Tag: events

Gold Coast secures a second Tszyu world title blockbuster

Posted on by Kesha West

Australian boxing sensation Tim Tszyu has once again chosen the Gold Coast as the host city for his highly anticipated WBO world title fight against American Brian Mendoza.

The exciting announcement was made at a press conference in Las Vegas earlier today.

The blockbuster featuring the two champions will be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) on Sunday October 15.

It will be Tszyu’s second world title bout on the Gold Coast this year after he won against Mexican fighter Carlos Ocampo in June with a thrilling 77-second first-round knockout.

With Tszyu’s international stardom on the rise the October 15 clash on the Gold Coast will be a must-see event for boxing fans around the world.

“It’s on! The biggest world title bout in Australia this year – right here on the Gold Coast,’’ said Mayor Tom Tate.

“Gold Coasters have adopted Tim as their own so to have him choose our city for this blockbuster is incredible news. “This will be a monumental fight night bringing together two champions from the WBO and WBC Super Welterweight divisions. I’m backing Tim to stand proud on October 15 and deliver the goods for Australia.’’

“This fight is a massive coup for the Gold Coast and Australia,” said No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose. “The energy of a world title fight week in one of the best locations in the country is something not to be missed.”

The Tszyu-Mendoza blockbuster will once again put the Gold Coast in the global spotlight as a world-class events city, with the match to be broadcast worldwide.

June’s Tszyu-Ocampo fight generated extensive international media coverage showcasing the destination to tens of millions of people globally. The live broadcast too across Showtime Boxing in the USA, and Fox Sports, Kayo Sports and Main Event in Australia, ensured the Gold Coast match reached the biggest boxing fans around the world.

More than half of the capacity crowd at the June match was from outside the Gold Coast with visitors for the fight staying the weekend, providing a significant boost for the local economy.

The clash against Mendoza is expected to generate even more interest with the fight likely to be the last time Australians will get to see Tszyu fight at home in a long time with the boxer to head overseas following a win in October.

With the addition of the Tim Tszyu world title fight, October and November are gearing up to be a bumper couple of months of major events on the Gold Coast with four huge events over four consecutive weekends.

On October 15 Tim Tszyu takes on Brian Mendoza, the following weekend (20-22 October) the award-winning Groundwater Country Music Festival returns with more than 50 artists across 14 stages, then the supercars are back in the streets of Surfers Paradise for the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 for three days from 27 October. In early November (4 November) Sir Paul McCartney will bring his Got Back tour to the Gold Coast’s Heritage Bank Stadium.

For more information and tickets visit the No Limit Boxing website.

This event is proudly supported by Major Events Gold Coast and the Queensland Government via Tourism and Events Queensland.

Judo national championships to stay on the Gold Coast for three years

Posted on by Kesha West

The Gold Coast has secured another major sporting championship, with Judo Australia and Major Events Gold Coast (MEGC) signing a three-year deal to keep the Judo Australia National Championships in the city until 2025.

The sport’s premier national event is held each year in June and will be hosted at the world-class Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre in Carrara.

MEGC CEO Jan McCormick said keeping this national judo event in the city until at least 2025 is a major coup for the Gold Coast.

“This three-year deal highlights how well-regarded our venues and facilities are by event organisers across the country and overseas, looking for long-term homes for their sporting events,” said Ms McCormick.

“The Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre is a wonderful legacy venue from the 2018 Commonwealth Games and will play an important role as a host venue in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

The state-of-the-art venue hosted the 2022 Judo Australia National Championships earlier this year, and the national body jumped at the chance to keep the event there on a more long-term basis.

“Judo Australia are excited for the opportunity to return to the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre for another three-years and to grow our partnership with Major Events Gold Coast,” said Judo Australia CEO Emma Taylor.

“We are excited to bring our judo community together on the Gold Coast for another three years, a destination for great sport and to enjoy everything the Gold Coast has to offer. We could not think of a more fitting place to call home for the next three years than the future venue for our sport at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Around 1000 athletes compete in the national championships vying to be the best judoka in more than 100 weight divisions and categories.

