Gold Coast proposes $480M indoor arena at Southport
The City of Gold Coast has unveiled plans for a 12,000-seat indoor arena at Southport’s Carey Park, overlooking the Broadwater.
Aiming to bolster the city’s event economy and potentially serve as a key venue for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, the council projects the arena could inject $700 million into the local economy over ten years by attracting major sporting events and entertainment acts.
A public consultation process has been launched, encouraging residents to submit their views on the arena proposal. This input will help shape the plan before the council seeks potential commercial investors to fund the project. The initiative is part of a larger masterplan introduced earlier this year to revitalise Southport as the Gold Coast’s official central business district.
Three sites were identified three years ago for a boutique stadium by the Gold Coast Council, for events that don’t require the larger capacities offered by Metricon Stadium and Cbus Super Stadium.
The council identified the Southport site after consulting with the live music industry last year, and in May, it granted “in principle support” for the venue. However, the proposed location has sparked some local concerns regarding potential loss of public open space and reduced parking capacity in the city’s CBD.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate highlighted the arena’s potential to attract high-profile events currently missing from the city’s offerings, including elite sports and international performances.
“This site makes sense. It’s close to accommodation, public transport, dining, and recreational facilities,” Mayor Tate told The Gold Coast Bulletin.
“But we want to hear from the community – not just about location but the types of events people would like to see.”
The Council hopes to begin construction by 2026/27 to have the arena ready for the Brisbane Olympics, with plans to discuss the site’s future with the Queensland Government, the property’s owner, to secure a suitable tenure for the project.
The plans reveal:
- A pedestrian bridge will be built across the Gold Coast Highway to the Southport Broadwater Parklands;
- Public parking will be retained on the northern tip of the site near Australia Fair shopping centre;
- A giant public plaza on the southern side of the park connecting the area to Queen Street.
Australia’s live entertainment and venue experts, including ASM Global’s Harvey Lister and former Live Nation Australasia CEO Roger Field, have previously advocated for a 10,000-seat arena on the Gold Coast.
The public consultation period will remain open until December 9.
