Tag: major events gold coast

New festival partnership a win for combating waste

Posted on by Kesha West

More than 70% percent of all waste generated at this year’s Blues on Broadbeach on the Gold Coast was diverted from landfill thanks to a successful new partnership with waste management provider Clean Vibes.

Just over 37m3 of rubbish was diverted from landfill for recycling and reuse purposes, which equated to 71% of all waste generated from the festival. On top of this, more than 17,000 cans and bottles were recycled through the Containers for Change refund scheme.

Major Events Gold Coast CEO Jan McCormick said the results were very encouraging.

“To be able to divert from landfill more than 70% of the waste generated during our Blues on Broadbeach festival is a great win for the environment and we’re confident we can keep on improving our waste management practices across all MEGC’s festivals,” said Ms McCormick.

In March, Clean Vibes become the Official Cleaning and Waste Management Services Provider for all four of MEGC’s festivals in 2023, including Blues on Broadbeach, Cooly Rocks On and the upcoming SPRINGTIME and Groundwater Country Music Festival.

Some of the initiatives that have been introduced at MEGC’s festivals are waste sorting onsite and implementing the can and bottle return scheme. Clean Vibes also use waste stream bin covers to promote and educate festival patrons about waste separation, and the recent results show festival fans are getting on board to help do their bit to reduce waste.

There was so much organic waste collected and sorted onsite that the crew had to take over general waste bins for organic waste.

Clean Vibes National Operations Manager Nick Viner said the Blues on Broadbeach results were a great outcome for an unfenced free music festival layout.

“Blues on Broadbeach for 2023 was a huge success on the sustainability front with Clean Vibes working very closely with all stakeholders onsite to ensure that we could get the best results possible!” said Mr Viner. “With all vendors and bars onsite implementing compostable packaging, our team on ground could guarantee that all compostable products onsite were verified and approved for disposal through our onsite organic waste streams.”

Implementing the Containers for Change recycling scheme at the festival proved to be another win.

“Just over 17,000 eligible cans and bottles were processed for the Containers for Change program on top of our 71% of recycled or repurposed material,” Mr Viner said.

Due to this year’s Blues on Broadbeach results, next year Clean Vibes will look to order a 25m skip bin for organic waste, something that has never been done at one of MEGC’s festivals before.

The waste results were equally promising from MEGC’s Cooly Rocks On festival held in Coolangatta in June. The Clean Vibes report showed over 20% more waste was diverted from landfill in 2023 compared to 2022.

“As our festivals grow in popularity, we are faced with additional waste challenges,” said Ms McCormick. “We want to make sure we continue to give our fans the best possible festival experience and that means ensuring we are continually improving our practices when it comes to sustainable waste management. We also want to make sure our festivals don’t have a negative environmental impact on the beautiful locations we deliver them in.”

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.

Blues on Broadbeach teams up with the birthplace of blues – Memphis

Posted on by Kesha West

Blues on Broadbeach, the Gold Coast’s very own home of blues music, is coming together with the city where it all started, Memphis.

Today Blues on Broadbeach announced an exciting three-year partnership with Memphis Tourism coming on board as an Official Support Partner of the festival from 2023-2025. The partnership formalises the festival’s long-held relationship with Memphis Tourism.

From the blues clubs on Beale Street, Memphis to the streets of Broadbeach Queensland, Memphis Tourism will play an integral role in bringing that unique Memphis blues sound to Blues on Broadbeach fans each year. This partnership falls in line with the ethos of festival producers Major Events Gold Coast, to deliver a truly authentic blues experience and nurture our growing blues music culture in Australia.

“Blues on Broadbeach has built a strong relationship with the team at Memphis Tourism for many years, curating some amazing festival performances from some of Memphis’ best,” said Festival Director Mark Duckworth.

“To see our partnership continue to grow for our 2023 event, and beyond, is a testament to the genre of blues music, and its ongoing journey around the world. We can’t wait to welcome many more legends from the home of blues music, to our Gold Coast stages.”

Thanks to Memphis Tourism, the recently announced Blues on Broadbeach 2023 lineup will, for the first time, include Memphis rhythm and blues artist Don Bryant.

“Memphis Tourism is thrilled to once again be partnering with Blues on Broadbeach,” said Chris Ingram, Director of Memphis Tourism Australia/New Zealand.

“Known as the home of blues and soul, Memphis is a perfect match for this festival and the synergies extend far beyond the music. We are incredibly excited to be welcoming Don Bryant and The Bo-Keys to the festival from Memphis, and we can’t wait to be part of another successful Blues on Broadbeach.”

Memberships to the festival’s exclusive Twelve Bar Society are on sale, and the Memphis Tourism partnership brings with it a truly special experience for 2023 members – an exclusive masterclass with rhythm and blues legend Don Bryant, and friends. An opportunity fans of soulful blues won’t want to miss!

The Twelve Bar Society was established in 2022 to offer the ultimate blues experience for avid Blues on Broadbeach fans and included exclusive offers and opportunities, selling out quickly in its inaugural year.

