Gold Coast Arena Preferred Consortium Named

Global development and entertainment heavy-hitters are part of a consortium that has been revealed as the preferred proponent to deliver the planned $480-million Gold Coast Arena.

Infrastructure giant Plenary Group, US-based entertainment powerhouse Live Nation, leading construction contractor Built and design studios Cox Architecture and 3XN are the key players.

Together they make up the Amplify GC consortium, which Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate on Monday announced had been selected to “refine the arena’s design, investment and delivery model”.

The move follows a behind-closed-doors meeting last week in which councillors voted to proceed with the arena proposal under a public-private partnership endorsing the Amplify GC consortium.

Under the plans, the arena—slated to host events for the 2032 Olympics—would occupy a 4.5ha site at Carey Park opposite Australia Fair shopping centre at Southport and overlooking the Broadwater.

Tate said the selection of the preferred proponent— or “The A-Team”, as he called the Amplify GC consortium—was a “giant leap” in progressing the arena proposal.

He said the impetus was now on finalising the project design—including the arena capacity “sweet spot”—as well as investment options and construction costs to determine the overall return on investment.

“Best value for money is really what the Gold Coast is always looking for,” Tate said. “But the key factor for the Gold Coast is that at the end of the day this built asset…[will be] a big win for the city.”

The vision is to have the arena delivered by 2030 “well ahead of the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games”.

▲ A rendering of the Gold Coast Arena proposed for a 4.5ha site at Southport overlooking the Broadwater.

Plenary Group head of development Sergio Calcarao said ground could be broken on the project as early as the first half of next year.

“Amplify GC is very excited about this,” the consortium spokesman said.

“It ratifies the hard work that we placed into this project during the past many months and indeed the years some of these consortium partners have been working together to bring this vision to a reality. And we’re very excited to take this next step.”

The consortium will work with the City of Gold Coast’s investment and economic development arm Invest Gold Coast to move the proposal forward.

“It’s about getting to detailed design development to make sure that we’re meeting the requirements of the council and, of course, the Olympics overlay,” Calcarao said. “Because this is, at the end of the day, an Olympics venue with a long-term legacy outcome.”

Part of the overall equation will be whether the arena will accommodate the initially proposed 12,000-seat capacity or be increased to an 18,000-seat venue as Tate has indicated is his preference.

Calcarao said the consortium had been “refining templates” from Live Nation, which owns, operates, and develops a global portfolio of live venues.

“We’re also going to be developing up the funding solution and the risk transfer, so what the contract says as to what the private sector is going to deliver and what’s going to remain within the remit of council,” he said.

▲ Construction of the proposed Gold Coast Arena at Southport could begin as early as the first half of next year.

Among other details that will need to be finalised and agreed upon will be the concession term over which the consortium will build, deliver, finance and operate the venue.

Asked for a ballpark figure such as 30, 40 or 50 years, Calcarao said: “Those ballparks would be in the realm of the options that we’ve tabled”.

“We’re looking for a world class venue that’s going to bring a significant amount of entertainment and economic activity to the City of Gold Coast,” he said.

And despite construction headwinds, the consortium is not fazed regarding its delivery timeframe being impacted in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

“We think it’s achievable, yes,” Calcarao said.

Live Nation Australia and New Zealand senior vice president of venue development Guy Ngata said as the city’s largest indoor venue it would play a central role in the Gold Coast’s future as a live entertainment destination.

“As a city, if you want to be part of the global and domestic touring scene, you’ve got to have the right infrastructure—that’s crucial,” he said.