News PeopleFirst (Bank) Stadium and Precinct

[Iva Bigun]

Here is a picture from today for the history books:

Yeah, a lots changed, Gaz could put his hand above his shoulder back then

 

[Matchu]

Yeah, a lots changed, Gaz could put his hand above his shoulder back then

Dem days when Gaz had full range of motion.

 

[exile]

i sometimes forget we had nathan ablett on our list at one point.

 

[Libba21]

Just thought I would put this for people who are interested. Once the commonwealth games is over everything goes to the suns basically. Smart idea by the suns to wait on this instead of like the giants going to premature and getting just an ok training base.

 

[Matchu]

Hunt begins for team to stage Gold Coast Commonwealth Games opening and closing events

A WORLDWIDE hunt has started for the team that will put together the signature opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

The ceremonies, to be beamed around the world, are expected to be watched by 1.2 billion people.

This week the Queensland Goverment advertised for a technical consultant who will get the ball rolling on the $30 million job many consider to be one of the keys to the event’s success.

Cultural king David Atkins, who managed the Gold Coast section of the closing ceremony at the Glasgow Games, is expected to throw his hat in the ring for the main gig, which will be advertised later in the year.

As planning for the event ramps up, construction work is also moving into top gear for the Games.

Yesterday Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Minister for Commonwealth Games Kate Jones and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate turned the first sod on the $101 million Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre.

“My government treats the Games extremely seriously,” Ms Palaszczuk declared.

“We want to see this city thrive and prosper (on the back of the event).”

The sports and leisure centre is being built on land to the west of Metricon Stadium, which itself will be used to stage the opening and closing ceremonies and athletics events during the Games.

Sydney firm Hansen Yuncken is taking the lead on the massive complex, which will create 400 jobs in the next two years.

The first step in the development came yesterday when workers began digging the hole needed before building could start above ground.

The complex includes two stadiums connected with a walkway.

They will be used for badminton and wrestling events.

By the time the Games roll around, another $6 million will have been spent upgrading Metricon and turning it into a 40,000 seat stadium.

A smaller stadium in front of Metricon will also be given an $8 million revamp, while an athletics training track will be built behind it in time for the Games.

Work also started last month on the $40 million Coomera stadium on Beattie Rd. which will be home to the gymnastics, netball finals and basketball finals.

Ms Jones also yesterday confirmed Gold Coast identity John Witheriff had been given the final seat on the Gold Coast Games Corporation board — boosting local participation in the powerful group.

Confirmation that an athletics track will be built behind the Carrara Indoor Stadium. That land is currently occupied by the Suns demountable training facilities and a car park. So once the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre is complete they'll remove the demountables and replace that with an athletics track.

 

[exile]

Any word on LED signage in the stadium yet? Andrew Travis said at the members night that LED signage was on its way but didn't elaborate. I can't find any information but hopefully the old advertisements around the oval will be electronic for round two.

definitely a bit of LED advertising in this picture just put up on instagram.

damn you SUNS. you're always in the know haha.

edit: surely that is electronic signage, right? it's way too faded to be a regular advertising board, and it's all 'amcal'. usually there's more of a break in sponsors.

 

[Matchu]

definitely a bit of LED advertising in this picture just put up on instagram.

damn you SUNS. you're always in the know haha.

edit: surely that is electronic signage, right? it's way too faded to be a regular advertising board, and it's all 'amcal'. usually there's more of a break in sponsors.

Time to come clean SUNS. Is it electronic signage?

It'll look even better if they do the second tier as well.

 

[PREETY_FLY]

Afl has announced 15mill in funding to help fund a new training facilities, including lap pool, high altitude training etc.

Construction to begin immediately

 

[Matchu]

Afl has announced 15mill in funding to help fund a new training facilities, including lap pool, high altitude training etc.

Construction to begin immediately

Not sure if this is the same $15 million but at the game it was announced by the Federal Minister for Sport that they would be providing $15 million to go towards the construction of the Suns new training facilities. Great news that they are going to have a pool included. Should help with recovery.

 

[Corkie]

General admission tickets sold out tonight. Only positive out of tonight's game.

 

[Matchu]

 

[Iva Bigun]

Great news about the investment, drove past today and you can see where the work has started. Matchu is there a website that has more detail?

 

[Matchu]

Great news about the investment, drove past today and you can see where the work has started. Matchu is there a website that has more detail?

http://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov...games/555-carrara-sports-and-leisure-precinct

Probably the best I can do for you right now.

 

[Matchu]

Another photo of the training and admin facilities. This picture shows the other side of the CSLC with the walkway between hall 1 and 2 as well as the Suns training facilities to the right. This design should prevent flooding as there doesn't appear to be much on the ground level.

