The Stadium Thread!

[DIEHARD]

Robina wins the NRL cliff-hanger
19Jul05

The Coast's new rugby league stadium will be built at Robina.

The Gold Coast City Council made its choice yesterday after weeks of angst and speculation.

Councillors took less than an hour to unanimously accept land owner Robina Land Corporation's final offer, which came in slightly under $17 million.

Mayor Ron Clarke said the 5ha site near the railway station, the favoured option from day one, was the 'best deal' for ratepayers and football fans.

Councillors chose the Robina site over a rival bid at Nerang because of its central location, position above flood level, and its proximity to Robina Town Centre and other economic hubs.

Queensland Treasurer Terry Mackenroth, who said the Government would build and run the stadium provided the council provided the land, said the choice was the most sensible one.

"It is also close to a commercial hub in the Robina Town Centre which will provide vitality to the precinct, much like what Caxton Street does for Suncorp Stadium," he said.

Robina Land Corporation (RLC) chief executive Richard Wyatt said he was delighted Robina had won the bid, although he was disappointed about the final price. He said the RLC could have gained a better outcome on the open market.

"The price is disappointing, but we are now looking at this in the context that it will bring the stadium to Robina, which is obviously a good thing for the area," he said.

"Price is a historical issue. Now we are going to concen-trate on what we can do in the precinct to make sure the stadium is a success."

A range of entertainment, hospitality, residential and office developments are mooted for vacant land near the stadium. "That's what we need to create around it to make it work," he said.

Although council involvement in the stadium ends with the land purchase, the hard work has just begun for the State Government.

Mr Mackenroth said the Major Sports Facility Authority (MSFA) would start work straight away to build the stadium by the 2008 season. "Planning will get under way immediately," he said.

The MSFA will now call for design proposals for its stadium.

"Our design brief to companies will stress the need for the stadium to reflect the identity of the Coast. Once MSFA decide on a preferred design, the construction phase will commence," he said.

"Upon completion, this stadium will be a fully functional, quality rugby league, rugby union and soccer venue."

He said a project cost would not be known until a competitive tender process was finalised.

It is understood the stadium cost will be about $100 million.

Although the stadium will sit on 5ha, the RLC deal includes 2ha for car parking.

The stadium was awarded to Robina despite a last-minute attempt by rival land owners at Nerang to undercut the bid. Japanese landowner Club Cavill slashed its asking price to $16 million from $24 million, in a bid to outdo the council-favoured Robina site.
Source; Gold Coast Bulletin - http://www.gcbulletin.com.au

 

[DIEHARD]

Robina's spot on for new team
JULY 18 , 2005

The Gold Coast NRL Consortium has received another major boost in preparing for its entry into the NRL with this afternoon’s confirmation that Robina will be the home ground for the fledgling franchise.

Managing Director Michael Searle said, “This is great news for us and for the city. It means that we have absolute certainty about the location of the site and it means that the state government can now move to the next phase of planning and building the stadium.”

The site is a 5 hectare parcel of land near the Robina Rail Station, adjacent to Robina Town Centre and in close proximity to the M1.

“The Robina site has been the preferred option held by most of the stakeholders. All the necessary infrastructure is there and the potential for a Commercial precinct including restaurants and other retail outlets makes it attractive as far as planning the broader ancillary aspects of such a development goes,” said Searle.

The decision ends 7 weeks of speculation and some controversy about the location of the stadium. A number of sites were looked at including Carrara, two parcels of land at Nerang, one at Reedy Creek, one at Coomera and two at Robina.

Searle said, “We understand the work carried out by council officers was significant and it was important that all relevant information was available because there is an enormous amount of permanency in the outcome so detailed measures had to be taken to ensure the decision was the right one.”

The council voted unanimously on the Robina option late this afternoon.

Source: Gold Coast RLFC - http://www.goldcoastrugbyleague.com.au

 

[Kingytek]

Robina wins the NRL cliff-hanger
19Jul05

The Coast's new rugby league stadium will be built at Robina.

The Gold Coast City Council made its choice yesterday after weeks of angst and speculation.

Councillors took less than an hour to unanimously accept land owner Robina Land Corporation's final offer, which came in slightly under $17 million.

Mayor Ron Clarke said the 5ha site near the railway station, the favoured option from day one, was the 'best deal' for ratepayers and football fans.

Councillors chose the Robina site over a rival bid at Nerang because of its central location, position above flood level, and its proximity to Robina Town Centre and other economic hubs.

Queensland Treasurer Terry Mackenroth, who said the Government would build and run the stadium provided the council provided the land, said the choice was the most sensible one.

"It is also close to a commercial hub in the Robina Town Centre which will provide vitality to the precinct, much like what Caxton Street does for Suncorp Stadium," he said.

