4 hours ago
1
The architecture firm designing Brisbane’s Olympic stadium has taken on another south-east Queensland venue tipped to be used at the 2032 Games.
AmplifyGC, featuring Brisbane Stadium designers Cox Architects, was announced on Monday as the winning consortium to deliver the Gold Coast Arena.
And Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has tipped the new agreement to result in more major international acts skipping Brisbane to play in his city.
The consortium, which was shortlisted last week, also included public-private partnership specialists Plenary Group, multinational entertainment company and tour promoter Live Nation, construction contractor Built and architecture firm 3XN.
Announcing AmplifyGC’s successful bid to deliver the 12,000-seat arena on Monday, Tate said the council voted 11 in favour and four against the consortium.
And with Live Nation’s involvement, the mayor said touring international acts would be more likely to choose to play on the Gold Coast rather than Brisbane.
“I view that [Live Nation is] now ‘team Gold Coast’ and with acts coming to Sydney and Melbourne, I’d like to see them land here on the Gold Coast,” he said.
“If the act wants to play extra days, well Brisbane can have them, but we want to make sure that with world-class acts, we get first chop at it.”
Plenary Group head of development Sergio Calcarao said the arena, which would cost an estimated $480 million, would be funded through a mixture of debt and equity, and government contributions.
“We will build, deliver, fund, finance and operate the venue over the agreed concession term and at the end of that concession term, the asset and the land will return to the council,” he said.
The Casey Park land would effectively belong to the consortium for the life of the that term, Calcarao said, the length of which had to be agreed with the Invest Gold Coast and the council.
“The council and the people who evaluated our solution are aware of the options that we’ve tabled, and it’s a finite period – it’s not an indefinite period,” he said.
Calcarao said the length of concession term had been discussed, with between 30 and 50 years “in the realm of options” tabled in negotiations.
Tate said whatever the term, it was important there was a return on investment for the consortium partners.
Construction of the arena at Southport’s Carey Park was expected to start next year. Updated imagery of AmplifyGC’s proposal was not provided, due to what Invest Gold Coast described as probity issues.
Earlier this month, the council released plans for a new Gold Coast Music Hall in the heart of Surfers Paradise on the site of the existing transit centre.
That venue would include a indoor performance space for up to 2500 people.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