It’s equally as exciting for spectators, and tickets to the Judo Australia National Championships will be available to the public to witness the nation’s best in action.

“Gold Coasters are being spoilt for choice with the national judo championships secured through a three-year deal,’’ said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. “This exciting sport appeals to all ages and adds to the ever-expanding sports and events calendar. I’m confident we will discover our future Aussie reps at the National Championships, and I applaud Judo Australia and Major Events Gold Coast for making it happen.”

The Gold Coast currently hosts around 50 mass participation sporting events a year from state and national titles to international events, with many of these held at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, including the National Clubs Gymnastics Carnival, Basketball Australia’s Australian Schools Championships and the upcoming Australian Volleyball Schools Cup and Urban Sports Fest.

Rock royalty and an Olympic Qualifier World Cup top off a huge year

Posted on by Kesha West

The big events just keep coming to the Gold Coast in 2022 with arguably the world’s greatest rock band set to light up Metricon Stadium, followed by the world’s best BMX freestyle riders to descend on the city for an Australian-first BMX Freestyle World Cup.

And that’s just two of the exciting major events on our calendar before the year’s out.

Major Events Gold Coast CEO Jan McCormick said the city will have hosted 26 events in the last quarter of 2022 alone, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and generating a projected $145 million for the local economy.

“There really hasn’t been a slow month this year, as a city we have hosted just under 100 major events in 2022 with a total attendance of more than one million,” said Ms McCormick.

“The ability of our city to bounce back so strongly after two years of major COVID impacts is absolutely huge. It is a real testament to the appeal of the Gold Coast as an events destination, and our world class facilities, that we have been able to secure and host so many fantastic events.”

Topping the list for many will be rock royalty, Guns N’ Roses. Set to take over Metricon Stadium on Thursday 24 November, Guns N’ Roses will fire up the Gold Coast with an explosive performance you won’t want to miss, as they come to the last few dates of their world tour.

After touring their rapturously received sets across America and Europe featuring back-to-back smash hits from the band’s astonishing back catalogue, these living legends are ready to wow Australian crowds.

“Many fans who witnessed the classic Guns N’ Roses line-up of Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan, reunited, on Australian stages during this historic band’s previous ‘Not In This lifetime’ tour in 2017 are still raving about it to this day,” said Paul Dainty AM, President & CEO of TEG DAINTY. “Australian audiences are in for an explosive night of rock. Guns N’ Roses are rock legends. They never disappoint.”

“Having a band of this calibre add the Gold Coast to their tour schedule shows how far the city has come as a live music event destination, and Guns N’ Roses are just the beginning,” said Ms McCormick. “Earlier this year we were thrilled to announce Harry Styles would be giving his only Queensland performance right here on the coast in February 2023.”

From 9-11 December the Gold Coast will host Urban Sport Fest, which includes Australia’s first BMX Freestyle World Cup Olympic Qualifier, combined with a three-day music festival featuring Peach Fur, The Hard Aches, Saint Lane, The Terrys and many more great artists.

Urban Sport Fest Founder Matt Burgess said, “We are privileged and excited to deliver the inaugural Urban Sport Fest to the Gold Coast. The response so far to provide an action-packed family-friendly sports and music festival has been phenomenal and we’re ecstatic to bring the world’s best BMX Freestyle riders as well as leading live bands together for the whole community to enjoy.”

“To be the city chosen to host the first Australian BMX Freestyle Olympic Qualifier is a massive coup for the Gold Coast and for our local and Queensland-based athletes,” said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. “This puts us well and truly on the world stage, and with the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics on the horizon, our star is certainly on the rise.’’

Before the globe’s best BMX Freestyle riders descend on the city, the Gold Coast will welcome 12,000 elite cheer and dance athletes for the 2022 AASCF National Cheers and Dance Championships and their 20,000 spectators. Then there is the Festival of Touch, the Australian Basketball Schools Championships, the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup and the GC50 Run Festival. All before the year is out.

