Tag: goldcoast

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.

Cooly Rocks On awarded top honour at Queensland Tourism Awards

Posted on by Kesha West

Australia’s favourite nostalgia festival Cooly Rocks On has been awarded Gold in the Major Festivals and Events category at the prestigious Queensland Tourism Awards on the Gold Coast in front of industry leaders and peers.

Held this year at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Queensland Tourism Awards (QTA) recognise the outstanding achievements of the state’s tourism industry, including individuals, businesses, and events.

Proudly produced by Major Events Gold Coast, Cooly Rocks On is one of the largest and most authentic nostalgia festivals in Australia celebrating the motors, music, and lifestyle of yesteryear. In 2022, more than 136,000 visitors enjoyed the five-day festival held in the iconic beachside destination of Coolangatta.

“We love this festival, and the team work really hard to ensure we produce an event that is authentic to the era it celebrates, and also something the local community continues to be proud of, and get involved with, every year, ” said Major Events Gold Coast Director of Festivals and Events Mark Duckworth, who accepted the award last night.

“This award is recognition that we have been able to create a unique festival experience for the tens of thousands of visitors that come from right around Australia and overseas to participate in and enjoy, and we couldn’t be happier.”

The annual festival has grown to be one of Australia’s biggest showcases of classic cars with more than 900 cars displayed in 2022. It also features a lineup of the best rockabilly, swing, rock ‘n’ roll and tribute artists, with Indonesian Rockabilly band The Hydrant among the standouts of this year’s festival.

Among the other festival highlights is the Pin-up Pageant and the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, one of only 10 worldwide acknowledged by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Major Events Gold Coast CEO Jan McCormick said she was thrilled Cooly Rocks On had taken out the top award.

“Cooly Rocks On is just one of those really unique festivals that people fall in love with, you can’t help but have a good time in the winter sunshine at this festival, it’s infectious,” said Ms McCormick. “I am so proud of our entire team, who work tirelessly each year to deliver not just Cooly Rocks On but three other fantastic music festivals: Blues on Broadbeach, SPRINGTIME and Groundwater Country Music Festival.”

Major Events Gold Coast would like to thank the City of Gold Coast and our Cooly Rocks On 2022 Sponsor Family – Tourism and Events Queensland, Indian Motorcycle, Celebrity Ink™ Coolangatta and The Strand.

The QTA win means Cooly Rocks On will automatically be entered into the running to win an award at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in March 2023.

The 12th Cooly Rocks On will be held from 7 – 11 June 2023.

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

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.

Major Events on the Gold Coast delivered direct to you