Sunshine Coast Stadium

Sunshine Coast Stadium is a multi-sport venue located at Kawana Waters on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. The stadium is the main venue in a sporting precinct that also includes seven fields.

Sunshine Coast Stadium
LocationKawana Waters, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates26°44′2″S 153°7′34″E
OwnerQueensland Government
Executive suites4
Capacity12,000
Record attendance15,000
SurfaceGrass
ScoreboardYes, northern end
Construction
Expanded2011, 2017
Construction cost$10 million (2011 expansion)
Tenants
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Sunshine Coast FC
Sunshine Coast Rugby Union
Queensland Country (NRC) (2015–present)
Melbourne Storm (NRL) (2020-)

Development

Sunshine Coast Stadium was first expanded in 2007, at which time it became sponsored as Stockland Park.[1] At the time, there were plans for the construction of a $22 million, 3,700 seat grandstand which would have allowed for the playing of both rectangular and oval based sports.[2] However, following the withdrawal of State Government funds, the project was cancelled and plans were drawn up for a more modest stadium to be built on the site.

Following the cancellation of the earlier plan, a design was drawn up for the construction of a small grandstand on the western side of the main field. Following a construction period that lasted nearly nine months, the grandstand, named the Sunshine Coast Stadium, was opened on 3 June 2011.[3] A main grandstand seating 1,050 spectators under cover is situated on the wing[4] while temporary seating can be placed around the field for rectangular events pushing the seating capacity to 12,000.[5] As part of the focus on sustainability at the stadium, it features a 30 kW solar power system on the stadium's roof.[4]

The venue has hosted national events including a pre-season A-League fixture between the Brisbane Roar and Wellington Phoenix as well as its attendance breaking pre-season NRL match between Manly Sea Eagles and Melbourne Storm, which attracted 8,119 spectators.[6] On 29 October 2011, the stadium hosted a Cold Chisel concert, attracting 15,000 patrons[7]

In early 2017, a $2.4 million upgrade will be completed. A further 2,500 seats were added bringing the total to 10,000. It opened on 11 February 2017 with a trial match between the Melbourne Storm and New Zealand Warriors.[8]

The record sporting event crowd was set in round 5 of the 2019 NRL season on 13 April 2019 when the South Sydney Rabbitohs beat the New Zealand Warriors in the first ever NRL game on the Sunshine Coast for premiership points in front of 11,912 patrons.[9]

In 2020 the Stadium became a home away from home for the Melbourne Storm when on 8 July, the club announced that they would play their Round 10, 12 and 13 home fixtures at the Stadium [10]. This was extended on 18 August when the club confirmed the remaining 3 fixtures of the Season, Rounds 16, 18 and 19 would also be played there. The Storm had relocated to the Sunshine Coast in mid June due to the escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria, preventing them from playing at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

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References
  1. Aus Stadiums Profile
  2. Aus Stadiums Profile
  3. Opening
  4. "Sunshine Coast Stadium". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  5. Aus Stadiums Profile
  6. Events for Stockland Park
  7. Cold Chisel Concert
  8. White, Jorgia (15 December 2016). "Stadium moves forwaard". Maroochy & Kawana Weekly: 8.
  9. "Cody Walker scores four tries as South Sydney Rabbitohs beat Warriors". National Rugby League. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  10. "Storm front coming for Sunshine Coast Stadium". Retrieved 9 July 2020.
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