Robina Land Corporation (RLC) chief executive Richard Wyatt said he was delighted Robina had won the bid, although he was disappointed about the final price. He said the RLC could have gained a better outcome on the open market.

"The price is disappointing, but we are now looking at this in the context that it will bring the stadium to Robina, which is obviously a good thing for the area," he said.

"Price is a historical issue. Now we are going to concen-trate on what we can do in the precinct to make sure the stadium is a success."

A range of entertainment, hospitality, residential and office developments are mooted for vacant land near the stadium. "That's what we need to create around it to make it work," he said.

Although council involvement in the stadium ends with the land purchase, the hard work has just begun for the State Government.

Mr Mackenroth said the Major Sports Facility Authority (MSFA) would start work straight away to build the stadium by the 2008 season. "Planning will get under way immediately," he said.

The MSFA will now call for design proposals for its stadium.

"Our design brief to companies will stress the need for the stadium to reflect the identity of the Coast. Once MSFA decide on a preferred design, the construction phase will commence," he said.

"Upon completion, this stadium will be a fully functional, quality rugby league, rugby union and soccer venue."

He said a project cost would not be known until a competitive tender process was finalised.

It is understood the stadium cost will be about $100 million.

Although the stadium will sit on 5ha, the RLC deal includes 2ha for car parking.

The stadium was awarded to Robina despite a last-minute attempt by rival land owners at Nerang to undercut the bid. Japanese landowner Club Cavill slashed its asking price to $16 million from $24 million, in a bid to outdo the council-favoured Robina site.
Source; Gold Coast Bulletin - http://www.gcbulletin.com.au

Robina's spot on for new team
JULY 18 , 2005

The Gold Coast NRL Consortium has received another major boost in preparing for its entry into the NRL with this afternoon’s confirmation that Robina will be the home ground for the fledgling franchise.

Managing Director Michael Searle said, “This is great news for us and for the city. It means that we have absolute certainty about the location of the site and it means that the state government can now move to the next phase of planning and building the stadium.”

The site is a 5 hectare parcel of land near the Robina Rail Station, adjacent to Robina Town Centre and in close proximity to the M1.

“The Robina site has been the preferred option held by most of the stakeholders. All the necessary infrastructure is there and the potential for a Commercial precinct including restaurants and other retail outlets makes it attractive as far as planning the broader ancillary aspects of such a development goes,” said Searle.

The decision ends 7 weeks of speculation and some controversy about the location of the stadium. A number of sites were looked at including Carrara, two parcels of land at Nerang, one at Reedy Creek, one at Coomera and two at Robina.

Searle said, “We understand the work carried out by council officers was significant and it was important that all relevant information was available because there is an enormous amount of permanency in the outcome so detailed measures had to be taken to ensure the decision was the right one.”

The council voted unanimously on the Robina option late this afternoon.

Source: Gold Coast RLFC - http://www.goldcoastrugbyleague.com.au

http://www.goldcoastrugbyleague.com.au/

 

[DIEHARD]

2008? I hope thats a typo!!!

No it isn't, remember the Gold Coast will probably play out of Carrara for some or most likely all of their first season (2007). Big games, such as against the Cowboys and Brisbane might also be relocated to Lang Park.

And will move to the fantastic new stadium for the 2008 season, co-incidently the stadium will also be open in time for the Rugby League World Cup in 2008 along with the newly redeveloped Olympic Park in Melbourne.

Simply glorious...

 

[nqboy]

Leaps and bounds.

 

[iggy plop]

I've just had a look at the Robina area on the web and it looks the perfect spot for the stadium. They couldn't have picked a better spot on the Goald Coast. People from Brisbane will get down there in an hour on the train. The Central Coast people think they've got a good stadium, this will be 10 times better. The Central Coast one has trees behind the goal posts at one end of the field - not a good look.

 

[DIEHARD]

Site for sore eyes
20Jul05


Forget the train station, ready access to the Pacific Motorway and the shopping centre just down the road.

According to Paul Broughton, the best thing about the site that will eventually be home to the Gold Coast's rugby league stadium is its proximity to a hospital.

"The (Robina) hospital is nice and close ... that's important because we'll need it for the opposition," laughed the chairman of the Gold Coast's NRL consortium.

Mr Broughton was in good spirits yesterday as he inspected the parcel of land at Robina for which the council agreed on Monday to fork out almost $17 million.

And although the barren outcrop might not look like much now, Mr Broughton has high hopes for the site.

"This is going to be terrific, we'll have an ultra-modern stadium here," he said, standing on what will eventually be the northeastern corner.

"I don't really think anybody has got an idea just how great this is all going to be."

