Potential expansion of Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre stalled by review

A potential expansion plans of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) looks to have been slowed following a recent review that concluded its current size was enough to meet demand until 2043.

The Queensland Conventions Sector review examined the proposal to expand the 19-year old venue but is reported to have concluded the existing venue is big enough to cater for demand over the next two decades.

However, advising that demand post pandemic meant the Centre was turning away business due to a lack of space, GCCEC General Manager and Destination Gold Coast Chair, Adrienne Readings told the Gold Coast Bulletin “it’s fair to say the convention business this year has seen a massive boost and we have had 30% higher business than we previously did on the back of Covid.

“What we are lacking is the size of our centre and this means we lose opportunities on an ongoing basis because we do not have enough concurrent space to attract and keep the larger conventions which are coming.

“We are seen as one of the most popular destinations for conventions yet we have one of the smallest spaces of any city in Australia while being the sixth largest (city) and that means we need to compare ourselves to other major locations here and internationally.”

Destination Gold Coast interim Chief Operating Officer Rachel Hancock is also backing an expansion, noting “one in two conferences in Queensland are currently held on the Gold Coast so the potential for growth with an expanded convention centre is enormous and crucial to boosting Sunday to Thursday visitor economy in particular.”

ASM Global Asia Pacific Chairman and Managing Director Harvey Lister recently laid out his vision for a $750 million redevelopment that included a 12,000-seat stadium and events precinct.

The call for an expansion has also been backed by major concert and sporting event promoters alongside Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce President Martin Hall and Surfers Paradise state member John-Paul Langbroek.

One World Entertainment’s Andrew McManus said the Gold Coast was missing out on 40 concert events a year due to a lack of space.

He explained to told the Gold Coast Bulletin “having 10,000 (seats) is the minimum of what we need form a concert point of view and there is no doubt in my mind that as the Gold Coast grows over the next few years we could managed to do concerts of that size both here and in Brisbane because both regions can easily manage that.”.

Mayor Tate said the city needed a 12,000-seat indoor stadium well before the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, stating “the Gold Coast is missing out on other events for lack of a 12,000 seat indoor arena.”

Lister quizzed about no Taylor Swift concert in Brisbane
With global singing star this week announcing 2024 tour dates in Australia, playing the MCG and Sydney’s Accor Stadium, Lister was today asked why the tour did not include dates in Brisbane.

He told ABC Radio Brisbane, that Swift had been "definitely holding dates" at Suncorp Stadium, "but as the dates around the world fell into place, Australia got sandwiched a bit".

Lister noted “she comes through Japan, plays Australia, goes out through Singapore and then straight back to Europe.”

Lister said given Swift was devoting a week to each city on the tour and because Australia only had two weeks' worth of dates, only two cities would fit the schedule, adding “there just wasn't time to keep leapfrogging from city to city.”

Image credit Destination Gold Coast.