Carrara Stadium

[Coaster]

Carrara Stadium strikes back
The Coast is set for a stadium stoush with Robina's $160 million Skilled Park due to be outplayed after plans to radically rebuild Gold Coast Stadium at Carrara were leaked yesterday.
The $110 million proposal to redesign the $900,000-a-year 'white elephant' would see the riverside venue able to seat 25,000 under a signature wave-shaped roof while, in a world-first, patrons could arrive by water in either public rivercats or private craft.
Horseshoe-shaped in design and opening on to the Nerang River, the reborn venue, described as a scaled-down version of an Olympic stadium, would take a number of years to complete with construction undertaken in a series of stages.
After six years of planning, the first sod of the new stadium could soon be turned with a groundswell of support, spearheaded by Mayor Ron Clarke, indicating it's a matter of when, rather than if, an AFL team calls the Coast home.
Despite a 2001 agreement between the Queensland Government's Major Sports Facilities Authority and the AFL that any Gold Coast team must be based in Brisbane until 2016 to justify the Government's $180 million redevelopment of the Gabba, there is growing optimism that decision will be overturned.
While Cr Clarke has argued the Government set a precedent by redeveloping Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium and also paying for a new NRL ground at Robina, AFL sources are quietly confident that if they foot the bill for the new Gold Coast Stadium at Carrara our team will come -- and well before the next decade.
While the political and sporting stoush is yet to be resolved, a source yesterday said the proposals were already crystal clear.
"With the boating aspect of the arena, there really is nothing else like this in the world," he said.
"They've actually designed a marina at the back of the site and opened it up to the Nerang River so that ferries and water transport options can be used. Not only does this make the site unique, but it will also help alleviate traffic congestion.
"I believe this stadium will be a world-leader in that aspect.
"The wave-shaped roof will also make it one of the most recognisable venues in the world.
"It's going to be amazing."
An AFL spokesman yesterday confirmed the plans but refused to release completed images.
"The images we have are concept plans of what a stadium might look like, but there is still a way to go," he said. "We're looking at what we would need to do to increase capacity and improve the experience for customers, but I can't comment on when or if these plans will be realised, nor the future of AFL on the Gold Coast.
"We're committed to three years with the Kangaroos at Carrara and we've said we want to hold more games in southeast Queensland by 2015, but right now we're focused on the present.
"There are a lot of things happening with the Kangaroos board but there is still lots to be done."
Not to be outdone, the NRL's Skilled Park at Robina yesterday showed signs of significant progress, with its roof rafters being installed.
Construction of the 25,000-seat stadium is on schedule and the complex is due to open in December.
Once completed, Skilled Park will have 100 open corporate boxes and 28 closed corporate suites, a 500-seat function centre and 16 food and drink outlets.
The western stand will form the showpiece area of the venue, a 14,000sqm stand that will be the base for season ticket-holders.
Outside the stadium, a retail precinct will be built for fans who arrive by rail at Robina station next door, by bus, car or even by watercraft, up the Mudgeeraba Creek at the back of the complex.
However, the source said Skilled Park's waterfront arrivals would be akin to a dinghy compared with Carrara's 'Queen Mary'.
From being a sporting wasteland since the late 1990s that no national code wanted, the Gold Coast has now become a prized possession.
Since the NRL announced that the Titans would be part of its competition all other codes, especially the AFL, have expressed renewed interest in the region.
The AFL's Kangaroos will play five games at Carrara this year as the league attempts to maintain a major presence here among the fans.
The Titans' debut season is also being played out of Carrara.
Gold Coast Bulletin

[CoastSportsFan]

Interesting to read back on this thread and see how much things have changed on the Gold Coast. It is especially interesting to read the LU thread on the same topic found here. If you go through the comments you can see some predictions came true but a lot didn't.

Firstly the article states -

• The new stadium would seat 25,000 people. Metricon Stadium currently seats 25,000.
• The roof would be wave shaped. The roof is currently wave shaped.
• Patrons could arrive by water. Patrons do not currently arrive by water.
• The venue would be horse-shoe shaped in design and would face the Nerang river. The stadium is currently horse-shoe shaped and does face the Nerang river.
• Ron Clarke stated it is a matter of when not if the Gold Coast would have their own AFL team. Four years later the Gold Coast Suns entered the AFL.
• Skilled Park would be opened in December 2007. Skilled Park did open in December 2007.
• All sports are interested in the Gold Coast. The AFL, A-League and NBL all started Gold Coastteams later on.

Now the comments -

• Carrara Stadium is bad to watch sport at and will never be fixed. The stadium was voted the fans favourite in 2011 with fan viewing being a huge tick mark.
• A team won't be started. The Gold Coast Suns entered the AFL in 2011.
• Skilled Park should seat 35k-40k because of the huge crowd attendances. The Titans averaged 14,405 at home in 2012.
• Money down the drain, Titans have the support. The Titans had 6,674 members in 2012 while the Suns had 11,204.
• Ron Clarke has lost the support of the community with over spending and will not be re-elected in 2008. Ron Clarke remained Premier of the Gold Coast until 2012 when he stood down.
• A redeveloped Carrara Stadium will not seat over 20k. Metricon Stadium currently seats 25k and has since its opening.
• Skilled Park is being built with the plan of being expanded. Skilled Park hasn't shown any sign of being expanded since its opening.
• The Titans will have lots of games under 15,000 when the novelty wears off. The Titans averaged 14,405 at home in 2012.