Along with the Don Bryant masterclass, 2023 membership will include a ‘secret show’, a special masterclass with one of the greatest acoustic guitarists, Tommy Emmanuel, an exclusive VIP bar and main stage viewing area and limited-edition merchandise. Don’t miss your opportunity to become a member of Twelve Bar Society available here.

Born in the blues capital of the world, Memphis native Don Bryant is among the greats of the genre. He is immortalized in the history books of music as the artist who penned “the best song ever”, as declared by John Lennon. The timeless hit I Can’t Stand The Rain is a song Don wrote for his wife Ann Peebles, one of many influential records he created as a solo artist and in collaboration with fellow blues elites, like Otis Clay and Al Green.

Twelve Bar Society members have the opportunity to experience a piece of blues history with Don Bryant himself at the very heart of it. With a career spanning over 50 years, Don will no doubt have a wealth of insight to offer in his masterclass, as well as a vast catalogue of soul, jazz and blues to perform on the Gold Coast in May. Sharing the stage with Don will be The Bo-Keys, a band of multi-instrumentalists from Memphis who bring together the sounds of classic rhythm & blues with their own distinct flavour.

For over two decades, Blues on Broadbeach has been an annual pilgrimage for blues fans, travelling to the Gold Coast from across states and seas to this unique four-day event. Now one of Australia’s largest music festivals, Blues on Broadbeach returns for its 22nd year from 18 – 21 May 2023 and will showcase some legendary names in the Australian and International blues scene.  Don Bryant & The Bo-Keys (US) will be joined by the likes of Tommy Emmanuel, Don Walker, Emma Donovan & The Putbacks, The Kevin Borich Express, and The Turner Brown Band (US/AUS), plus many more to be announced.

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

Over 11,500 elite cheer and dance athletes tumble into the Gold Coast

Posted on by Kesha West

The Gold Coast was a sea of sequins, glitter, and bows as more than 11,500 of the country’s top cheer and dance athletes, and 40,000 spectators, descended on the city for the All Star Nationals from 24-27 November.

With 2000 teams competing over four days, the 2022 Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation (AASCF) All Star Nationals is one of the biggest mass participation events the city has hosted. Along with the 11,500 competitors the event attracts up to 40,000 spectators.

“The All Star Nationals is an incredible event, not just for the scale of the event itself, with a routine every three minutes from 8am-11pm every day, but for the significant boost it provides to our local economy, which we estimate will be more than $10M” said Major Events Gold Coast CEO Jan McCormick.

“This is the first time since 2018 the event has been back on the Gold Coast and Major Events Gold Coast is proud to have been able to attract this fantastic national competition back to the Gold Coast and support these talented athletes.”

AASCF Managing Director Kerry Perry said they were thrilled to back on the Gold Coast. “The last time we brought the AASCF Nationals to the Gold Coast was in 2018 so it’s really exciting to be back here,” said Ms Perry.

“This event takes an incredible amount of organisation, and space, and the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre with its premier facilities is the perfect venue for this kind of elite competition. Plus the competitors and their families love coming here and combining the Nationals with a holiday in one of Australia’s best destinations.”

The AASCF Nationals is Australia’s largest cheer and dance event and continues to grow. Teams compete for the National Championship and the chance to go on to compete in the World Cheer and Dance Championships in Florida, USA.

“Right now, our city is alive with action from some of the biggest sports and events carnivals,’’ said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. “The All Star Nationals are top billing and I applaud organisers, Major Events Gold Coast, competitors and the 40,000 fanatics for making their way to the coast.”

The event proudly supported by Major Events Gold Coast runs for four days but many interstate athletes and their families arrive early and then stay on after the competition to enjoy everything else the Gold Coast has to offer, with the average stay around six days.

Australia’s best bowlers celebrated at awards held in the ‘Home of Bowls’

Posted on by Kesha West

Bowl’s most outstanding performers of 2021 and 2022, and the sport’s greatest achievers, have been recognised at the Bowls Australia Hall of Fame and Annual Awards Night held overnight on the Gold Coast.

The red carpet was rolled out at Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise, as the best national and international bowlers were celebrated, including Male and Female Bowler of the Year, International Male and Female Bowler of the Year, Bowler with a Disability of the Year and Club of the Year among many others.

Among the guests in attendance were a number of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games medallists.

Major Events Gold Coast (MEGC) was proud to support the Female Bowler of the Year award, awarded to Kelsey Cottrell from Queensland. Fellow Queenslander Nick Cahill took out Male Bowler of the Year, while yet another Queensland bowler, Lynsey Clarke, won International Female Bowler of the Year. NSW bowler Aaron Wilson was awarded International Male Bowler of the Year.

Major Events Gold Coast CEO Jan McCormick said MEGC was proud to be able to continue to support Bowls Australia events on the Gold Coast.

“The Gold Coast has well and truly become the home of bowls with a long list of prestigious national bowls events being hosted in the city, including the Australian Open and the World Bowls Championships in 2023,” said Ms McCormick.