“Major Events Gold Coast’s 2022 portfolio of events, including the four award-winning festivals we produce and deliver, is expected to generate $300 million for the local economy,” said Ms McCormick. “The Gold Coast’s star has already risen and our 2023 and 2024 calendars are looking really exciting!”

Sun, surf, smiles and sweet sounds signal a successful Groundwater CMF

Posted on by Kesha West

Sunny skies greeted tens of thousands of fans for the ninth annual Groundwater Country Music Festival (CMF) held on the Gold Coast from 28 – 30 October 2022.

Produced by Major Events Gold Coast, the Groundwater CMF party continued all weekend as 50 of the biggest national and international country music stars performed in the parks, streets and venues of Broadbeach delighting fans from near and far with three epic days of free world-class country music by the beachside.

The return of interstate and overseas visitors was notable, and humbling, with fans and artists coming together for the first time in many years in what became a big-hearted reunion.

“Being from Canada, I’ve really been missing the country music scene so when I heard there was a country music festival on the Gold Coast AND right next to the beach I just had to come,” said one Canadian festival goer. “Now I am a devotee; I’ve never been to a festival like this.”

Groundwater CMF headliner and Canadian, Dan Davidson said, “There is nothing in the world like Groundwater CMF, we arrived on the first day, walked around and it took our breath away – the Gold Coast is absolutely amazing! There is a friendliness of spirit everywhere that has been reflective of the country music vibe that brings people together.”

“To make it even better, every single person that is part of the festival has treated us like gold…it’s been a 10 out of 10 experience and I’m so stoked to be here representing Canada and making new friends.”

The party vibe was reflected in the styles of the hottest emerging country artists: Dozzi, Max Jackson, Abbie Ferris, Kaylee Bell and Bella Mackenzie who ensured this genre of music will continue to grow and reach a wider modern audience.

Surprises were in abundance over the weekend, with many of this years’ lineup jumping on stage to support each other and collaborate, to the audiences’ delight.

Speaking of support, the Groundwater CMF family really do know how to help a mate in need, with many digging deep to provide much needed funds to Drought Angels, the Official Charity Partner of Groundwater CMF. Their donations supporting farmers in need all over Australia.

“There has been a really great vibe at this year’s festival,” said Major Events Gold Coast Director of Festivals and Events Mark Duckworth. “The country music community really know how to dig in and have a good time with each other.

“What’s made this year so special has been being able to reconnect people after a couple of tough years. Many of our fans, and artists, both abroad and across the country haven’t been able to get to Groundwater CMF with the borders closed, so being here and being together again means a lot.”

Soaking up the sunshine and having an amazing time in this slice of paradise was foremost on the minds of Melbourne band Sweet Talk who said: “This is our first time at Groundwater CMF and the vibe is electric. It’s quite incredible that visitors (and us as the musos!) get to listen to the hottest music AND pop for a swim in the ocean in between. There is nowhere else like it.”

Just some of the big names who performed at this year’s festival were SEAFORTH, ANDREW FARRISS, GINA JEFFRIES, KAYLEE BELL(NZ), TRAVIS COLLINS, TAMI NEILSON (NZ), and FANNY LUMSDEN.

“What a great weekend!” said festival favourite Fanny Lumsden. “Groundwater CMF was such a joy to play, to see thousands of people from all over literally dancing in the street again and all the artists come together in the sun, kind of made everything make sense.”

Groundwater CMF has cemented such a firm place in the hearts of thousands, that long-time country artist sensation, Hayley Jensen was borrowed from the festival to sing the national anthem at the main race of the Major Events Gold Coast supported Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 up the road in Surfers Paradise.

Groundwater CMF wraps after an incredibly successful 2022 with thanks to our sponsor family this year: City of Gold Coast, Tourism and Events Queensland, P&O Cruises Australia, Yugambeh Region Aboriginal Corporation Alliance (YRACA), 1029 Hot Tomato, KIX Country, and our Charity Partner Drought Angels.

Groundwater CMF is supported by the Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland, and is a feature on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

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