As roadshow staff lay down the final touches on Metricon Stadium and it’s surrounding Carrara precinct, Big Day Out festival goers are eagerly awaiting to transform the Gold Coast SUNS training base into an iconic premier music arena.
The marquees have been raised, the bars stocked and the many stages set ready for some of the world’s biggest music artists to take centre-stage as they prepare to rock out on the Gold Coast’s leg of the international tour.
Metricon Stadium’s corporate hospitality services will be come alive, with more than 1500 VIP guests expected to watch the headlines acts from The Lounge and Chairman’s Club.
GC SUNS CEO Travis Auld will host the club’s corporate partners and city leaders, with Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey and Mayor Tom Tate among the high-profile Gold Coasters to attend.
It will be the second time the GC SUNS have hosted a music concert in recent years, first identifying the potential to grow non-AFL business after the Foo Fighters drew almost 40,000 to the stadium.
Metricon Stadium manager David Bennett, said the Club would be looking to provide the deliver the same game-day experience that saw stadium voted the AFL’s best sports venue in 2011-12.
"A lot of planning has gone into this event from the day it was announced the stadium was hosting it," Bennett told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
"We want to give people attending the concert the same level of experience they get on game day."
Big Day Out promotor Brian "Smash" Chladil was overwhelmed by the stadium’s corporate facilities, suggesting VIP guests would be blown away.
"It will be a great experience sitting in the air-conditioned bar overlooking the stadium,'' he said.
"There will be more shade and more seats and the older crowd will feel more comfortable around the main stage where Pearl Jam is playing.
"Metricon has great amenities and there will be a bus hub getting people in and out.
"There is a lot more space than previous years," he said.