m
Queensland Rail BSicon BAHN.svg Nerang Gold Coast 2.0 km

The nearest railway station is Nerang, a 25-minute walk from the stadium. On match and event days, special shuttle bus services from Nerang station and Broadbeach serve the stadium. The shuttle buses travel along Route 745, a route that usually passes the stadium on non-match days. A taxi rank also operates in front of the adjacent Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre on match days. Future transport plans for the stadium precinct include a ferry service [63] and light rail extension from Broadbeach that will stop outside the stadium. [64]

AFL records

Individual

Last updated: 1 November 2022 [65]

Cricket records

Twenty20

Individual batting

Individual bowling

Last updated: 11 January 2021 [66]

Attendance records

Sports

NOTE: This table does not include stadium attendances at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

No.DateTeamsSportCompetitionCrowd
15 July 2014 Gold Coast Suns vs. Collingwood Magpies Australian rules football AFL 24,032
223 July 2011 Gold Coast Suns vs. Collingwood Magpies Australian rules football AFL 23,302
329 June 2024 Gold Coast Suns vs. Collingwood Magpies Australian rules football AFL 23,029
418 March 1994 Gold Coast Seagulls vs. Brisbane Broncos Rugby league NSWRL 22,688
51 July 2023 Gold Coast Suns vs. Collingwood Magpies Australian rules football AFL 22,483
69 March 2024 Gold Coast Suns vs. Richmond Tigers Australian rules football AFL 22,086
72 June 2024 Gold Coast Suns vs. Essendon Bombers Australian rules football AFL 21,759
828 May 2011 Gold Coast Suns vs. Geelong Cats Australian rules football AFL 21,485
98 June 2014 Gold Coast Suns vs. Sydney Swans Australian rules football AFL 21,354
1027 July 2024 Gold Coast Suns vs. Brisbane Lions Australian Rules football AFL 21,043

Last updated: 27 July 2024 [67] [68] [69]

Other events

No.DateName of tour/eventAct/sCrowd
128 February 2023 Love On Tour Harry Styles 48,177 [70]
220 February 2024 Summer Carnival Tour Alecia Beth Moore (Pink) 46,000 [71]
329 February 2020 The Rhapsody Tour Queen + Adam Lambert 39,607 [72]
410 December 2011 Wasting Light Tour Foo Fighters 37,000 [73]
54 April 2018 2018 Commonwealth Games Delta Goodrem, Ricki-Lee Coulter 35,000 [74]
19 January 2014 Big Day Out 2014 Pearl Jam, Arcade Fire 35,000 [75]
26 November 2023 Spilt Milk 2023 Post Malone, Dom Dolla 35,000
824 November 2022 We're F'n Back Tour Guns N' Roses 30,000 [76]
4 November 2023 Got Back Tour Paul McCartney 30,000 [77]
1013 April 2001 KISS Farewell Tour KISS 20,457 [78]

Last updated: 21 February 2024

Awards

The exterior of the stadium as seen in October 2023. Heritage Bank Stadium, October 2023.jpg
The exterior of the stadium as seen in October 2023.

