Southport Sharks reveal ambitious boutique stadium development plan

Southport Sharks Football Club has unveiled a venue masterplan which includes plans for a boutique stadium that it intends to become the heart of a major sport and entertainment precinct.

The Gold Coast-based team, which competes in the Victorian Football League (VFL), plans a stadium catering for 8,000 to 10,000 people which it says will provide an important piece of community infrastructure, designed to respond to the growing needs of the region.

Advising that there have been “calls for a boutique stadium across the Gold Coast for a number of years”, Southport Sharks Chief Executive, Dean Bowtell stated “our detailed planning and investigations have confirmed that Southport Sharks is the best location in the city for this important piece of community infrastructure and that … we can deliver a fantastic experience in a venue that is the right size for the city.”

The venue will be the home of the Southport Sharks senior Australian rules teams in both the VFL and QAFLW women’s competitions. It also includes purpose-built facilities for female sport, live outdoor music and events and additional community recreational facilities with an aquatics centre, outdoor basketball and netball courts and capacity to accommodate rectangular field sports such as soccer.

Bowtell commented “we see an important role for Southport Sharks in making the Gold Coast the capital of women’s sport in Australia, and we are excited by just how much the right venue in the right location will assist as our city works towards that goal.”

The stadium has been designed by Urbis to provide a distinctive event day experience and integrate the adjoining Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, and Smith Collective Village. The location and design of the stadium seeks to capitalise on the central location of the club, which currently competes at the 8,000-capacity Fankhauser Reserve, existing transport infrastructure and the legacy of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Sharks said it will be easily accessible by two existing light rail stations, an existing bus network, and a range of other transport modes.

The club is also working with project partners towards being Australia’s first green stadium by incorporating bioenergy infrastructure and a range of smart stadium technology.

In addition to the stadium, the Sharks’ masterplan creates opportunities for the precinct to accommodate additional residential development including build-to-rent, retirement living and affordable housing opportunities, in response to what the club says is an acute need for additional housing on the Gold Coast. It also proposes new facilities to support business, events and broadcasting as a leading sports tech sector.

Bowtell added “in the lead up to the (Brisbane) 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we are very focussed on the opportunity for Southport Sharks to be a cornerstone of Queensland’s emerging sports tech sector.

“We will keep building on our assets and the capabilities of our team, both on and off the field, to partner with other organisations in areas like athlete management, data analytics, wearables, fan engagement, stadium experience, esports and media, to position the precinct as the leading centre for sports tech in Queensland.”

The Sharks’ announcement follows Harvey Lister, APAC Chairman and Chief Executive of ASM Global (Asia Pacific) having, in the past week, called for the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre to be doubled in size with the addition of a 12,000-seat indoor arena and a 2000-seat ballroom.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has also previously advocated for an 8000-seat multi-purpose arena for the city, based on a design by Egyptian architect Mohamed El Brombaly.

The latter venues would cater for demand for the Gold Coast to have an entertainment venue capable of attracting international artists.

Click here for more information on the Southport Sharks’ plan.

Images: Architectural rendering for the Sharks' proposed stadium (top and middle, credit: Southport Sharks Football Club/Urbis) and the design concept for an 8000-seat multi-purpose arena for the city by Egyptian architect Mohamed El Brombaly (below).