Qld's Sandstone Point Hotel Is Investing A Quarter Of A Mil To Host Mariah Carey Next Year

Queensland's Sandstone Point Hotel is preparing to host its biggest-ever name in Mariah Carey on her '#1s' tour next year, with the rural property-turned-music venue investing some serious cash to make sure all goes smoothly.

As ABC reports, the venue is investing more than $250,000 on upgrading its existing infrastructure — which has seen concerts hosting up to 6500 people in the past — to ensure the projected 10,000 punters headed north of Brisbane for the high-profile concert enjoy a seamless show at the hotel's first use of its larger stage.

The venue's owner, Robert Comiskey, has prior experience in defying expectations, having previously transformed Eatons Hill Hotel, in Brisbane's north, into a viable and popular live music venue despite its distance from the city centre. He conceded that the journey "wasn't easy … but we've proven it works".

Comiskey told the ABC that he'll be bringing in external site managers to Sandstone Point to help cope with the larger event, and is confident that the venue's reinforced infrastructure and preparations — which include "toilets, tents, fencing, paramedics, police, traffic management" — will be adequate to "get it right the first time".

"[The venue] was designed to have big stars like this," he said. "It was always going to happen. It's just what star was going to happen."

Sandstone Point has previously hosted its own mini-festival, Sandstone Rocks!, and after Carey christens its large stage, it will see both the Red Hot Summer Tour (featuring Suzi Quatro, The Angels, Baby Animals, The Screaming Jets and more) and Billy Ray Cyrus (with Kasey Chambers, O'Shea and more) roll through its grounds in February and March.

Mariah Carey's '#1s' tour will kick off at the Qld venue on Saturday 3 February before heading to Perth Arena, Melbourne Showgrounds and Parramatta Park.

See theGuide for details.