Mr Broughton said he envisaged a range of food and beverage outlets, membership shops and even a hall of fame built around the precinct.

"That way the revenue still flows when they're not playing," he said.

The Gold Coast team will kick off at Robina at the beginning of the 2008 season, after playing a year at the Carrara stadium. Mr Broughton said that, although it was a tight schedule to get the new stadium operational, he was not concerned.

"We will be ready to kick off in 2008, there's no doubt," he said.

"Every stadium ever built is 'never going to be ready on time', whether it be the Olympic stadium or any other.

"But when it comes down to it, they're always built to schedule that will be the same here."

Mr Broughton said anyone cynical about the potential success of the region's team need look no farther than Townsville's NRL team, the north Queensland Cowboys.

"Every time they play, the Cowboys bring in between $5 million and $7.5 million into a city of 150,000 people," he said.

"When they played the Broncos up there in the semi-finals last year, the media exposure was worth more than $17 million to the city.

"The same thing will happen on the Gold Coast."

Checking out the site with Mr Broughton, NRL development officer Scott Sattler said Robina was clearly the best outcome for the league team.

"Robina is now the dead centre of the Gold Coast," he said. "This brings people from northern NSW into the picture. They've got great access."

Premier Peter Beattie said yesterday he was 'very happy' the Gold Coast City Council had closed the land deal, but said critics who complained about the money the State Government would spend on building the stadium were ill-informed.

"If you have an ill-informed debate about it you will end up with people being in a state of angst," he said.

"It is not taxpayers' money, it is money from gamblers."

Councillors chose the 5ha Robina site over a rival bid at Nerang because of its central location, position above flood level and its proximity to Robina Town Centre and other economic hubs.

Robina Land Corporation originally wanted more than $20 million for the site but the price was pushed down in a bidding war with the Japanese owners of land at Nerang, who slashed their price by $8 million to $16 million at the last minute.

Source: http://www.gcbulletin.com.au

 

[DIEHARD]

What The Bulletin thinks
20Jul05

Fantastic opportunity for our city

With the Gold Coast rugby league stadium site settled and the way now clear for the State Government to start the construction project, a brilliant opportunity has been handed to the city.

Cliches flow easily in a situation such as this but, so far as grabbing a chance to capitalise on a sporting opportunity goes, the Gold Coast has the ball at its feet.

Inevitably there will be the whingers who will argue the stadium construction investment suggested to be about $100 million would be better employed elsewhere.

But that investment initially will create construction jobs and boost industries that supply materials and, once the stadium is built and ready for use, there will be a demand for service industries and suppliers of food, beverages and security. The multiplier effect ensures that the dollars will flow through the community.

And it will be interesting to watch the surrounding precinct at Robina evolve.

The classic example of how and why a stadium can be a success can be found one hour north by train at Lang Park which was developed by the State Government into the magnificent Suncorp Stadium.

Brisbane's stadium and surrounding facilities are far superior to what is available in Sydney. Bars and food outlets operate down there, but they lack the excitement and fail to match the drawing power of Brisbane's Caxton Street, Park Road and CBD restaurant, bar, coffee shop and entertainment precincts.

Entertainment is the key word, since going to the football now is more than a game and pie experience.

And it should be a determining force in the development of Robina's football stadium precinct.

That development of a dining and entertainment strip along with other businesses will create even more construction and jobs while adding to the Gold Coast's vibrant events industry.

And the beauty of the stadium's position will be that instead of the 15 to 20-minute walk to the railway station that is the case in Brisbane depending whether the footy fan decides to ride from Milton or Roma Street, fans leaving the Robina precinct will only have to stroll across the road to the station if they intend catching a train to go home.

But other transport issues exist that must be addressed.

Daily traffic holdups at peak hour on the Mudgeeraba-Robina exit on the M1 indicate potential for major snarls as traffic using the highway attempts to make its way to Robina on game days.

And make no mistake, not everyone will be using the train to go to the NRL games.

Park-and-ride bus facilities will have to be organised but highway exits will also have to be improved and alternative routes clearly marked.

Brisbane and northern Gold Coast fans will use the train; however, there is a huge number of fans at the southern end of the Coast and in northern NSW who will have no choice but to drive.

Buses should be laid on but of course the proper solution would be for the railway line extension to Coolangatta to be fast-tracked.

The city council's Robina decision therefore should provide impetus for the State Government to fast-track the extension of the line south from Robina to Coolangatta.

It is puzzling and indeed frustrating that, at the moment, the Government has not planned the rail extension to Reedy Creek for completion until August 2008, with construction on an extension from there to Elanora not due to start until 2008-09 and a start on the vital further extension to Coolangatta not due until 2016.