[CoastSportsFan]

Interesting to read back on this thread and see how much things have changed on the Gold Coast. It is especially interesting to read the LU thread on the same topic found here. If you go through the comments you can see some predictions came true but a lot didn't.

Firstly the article states -

• The new stadium would seat 25,000 people. Metricon Stadium currently seats 25,000.
• The roof would be wave shaped. The roof is currently wave shaped.
• Patrons could arrive by water. Patrons do not currently arrive by water.
• The venue would be horse-shoe shaped in design and would face the Nerang river. The stadium is currently horse-shoe shaped and does face the Nerang river.
• Ron Clarke stated it is a matter of when not if the Gold Coast would have their own AFL team. Four years later the Gold Coast Suns entered the AFL.
• Skilled Park would be opened in December 2007. Skilled Park did open in December 2007.
• All sports are interested in the Gold Coast. The AFL, A-League and NBL all started Gold Coastteams later on.

Now the comments -

• Carrara Stadium is bad to watch sport at and will never be fixed. The stadium was voted the fans favourite in 2011 with fan viewing being a huge tick mark.
• A team won't be started. The Gold Coast Suns entered the AFL in 2011.
• Skilled Park should seat 35k-40k because of the huge crowd attendances. The Titans averaged 14,405 at home in 2012.
• Money down the drain, Titans have the support. The Titans had 6,674 members in 2012 while the Suns had 11,204.
• Ron Clarke has lost the support of the community with over spending and will not be re-elected in 2008. Ron Clarke remained Premier of the Gold Coast until 2012 when he stood down.
• A redeveloped Carrara Stadium will not seat over 20k. Metricon Stadium currently seats 25k and has since its opening.
• Skilled Park is being built with the plan of being expanded. Skilled Park hasn't shown any sign of being expanded since its opening.
• The Titans will have lots of games under 15,000 when the novelty wears off. The Titans averaged 14,405 at home in 2012.

I am a fan of all sports and I think the Gold Coast should be proud we have two teams in two national leagues. Go Gold Coast!

[C-Whiz]

I think CoastSportsFan and insideword should get together for coffee.

[lonegull]

I think CoastSportsFan and insideword should get together for coffee.

totally agree

[TITAN PETE]

I think CoastSportsFan and insideword should get together for coffee.

I love how the AFL like to talk up their member numbers which are not true

He should get his facts right about our numbers which is almost 9000

[CoastSportsFan]

I love how the AFL like to talk up their member numbers which are not true

He should get his facts right about our numbers which is almost 9000

I don't speak for the AFL, I'm just speaking the truth. I read on leagueunlimited that the Titans had that number this year and around 6,700 right now. I'm not sure where you got 9,000 from? Are you talking about something other than memberships?

[CoastSportsFan]

I don't speak for the AFL, I'm just speaking the truth. I read on leagueunlimited that the Titans had that number this year and around 6,700 right now. I'm not sure where you got 9,000 from? Are you talking about something other than memberships?

I meant to say they had that number last year and around 6,700 now.

[DIEHARD]

Oh look it's an AFL troll. The only thing that makes the Gold Coast Suns (A rejected GCNRL mocker) look good is GWS.

Unfortunately we aren't backed by a huge pipeline of AFL slush fund money and have to earn our money. Our stadium was also one of the most expensive in the league to attend. Which David May has worked hard to cut a new deal which will benefit the fans.

In 2013 the Titans will prosper. On and off the field.

[Toads]

The thing is, Gold Coast Suns will face similar hurdles in time. Especially when the AFL funds dry up. They themselves will have to face low crowd numbers, exorbitant fees put on them by Stadiums Queensland and so on. So I wouldn't be beating your chest too much just yet.

With the Titans, we've already endured such obstacles, and things are looking positive towards the future.

Six years on, we're still around. Where will GCS be in 2017 is probably the more prominent question here..

[TITAN PETE]

I don't speak for the AFL, I'm just speaking the truth. I read on leagueunlimited that the Titans had that number this year and around 6,700 right now. I'm not sure where you got 9,000 from? Are you talking about something other than memberships?

I suggest u stop reading rubbish & note we are a Rugby League Club & do not care what any AFL supporters have to say about our game as they usually have no idea what they are talking about.

The 9000 members is something Titans members are aware of.

Troll's will be Exterminated ...

[Titanic]

That was truly an interesting thread ... interesting in the fact that some fumbleball clown took the time to put it together.

[TITAN PETE]

That was truly an interesting thread ... interesting in the fact that some fumbleball clown took the time to put it together.

He had to dig deep too

[Tamwelg]

That was truly an interesting thread ... interesting in the fact that some fumbleball clown took the time to put it together.

My eyes hurt.

[Coaster]

I didn't read it. And apparently I started the thread