Sunshine Coast Stadium
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| Location | Kawana Waters, Queensland, Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 26°44′2″S 153°7′34″E / 26.73389°S 153.12611°E |
| Owner | Queensland Government |
| Executive suites | 4 |
| Capacity | 12,000 |
| Record attendance | 15,000 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Scoreboard | Yes, northern end |
| Construction | |
| Expanded | 2011, 2017 |
| Construction cost | $10 million (2011 expansion) |
| Tenants | |
| Sunshine Coast Falcons Sunshine Coast FC Sunshine Coast Rugby Union Queensland Country (NRC) (2015–present) Melbourne Storm (NRL) (2020-) | |
Sunshine Coast Stadium is a multi-sport venue located at Kawana Waters on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. The stadium is the main venue in a sporting precinct that also includes seven fields.
Development
Sunshine Coast Stadium was first expanded in 2007, at which time it became sponsored as Stockland Park.[1] At the time, there were plans for the construction of a $22 million, 3,700 seat grandstand which would have allowed for the playing of both rectangular and oval based sports.[2] However, following the withdrawal of State Government funds, the project was cancelled and plans were drawn up for a more modest stadium to be built on the site.
Following the cancellation of the earlier plan, a design was drawn up for the construction of a small grandstand on the western side of the main field. Following a construction period that lasted nearly nine months, the grandstand, named the Sunshine Coast Stadium, was opened on 3 June 2011.[3] A main grandstand seating 1,050 spectators under cover is situated on the wing[4] while temporary seating can be placed around the field for rectangular events pushing the seating capacity to 12,000.[5] As part of the focus on sustainability at the stadium, it features a 30 kW solar power system on the stadium's roof.[4]
The venue has hosted national events including a pre-season A-League fixture between the Brisbane Roar and Wellington Phoenix as well as its attendance breaking pre-season NRL match between Manly Sea Eagles and Melbourne Storm, which attracted 8,119 spectators.[6] On 29 October 2011, the stadium hosted a Cold Chisel concert, attracting 15,000 patrons[7]
In early 2017, a $2.4 million upgrade will be completed. A further 2,500 seats were added bringing the total to 10,000. It opened on 11 February 2017 with a trial match between the Melbourne Storm and New Zealand Warriors.[8]
The record sporting event crowd was set in round 5 of the 2019 NRL season on 13 April 2019 when the South Sydney Rabbitohs beat the New Zealand Warriors in the first ever NRL game on the Sunshine Coast for premiership points in front of 11,912 patrons.[9]
On 8 July 2020, the Melbourne Storm announced that they would play their next three home NRL matches at Sunshine Coast Stadium (Rounds 10, 12 and 13 of the 2020 NRL season). [10]. The Storm had relocated temporarily to the Sunshine Coast 2 weeks prior due to the COVID-19 pandemic preventing them from playing in Melbourne.
References
- ^ Aus Stadiums Profile
- ^ Aus Stadiums Profile
- ^ Opening
- ^ a b "Sunshine Coast Stadium". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- ^ Aus Stadiums Profile
- ^ Events for Stockland Park
- ^ Cold Chisel Concert
- ^ White, Jorgia (15 December 2016). "Stadium moves forwaard". Maroochy & Kawana Weekly: 8.
- ^ "Cody Walker scores four tries as South Sydney Rabbitohs beat Warriors". National Rugby League. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
- ^ "Storm front coming for Sunshine Coast Stadium". Retrieved 9 July 2020.