Skilled Park

[DIEHARD]

Premier opens Skilled Park at Robina

QUEENSLAND Premier Anna Bligh has opened the Gold Coast's new $160 million sporting stadium, Skilled Park.

Bedecked in teal and yellow, the colours of the Gold Coast Titans, a crowd of about 15,000 flocked to the sporting facility to celebrate People's Day, which marks the stadium's official opening.
Titans co-captain Scott Prince kicked the first goal to declare the stadium open for business.

The 27,000 seat stadium is Australia's newest sporting facility and will host 12 Titans matches as well as two Rugby League World Cup games.

Ms Bligh, who grew up on the Gold Coast, said Skilled Park could rival the best in the world.

"Today is a great day for the Gold Coast with the opening of Skilled Park stadium, it's the best regional stadium anywhere in Australia," she said. "This stadium is a $160 million investment ... (but) most importantly, it is so children and the families of this area will be able to come and watch world-class events in a world-class stadium right here in their backyard."

Skilled Park is public transport focused, with limited parking; a point Ms Bligh highlighted by travelling by train from Brisbane.

She said People's Day was a great way to ensure crowd management and transport were working smoothly.

http://www.news.com.au

[Nathalie]

They put on two extra services to and from the stadium today, so I imagine this will be the case with game day, today being a bit of a practice run for them!

Thanks dude!

Can't wait to take Ariana to these games.. she would have SO much fun...

Also I've just written an email to them.. does anyone else know if there will be baby change facilities at Skilled Park?

[C-Whiz]

Thanks dude!

Can't wait to take Ariana to these games.. she would have SO much fun...

Also I've just written an email to them.. does anyone else know if there will be baby change facilities at Skilled Park?

Yes, there are. Parents rooms, if that's what you mean.

[Nathalie]

Yes, there are. Parents rooms, if that's what you mean.

Yeah thanks I just received a reply to my email from the Admin Officer at Skilled Park:

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Hi Nathalie,

Yes, there are numerous baby change room facilities located around the concourse area of Skilled Park.

We look forward to seeing you and your baby at Skilled Park throughout the season!

Regards,

Louise Linnett
Administration Officer
Skilled Park


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Yay! I am SO looking forward to going!!! ('Scuse the Chandlerism )

[DIEHARD]

Skilled's surface hailed as soft as a mattress

IT looks better than a golf fairway and has even been compared to a soft inner-spring mattress.

But the biggest rap for the new Skilled Park surface comes from grounds manager Peter Cronin, who believes it is even better then Suncorp Stadium.

And Cronin should know -- he used to be the senior groundsman at the Brisbane venue.

"Personally I think it is a better facility and surface," said Cronin.

"This is a different grass, it is a new turf, a bit finer and tighter. A trial was done over a couple of years and this one came out on top. We will just have to see how it goes."

Titans co-captain Scott Prince said the surface was one of the best he had seen but reserved his ultimate opinion until it starts to see some traffic.

"It looks great, very soft," he said. "Hopefully when we land it will be just like landing on one of those Sealy mattresses.

"But you can't really compare it to a venue in Australia until we start playing some football on it and see how it holds up over time.

"Just the venue in general is enormous and there are very exciting times ahead.

"It has got the Suncorp feel, but then again it doesn't.

"It feels like our own stadium and I just can't wait to get there and play."

Suncorp battled with turf problems in its early years and as recently as last season its northern end was plagued by problems said to be brought on from the lack of sunlight.

Cronin said he did not expect similar problems at Robina.

"The northern end will always have a bit more shade on it and we will just have to see how it holds up," he said.

Titans managing director Michael Searle said he couldn't be happier with the surface.

"The surface is quick and fast and has all of the attributes that will not only suit our style of play but also the reduction of interchanges."

Source: http://www.goldcoast.com.au