Won

Nominated

See also

Sources

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References

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  4. ↑ "Brisbane Heat keen to expand reach to Gold Coast". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
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  6. 1 2 "Metricon Stadium" . Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Smart, Nick (27 May 2011). "No longer a white elephant". Gold Coast Bulletin.
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  9. ↑ 1965–1996: The Spirit Burns Brightly Archived 5 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine
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  11. ↑ "Keen interest in Japan & Brazil". Australian Associated Press. 28 August 2000.
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  13. ↑ "From Chargers to Titans, the story since 1998". Archived from the original on 4 January 2007.
  14. ↑ "Carrara, Gold Coast Stadium". Archived from the original on 10 March 2007.
  15. ↑ "Carrara a 'black hole', says Searle".
  16. ↑ Barrett, Damian (21 May 2008). "Empty seats force AFL to pull plug". Herald Sun. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  17. ↑ Rogers, Jenny (7 May 2009). "Canberra kicks in $36m for Coast AFL stadium". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
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  19. 1 2 3 4 5 "Timeline to birth of an AFL jewel". Gold Coast Bulletin. 27 May 2011.
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  22. ↑ "Games bid vital to Gold Coast's health". Gold Coast Bulletin. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
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  27. ↑ Rugari, Vince (17 May 2011). "Suns' stadium set to go". Sportal. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
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  29. ↑ Olle, Sarah (20 March 2017). "AFLW grand final to be played at Metricon Stadium between Brisbane Lions and Adelaide". Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  30. 1 2 "Excavations works begin on Gold Coast's Metricon Stadium for 2018 Commonwealth Games". Gold Coast Bulletin. 13 September 2017.
  31. 1 2 "Commonwealth Games: Gold Coast event starts with colourful opening ceremony". BBC Sport. 4 April 2018.
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  33. ↑ "Fixture rewrite: Vic clubs forced north for R6-7, return date unknown". AFL.com.au. 3 July 2020.
  34. ↑ "Attendances 2020". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
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  36. ↑ GCCC to commit $20M to Carrara stadium Archived 30 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  37. ↑ Walsh, Gary (31 March 2009). "Green light for Gold Coast". AFL. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  38. ↑ Wilson, Caroline (10 May 2011). "Suns want Irish game at Carrara". The Age. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  39. ↑ "Gold Coast ticketing update – Official AFL Website of the Collingwood Football Club". Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  40. ↑ The must-see games in the 2015 AFL season, The Roar, 31 October 2014
  41. ↑ Gold Coast SUNS set to break crowd record, Gold Coast Football Club official website, 24 June 2014
  42. ↑ Suns lose Ablett but beat Magpies, The Roar, 5 July 2014
  43. ↑ GCDCC: History
  44. ↑ Williamson, Martin (14 January 2006). "When Gower's tour took off". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
  45. ↑ Williamson, Martin (16 November 2018). "Remembering David Gower's famous 1991 Tiger Moth flight". Courier Mail. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  46. ↑ "Queensland v West Indies - 1 January 1992". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  47. ↑ "T20I: Australia v South Africa | Austadiums". www.austadiums.com. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  48. ↑ "Big Bash League fixture revealed". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  49. ↑ Dorries, Ben (6 October 2016). "Big Bash boss believes expansion Gold Coast is 'natural fit' for a Twenty20 franchise". news.com.au. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  50. ↑ The Gold Coast Suns want their own Big Bash League franchise when the competition expands
  51. ↑ "Finals Venues Approved | Brisbane Heat". www.brisbaneheat.com.au. 28 December 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  52. ↑ "BBL: Qualifier - Heat v Sixers". | Austadiums. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  53. ↑ Swansick, Tristan (7 November 2011). "Ace went down swinging with Kiss" . Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  54. ↑ "Bon Jovi to rock Gold Coast AFL stadium on 2018 Australian tour". 15 September 2017.
  55. ↑ "Metricon Stadium to host SandTunes". 3 September 2019.
  56. ↑ "Queen Gold Coast: Metricon Stadium treated to incredible show". Gold Coast Bulletin. 29 February 2020.
  57. ↑ "Guns N' Roses announce 2021 Australian stadium tour". news.com.au. 19 November 2020.
  58. ↑ "GUNS N' ROSES POSTPONE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND LEG UNTIL 2022". theticketingbusiness.com. 27 September 2021.
  59. ↑ Smart, Nick (15 March 2011). "Metricon lands Suns stadium naming rights". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  60. ↑ "Metricon signs five-year extension". goldcoastfc.com.au. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  61. ↑ "Metricon extends longstanding partnership". Gold Coast Suns. 26 March 2019.
  62. ↑ "Heritage Bank Stadium the new home of the SUNS". goldcoastfc.com.au. 22 February 2023.
  63. ↑ Potts, Andrew (14 August 2013). "Ferry plan floated for city". Goldcoast.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013.
  64. ↑ Potts, Andrew (18 September 2017). "Westworld: Gold Coast's western suburbs set to be linked to beach with light rail connection". Goldcoast.com.au.
  65. ↑ AFL Tables - Venues - Carrara
  66. ↑ ESPN CricInfo - Grounds - Carrara Oval
  67. ↑ AU Stadiums - Metricon Stadium Crowds
  68. ↑ AFL Tables - Crowds - Carrara
  69. ↑ Rugby League Tables - Crowds - Carrara
  70. ↑ "Harry Styles' GC sellout buzz – but ending not so golden". 1 March 2023.
  71. ↑ "Our city was treated to the spectacle of P!nk last night". 22 March 2024.
  72. ↑ Eliezer, Christie (16 December 2020). "Australian live sector headed for boom year before coronavirus hit".
  73. ↑ Simonot, Suzanne (19 January 2014). "Coast can host the superstars now". Gold Coast Bulletin.
  74. ↑ "Dazzling opening ceremony kicks off Commonwealth Games". SBS. 5 April 2018.
  75. ↑ Cronin, Seanna (19 January 2014). "Thousands show up for Big Day Out 2014". My Daily News.
  76. ↑ "Guns 'N Roses rock the GC". 25 November 2022.
  77. ↑ "Paul McCartney delivers the hits from his long and winding road". 5 November 2023.
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