“These fantastic events bring thousands of competitors, their families and spectators to our city which in turn delivers a huge boost to our local economy.”

Along with the individual award winners, the Awards also celebrated the achievements of five bowlers who were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Three more bowlers were elevated to Hall of Fame Legend – Karen Murphy AM, Stephen Glasson OAM and Robert Parrella OAM. The Australian bowlers each have long and decorated careers, between them winning multiple Commonwealth Games gold medals and World Bowls Championships.

Bowls Australia’s CEO Neil Dalrymple said Gold Coast was the perfect backdrop to the sport’s night of nights.

“The Gold Coast is a heartland for the sport of bowls and was an ideal setting to showcase the achievements of both the sport’s grassroots and high-performance elite at the Hall of Fame and Awards Night, where many Queenslander’s contributions were recognised.”

The Hall of Fame and Awards Night is part of the 2022 National Festival of Bowls underway on the Gold Coast until 14 October.

The Nationals brings together six of the sport’s most coveted national events across two weeks of exciting bowls action with more national titles set to be bestowed across the 15-day period than at other time in the sport’s history.

“The Nationals highlights why our city is now recognised as one of the best destinations for major sport, across the globe,’’ said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

“Hosting this tournament is a major coup for our city and is the first time six national titles will be on the line at the one event.

“Our current global ranking for Bets Sports Cities is No 26 and I’m confident that major tournaments like this, followed by the World Bowls Championships in 2023, will further boost our stakes as a place to compete, and enjoy, sport.”

Today the bowls action rolls on with the Australian Championships underway at Broadbeach Bowls Club until Friday 14 October.

MEGC celebrates two years of securing major new events for the city

Posted on by Kesha West

An international airshow, a global superstar, a BMX Freestyle World Cup and an English Premier League team – in the past two years Major Events Gold Coast (MEGC) has secured some of the world’s biggest international events for the city.

July marks MEGC’s second birthday and there are plenty of reasons to celebrate said CEO Jan McCormick.

Major Events Gold Coast CEO Jan McCormick:

MEGC was created in July 2020 to build a portfolio of major world-class events for this city, and we are steadily doing just that with some huge wins in our first two years.

In a massive coup for the Gold Coast, Major Events Gold Coast could finally share the news in May that one of the world’s largest and most spectacular air shows would be hosted in the city from 2023.

We were determined to secure Pacific Airshow Gold Coast. It well and truly cements our city's reputation as a world-class events destination with capacity to host the biggest events and shows on the planet. There were many times we thought we might not pull this off, it involved more than two years of negotiation and meticulous planning across multiple time zones, all while navigating a global pandemic. We are thrilled the Gold Coast will see the airshow in our skies for the next five years at least.

The airshow is a game changer for the Gold Coast, attracting visitors from not just across Australia but across the world, bringing a significant and much-needed city-wide economic boost.

This weekend another global blockbuster secured with the help of MEGC will take centre stage – the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Cruiserweight World Title Fight. It’s the first time the city has hosted a world title match. The event will be broadcast live around the globe ensuring all eyes are on the Gold Coast.

Later in the month, the city will host English Premier League club Leeds United FC when they take on Brisbane Roar, another first for the city. Then in December, a UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup, an Australia first.

MEGC has also been excited to announce a host of major new international music and cultural events for the Gold Coast, including legendary band Guns N’ Roses performing at Metricon Stadium in November, and global superstar Harry Styles who will bring his Love On Tour here in February 2023.

Major Events Gold Coast CEO Jan McCormick:

The Harry Styles tour announcement is a fantastic win for the Gold Coast, and will be his only Queensland performance. Having international live acts of this calibre continues to elevate the city’s reputation as a world-class major events destination and is something to really celebrate. The city is continuing to grow as a must-visit live music destination, and MEGC is excited to continue to work with promoters to secure more international live music events for the Gold Coast.

MEGC also delivers a portfolio of its own award-winning festivals Blues on Broadbeach, Groundwater Country Music Festival, Cooly Rocks On and the new SPRINGTIME festival set to showcase some of our best home grown and local contemporary artists on beach stages in Surfers Paradise.

MEGC Festival Director Mark Duckworth:

Despite the challenges of the past couple of years MEGC was still able to successfully deliver hugely popular music festivals for the city. The reopening of international borders this year came just in time for both Cooly Rocks On and Blues on Broadbeach, allowing us to invite artists from New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan and the USA, and our confidence continues to grow in adding international programming to our festivals.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the coast’s growing calendar of world-class music, sporting, arts, and cultural events amplified the city’s reputation globally putting the Gold Coast firmly on the map as the ultimate major events destination.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate:

Major Events Gold Coast has worked behind the scenes for the past two years to deliver, attract and secure some of the most spectacular and significant international events you'll see anywhere in the world. That dogged persistence has paid off and the local economy will reap the benefits of that today, and well into the future.

And MEGC is just getting started.

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