Source: http://www.gcbulletin.com.au

 

[RainMan]

Good news, not even a 5 minute drive from my house.

 

[Rexxy]

Site for sore eyes
20Jul05



"Robina is now the dead centre of the Gold Coast," he said. "

As the Fonz used to say "Exact-a-mundo".

 

[0neye]

Gold Coast NRL team to call Robina home
Gold Coast rugby league team managing director Michael Searle says he is delighted Robina will be the site for the city's new football stadium.

The provision of a purpose-built stadium was a major factor in the Gold Coast being readmitted to the National Rugby League (NRL) competition.

The council was also considering a site at Nerang or an upgrade of Carrara stadium, but Mr Searle says Robina is ideal because it is part of a shopping development.

"That appears to be the way our stadiums worldwide are going, that they become part of economic precincts," he said.

"Robina was always a preference for us, despite [the fact] there was obviously advantages of Nerang and Carrara, but we felt Robina - the access to the stadium, the train line - all those things I think swung our support their way."

 

[dinghydi]

Hope the stadium design reflects the teams name , as its being purpose built for rugby league would be good if everytime ppl drove past they were reminded of the rugby league team whos home it was , and even from a distance where the signs werent so readable.

 

[Forever_Queensand]

my idea is that if they call the team the Pirates then there should be a Pirate ship at one end of the stadium, sort of like what the Mariners had with their boat at breakers stadium.

For seat colours, please not the gabba style. go for a colourful wave like at Suncorp, and to a lesser extent Telstra.

 

[DIEHARD]

For seat colours, please not the gabba style. go for a colourful wave like at Suncorp, and to a lesser extent Telstra.

And of course in team colours.

 

[Sun_Down]

Hope the seats are aqua, like their jersey (using same colours yer?) Anyway aqua would look cool.

 

[iggy plop]

Terry Mackenroth has quit.

I hope this doesn't effect stadium funding.

 

[littleduck]

Terry Mackenroth has quit.

I hope this doesn't effect stadium funding.

No. The Minister for Football Stadiums wouldnt quit unless he was 100% confident everythig was in place.

Besides, you can rest assured the Gold Coast City Council wouldn't have forked out $16.9mil the other week without written assurances binding on the State Government to build the Robina Football Stadium.

 

[Kingytek]

Have we heard anything more about development/plans for the new stadium?

 

[DIEHARD]

Beattie kicks stadium woe into touch
24Aug05


The current controversy over government funding for sporting events will not affect the construction of a 25,000-seat stadium on the Gold Coast which will be ready for its first game in February 2008.

Premier Peter Beattie last night confirmed that, despite withdrawing Queensland Health funding from the Brisbane Broncos NRL team, the controversy over the sponsorship deal would not affect the Robina NRL stadium.

Mr Beattie had earlier tabled in State Parliament the timetable for the design, planning and construction of the $100 million stadium, which will be built by the Government on a 5ha site near the railway station bought by the Gold Coast City Council for almost $17 million last month.

"As we near the climax of the 2005 National Rugby League season I can tell everyone on the Coast how we plan to ensure that there will be a Gold Coast stadium waiting for the start of the 2008 season," he said.

Former treasurer and sports minister Terry Mackenroth signed off on the rectangular stadium as one of his last jobs before retiring last month. The Department of Public Works began searching for architects to undertake designs.

Proposals were invited from five architectural companies with demonstrated experience in recent significant sports stadium projects. The closing date for submissions is August 29.

"We will be aiming for a stadium of about 25,000 seats," said Mr Beattie. "We expect to select an architect by the end of next month. By the end of October we expect to be selecting a managing contractor.

"By June next year we want to have in place the design development, sub-contract documentation, early works tendering and site establishment."

Construction was due to take place between July 2006 and December 2007. Commissioning would follow from January 2008 to February 2008, with the opening expected in 2008.

Meanwhile, new laws passed by State Parliament last night will ensure Parklands will be able to book more rock extravaganzas such as the Big Day Out and also cater for bigger trade exhibitions.

Southport Labor MP Peter Lawlor told Parliament the wording of previous legislation had raised concerns activities at the grounds could be restricted. "This amendment will remove any ambiguity regarding the trustees' uses of the land following its transfer to the Act," he said.

"The amendment gives the Governor-in-Council a broad discretion to approve the use of land for a variety of purposes, including purposes not directly connected with racing, to maximise the benefits from the large amount of capital tied up in the venue, both for race-goers and the community as a whole.

"The Parklands Gold Coast is a great entertainment facility, which can stage large events."


Source: http://www.gcbulletin.com.au

 

[League Freak™]

Rugby League: We'll **** It Up!