Gold Coast Stadium Struggling To Attract Major Music Acts Due To High Operating Costs

Gold Coast's Metricon Stadium has struggled to attract major music acts in recent years due to high operating costs, according to GC Bulletin. 

Chairman of AFL club Gold Coast Suns, Tony Cochrane, said they have been experiencing issues with Metricon (the teams home ground) due to the cost and big-name touring artists are also looking elsewhere as a result.

"Whether it’s Bruce Springsteen or an AFL game it’s the same. The cost doesn’t change for us," Cochrane said.

Lack of music festivals in the Gold Coast is costing the city a reported $60 million, while Metricon hasn't hosted a music event since the last-ever Big Day Out in 2014. 

Australian promoter Michael Gudinski, who brought Foo Fighters and Tenacious D to the venue in 2011, also reportedly attempted to get Bruce Springsteen to perform at the venue. 

"That's why there is so much focus on working with the government now to get the cost base correct so we can be competitive," Cochrane said.

"We think the clear way to go, having invested heavily in the stadium, is to come up with a cost basis that allows all sorts of performances and other sorts of things to make it a viable community asset.

"Right at the moment, transport and policing costs make our stadium almost the most expensive stadium in the country."