Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
GCCEC
View from The Star Gold Coast looking north to Surfers Paradise
Location2684–2690 Gold Coast Highway, Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Queensland 4218
Coordinates28°1′43″S 153°25′43″E / 28.02861°S 153.42861°E / -28.02861; 153.42861
OwnerQueensland Government
OperatorStar Entertainment Group
Capacity6,000
Basketball / Netball: 5,269
Construction
Broke ground2003
OpenedJune 29, 2004
Construction costAU$167m
General contractorBrookfield Multiplex
Tenants
Gold Coast Blaze (NBL) (2007–2012)
Queensland Firebirds (ANZ/NNL) (2008–2017)
AFL Draft (2010, 2012–2014)
2018 Commonwealth Games (Netball)
GCCEC main entrance (June 2020)

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) is located on the Gold Coast Highway, in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia. The venue was opened on the 29th of June 2004 at a cost of A$167 million.[1] It is linked by a covered walkway to The Star Gold Coast. Managed by the Star Entertainment Group, the Centre caters for 10 to 6,000 people.[2]

Expansion

The centre was expanded at a cost of $40 million in early 2009. The makeover was funded by the Queensland Government, adding two extra exhibition halls, a registration office, three meeting rooms, three new kitchens and an extra 3,000 square metres of floor space in total. The Queensland Government commenced construction proceedings as a result of the increasing demand on the Gold Coast for larger space and concurrent sessions during national and international conventions and incentives. The final product required over 124,000 man hours, 1,550 m3 (2,030 cu yd) of concrete poured, 375 t (413 tons) of structural steel erected and 7,000 L (1,500 imp gal; 1,800 US gal) of paint.[3]

Events

The GCCEC is home to numerous conventions, from the association, corporate and franchise sectors to consumer shows and entertainment events.

From the 2007-08 NBL season until the end of the 2011-12 season, the venue was home to the Gold Coast Blaze of the National Basketball League with the capacity to seat 5,269 spectators. During Blaze home games the centre was referred to as "The Furnace" and gained a reputation for having close games with three Blaze games during the 2010-11 NBL season going into overtime. Along with the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Queensland Firebirds, a Brisbane-based netball team in the Suncorp Super Netball played occasional home games at the venue until 2018.

In 2007 the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) hosted its first-ever World Cup event at the GCCEC, pitting 5 nations of bull riders against each other in a team format; the event was won by team Brazil.

In 2012, GCCEC played host to the Gold Coast judges' audition in the third series of Seven Network's The X Factor and the UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson bout - the first of its kind to be held in Queensland.

The Centre hosted the Netball competition at the 2018 Commonwealth Games which are being held on the Gold Coast, as well as host the accredited media centre for the event.

On 8 and 9 February 2019 it hosted the Eurovision 2019 Australia Decides contest, the first venue for the contest. The centre once again hosted the contest a year later in 2020.

In December 2019, the Gold Coast Convention Centre was meant to host the first Eurovision Asia Song Contest, however due to production issues the contest had been cancelled.

The venue will host Volleyball for the 2032 Summer Olympics and will also be used for Powerlifting and Sitting Volleyball for the 2032 Summer Paralympics.[4]

Awards

The GCCEC has won more than 20 awards over the past decade, including winner of the 2012 Meetings and Events Industry Awards – National Meeting Venue 500 Delegates or More [5] and 2010 Meetings and Business Tourism Category at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre". Gold Coast City Council. 23 June 2010. Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  2. ↑ Gold Coast Australia. "Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre" Archived 3 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  3. ↑ "Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Queensland Australia - GCCEC". www.gccec.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "The Brisbane 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games". www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "Meetings and Events Australia 2012 Winners List". Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  6. ↑ Queensland Tourism Awards "Winners and Finalists for 2010" Archived 25 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 December 2010.

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