Gold Coast SUNS players Daniel Harris and Josh Fraser, were on hand at Gold Coast Stadium today to lay what will soon be their field of dreams.
With completion of the stadium around three months away, the redeveloped venue now looks more like a football stadium and not a construction site.
GC SUNS recruit and 200-game AFL veteran, Josh Fraser, said “We can’t wait to take to the field here with the full support of the Gold Coast behind us. We’ve played a couple of matches away but nothing will compare to a full house at home.”
GC SUNS player Daniel Harris, said “We’ve been training next door to the construction zone for a while now and it’s been great to see our new home ground develop from the ground up.
Sport Minister Phil Reeves said this is another major step in the completion of what will be a world class facility, supporting the GC SUNS in their debut season.
"It won't be too long before this newly laid grass becomes hallowed turf for the GC SUNS with thousands of fans set to make a regular pilgrimage to support the team," Mr Reeves said.
"The laying of the turf is one of the final steps in preparing this stadium for use. The timing of this process will allow three months for the field to bed down before the first GC SUNS game against the Cats is played at the stadium on May 28."
The laying of the turf on the 171m x 144m playing field will be completed later this week, with contractors rolling out approximately 20,000 square metres of couch turf.
A strip of artificial turf will be laid around the western boundary line, as this area has the most ‘traffic’ on it during event days. Officials, trainers, players, support staff and security are always using this area during matches.
In other works around the stadium:
- The installation of near 25,000 seats continues with the seating bowl now resembling a sea of GC SUNS red.
- Contractors have installed the 200sqm scoreboard. At 8.5 metres high x 23 metres in width, the high-res LED scoreboard is one of the largest in Australia.
- All 450 metres of solar panelling is now producing power. The solar panelling will generate approximately 275,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per annum, around 20 per cent of the stadium's total electricity needs. This is equivalent to powering more than 250 homes.
- Works on the Western Stand continue with the internal fit out of function spaces, corporate facilities and players dressing rooms well advanced.
Construction on the $144.2 million Gold Coast Stadium remains on time and on budget.
The venue has been designed by Populous and is being constructed by Watpac.
The Gold Coast SUNS first home match is against the Geelong Cats on Saturday 28 May.
