Why did they spend $100mill on stadium at GoldCoast, when one already exists?

Question

and they built it on what used to be a chemical wasteland at Robina, which is the middle of nowhere. d**n, we cant get a working hospital and my money goes on ANOTHER stadium (already spent $400mill on Suncorp stadium)? who wants to vent with me?

Answer 1

Switch codes to AFL then.

Answer 2

Because they want to, host American style football. Fewer teams and a lot more money.

Answer 3

The reason for another stadium is the AFL has negotiated the Kangaroos playing 10 games over 3 years at Carrara Stadium.  Carrara is set up for playing AFL, and needs seating placed on the field for Rugby League (NRL).

A story about this, and the resolution of playing both AFL and NRL at Carrara, from Gold Coast Councils point of view is here:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Gold...

From the above story;

'"They need to remember that the stadium [Carrara] is an asset for the city of the Gold Coast and it's there for all codes and the benefit of all people." [Deputy Mayor David Power said.]'

'"Clearly it won't be in the best interests of either code if they're pulling grandstands in and out on a regular basis," Power noted.'

The same story by a different reporter, with more of what the main players say:

http://sportsaustralia.com/articles/jul0...

An earlier article with Gold Coasts May Ron Clarke discussing the AFL plans of funding improvements to Carrara Stadium is here:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/League/AFL-pu...

Therefore, what I take from these articles is:

- Carrara is a stadium that is for all codes.

- The AFL have spent, and will spend, some money towards adapting Carrara for AFL.

- The council decided a purpose built facility for Rugby League was better, and cheaper, than rearranging Carrara for each game of AFL and NRL.

For another view, from the Robina Land Corporation website at:

http://www.robina.com.au/stadium_village...

'Robina is proud to be the new home of the NRL on the Gold Coast and the decision to build the Gold Coast's new major sports stadium in Robina reinforces a two decade masterplan for a modern city of commercial, retail, residential and sporting facilities. It's another step forward in the exciting evolution of Robina.'

From the Robina's History page:

http://www.robina.com.au/robinas_history...

'More than two and a half decades ago when Singaporean industrialist Dr Robin Loh cast his eye over a 20 square kilometre parcel of scrub and grazing land west of Broadbeach he envisaged a world standard master planned community providing everything required by a modern society.'

It would appear that Robina was earmarked for a development of this type, and the money allocated has already been budgeted for.

Answer 4

dsd