 

[Experimental]

Another photo of the training and admin facilities. This picture shows the other side of the CSLC with the walkway between hall 1 and 2 as well as the Suns training facilities to the right. This design should prevent flooding as there doesn't appear to be much on the ground level.

Is Metricon on the right??

 

[Matchu]

Is Metricon on the right??

I thought it was on the left as the original plans were to have the Suns training facilities on the north-eastern part of the CSLC but this article below states it will be on the north-western side. So, according to the article below, that picture shows the plaza area on the western side of the CSLC that is open to the public. It also says 400 extra car parks will be built under the CSLC which will open up parks for the public over the road. A lot of the staff currently park over the road but those spots will open up now once the CSLC is constructed. The article also says the Suns training facilities should be completed by the end of 2015. Funding for the $22 million training and admin facilities will be provided by the Federal Government ($15m) and the Suns/AFL ($7m) and will include a gym, medical facilities, a recovery pool, administration space, meeting rooms, cafes and lecture theatres. So the total cost of the upgrade to the Carrara Sports Precinct will be $144 million, the exact amount it costed to redevelop the stadium in 2009. Importantly, it says the Suns will have access to all the facilities in the Carrara Sports Precinct. It looks like their choice to invest in the infrastructure has paid off once again.

More parking for Gold Coast AFL fans on game days thanks to new Carrara sports centre where Suns will be based

PARKING at Metricon Stadium will be boosted for AFL fans on game days thanks to the new Carrara sports and leisure centre being constructed next door for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Work started on the $122 million facility last week and on Saturday night, it was announced that a new $22 million home for the Gold Coast Suns AFL Club would be incorporated into the plans.

Suns CEO Andrew Travis said yesterday the additional 400 carparks that came with the development were a major bonus.

“The details are yet to be worked out and will be subject to an operational plan,” he said.

“But we expect to use the 400 carparks under the Carrara sports and leisure centre on game days, which will free up parking across the road for fans.

“Improving access to the stadium is a major priority for us.”

Mr Travis expects the club to move into the new premises at the end of next year.

The 4000sq m area that the Suns will occupy on the north-western side of the centre will include a gym, medical facilities, recovery pool, administration space, meeting rooms, cafes and lecture theatres.

“This will be great for our players,” Mr Travis said.

“We need to have the facilities that players expect.

“It will also be a fantastic reward for our staff, who have been operating in temporary facilities for a while now.”

The Suns will also be able to access extra sporting fields that are planned for the Carrara site.

The new home base for the Suns is being jointly funded by the Federal Government, which contributed $15 million, and the AFL and Suns, which put in the final $7 million.

Minister for Sport Sussan Ley said the administration and training facility would provide opportunities to grow the Game here.

“The Suns are a key part of the Gold Coast sporting and cultural landscape ...,” she said.

More pictures:

 

[Matchu]

It's important that the Suns don't allow the rent on the CSLC to get out of control like it did for the Titans at the CoE. I've got a feeling the AFL have brokered a nice little deal with the QLD state government similar to the one they have for Metricon and were able to do so because they are investing some of their own money into the CSLC. Having said that, I don't think it will be too difficult to rent the facilities out over the summer months given a lot of teams base themselves on the Gold Coast/in south east QLD over summer already. A good idea would be to invite the Brisbane Heat down to Carrara so they can get the word out that the Gold Coast deserves a BBL team and has the facilities to support one. Inviting Gold Coast Cricket to base themselves at Carrara isn't a bad idea either.

 

[Sunny_]

Bit weird to see Gary walking around in the gym with his kit on! Fully strapped!

 

[Matchu]

Is Metricon on the right??

Confirmation the Suns training facilities will be located on the north-eastern side of the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre. That means their building will overlook the Nerang River as well as getting a nice view of the Southport/Surfers Paradise/Broadbeach skyline.

 

[Matchu]

Four more pictures of the CSLC training and admin facilities:

 

[Sunny_]

Kade must have really tight hamstrings.

 

[Matchu]

Kade must have really tight hamstrings.

I'm more worried about his decision to use the lecture theatre as a place to stretch.

 

[Sunizzle]

Confirmation the Suns training facilities will be located on the north-eastern side of the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre. That means their building will overlook the Nerang River as well as getting a nice view of the Southport/Surfers Paradise/Broadbeach skyline.

north-western?

 

[Matchu]

north-western?

The picture provided doesn't represent true geographical directions. The top of that picture is actually pointing east towards the Pacific Ocean and the bottom points west towards the mountains.

 

[Sunizzle]

The picture provided doesn't represent true geographical directions. The top of that picture is actually pointing east towards the Pacific Ocean and the bottom points west towards the mountains.

still wouldn't consider it eastern, maybe just northern.