Gold Coast Arena

Project typeBusiness & economic development
Project schedulePlanning: 2025-26 | Construction starts: 2027 | Delivery: 2030

An enclosed world-class entertainment and sports arena is proposed for the Gold Coast. It will be the next city-shaping project to:

meet the needs of our growing resident and visitor populations
establish our city as one of Australia's entertainment capitals.

The proposed arena would host premium live music performances, sports, comedy and esports. We are currently missing out on these high-value events because we don’t have a suitable indoor venue with a minimum capacity of 12,000 spectators.

After site investigations, Council has provided in-principle support for an arena at Carey Park, Southport. It will encourage investment in the CBD, create hundreds of jobs and boost our visitor economy.

Benefits for the community

Bring significant economic, social and creative benefits to the city and broader region
Help attract the most in-demand international and national music acts, major sporting events and family entertainment to the city
Create 6700 jobs for Queenslanders during construction
Host up to 100 major events each year
Support and attract local businesses
Invigorate further investment in the CBD and boost the visitor economy
Host some of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games sports and culture events

Project status

In March 2026, City of Gold Coast selected Amplify as the proponent to progress the Arena. For details, visit Gold Coast Arena media release.

In May 2025, Council released the outcomes report and summary document of community, business and stakeholder engagement held from 7 November to 9 December 2024. The documents can be found under Related information.

Council also authorised the Gold Coast Arena (Priority Investment Project) transaction to be managed by Invest Gold Coast.

Next steps

We will continue to work with the Queensland Government on site ownership to support an arena at Carey Park.

From mid-January 2026 we are undertaking topographic, environmental, geotechnical and transport surveys within Carey Park and surrounds, to further inform the arena's design.

For details, refer to the Gold Coast Arena opportunity on the Invest Gold Coast website.

Construction is expected to start in 2028 with the arena opening in time for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Opportunity for Southport

Enhance Southport’s role as a CBD to reach its potential as a creative, economic and knowledge hub
Create a new destination in Southport and the city
Better connect the iconic Broadwater Parklands to the CBD
Foster local identity and civic pride

Why Carey Park?

Located next to the iconic Broadwater, Carey Park is in the Gold Coast CBD Priority Development Area
Easy access with three light rail stations, many bus routes, CBD carparking, major arterial roads and a ferry service
An opportunity to reinvigorate Southport
Prominent and visually appealing site
Event ready area – further strengthening the creative and visitor economies
Close to dining, bars, retail, recreation and accommodation options before and after events
Existing live music scene reinforced by the Special Entertainment Precinct status
Complement the Broadwater Parklands, home to some of the city’s most popular outdoor events
Significant city-shaping and placemaking opportunities

Background

In 2023, we engaged with the live music industry through a 'problem and opportunity statement' process to identify potential sites suitable for an arena.

In May 2024, Council provided in principle support for a Gold Coast Arena at Carey Park, Southport. We are now assessing the opportunity for Southport.

If an indoor entertainment arena is to progress, there would be extensive investigation and due diligence to manage community facilities and existing infrastructure.