People First Stadium

Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast

The newly-named People First Stadium (formerly Heritage Bank Stadium and non-comercially known as Carrara Stadium, is a 22,500-capacity sports venue located at Carrara on Queensland's Gold Coast. The venue re-opened in mid-2011 following a $144 million major redevelopment for the Gold Coast Suns AFL expansion club. The venue also served as the main stadium for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, hosting the athletics, opening and closing ceremonies, where the capacity was extended to 40,000 with the addition of a temporary grandstand at the open scoreboard end.

All that remains of the original stadium (which opened in 1987) are the six light towers, with everything else flattened. Original plans were for two main grandstands on either side with uncovered seating behind both goals, however additional funding allowed for the roof to continue around the Southern end.

The rebuild transformed the old Carrara Stadium into a world-class venue. As well as being home of the Gold Coast Suns Football Club, the venue also plays host to occasional cricket fixtures, concerts, and it served as the main venue for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Carrara is a Stadium’s Queensland venue operated by the Gold Coast Suns, designed by Populous and built by Watpac.

Metricon Stadium

Construction of the original stadium began in 1986 and opened the following year after the Brisbane Bears were granted a license to play in the VFL. Then known as Carrara Oval, the highest crowd recorded in that era was in 1989 when 18,198 people watched the Bears play Geelong. However crowds dwindled and the Bears moved to the Gabba in Brisbane in 1993. The ground was left without a major tenant and was sold to the Gold Coast City Council. The ground occasionally played host to Rugby League games and in 1996, the Gold Coast Chargers moved full-time to the stadium until 1998 when they were kicked out from the ARL. The venue had main grandstands on either side of the ground, and grassed areas and seating behind the goals, with a total capacity of around 18,000 including seating for 5,300 spectators.

Metricon held the naming rights to the stadium from when it re-opened in 2011 until December 2022. As of February 2023, Carrara was known as Heritage Bank Stadium following a new commercial naming rights partnership. In March 2024, the stadium's name officially changed to People First Stadium.

People First Stadium Details

People First Stadium Logo
Location
Address
Broadbeach-Nerang Road, Carrara QLD 4211 GET DIRECTIONS
Capacity
22,500
Seats
22,500 (100% of capacity)
Record Crowd
22,688 - 18/3/1994 ARL: Gold Coast v Brisbane
Highest Crowd since 2003
Lights
Yes
Arena Roof
No
Video Screen
Yes
Arena Dimensions
161 x 134m
Opened
1987
Redeveloped
2011
Former/Other Names
Carrara Stadium
Gold Coast Stadium
Metricon Stadium
Heritage Bank Stadium
People First Stadium
Sports Played
Australian Football
Athletics  
Home Teams
Gold Coast Suns (AFL)  
Historic Events
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games
Last Event
Next Event
Official Website
Transport
Fans can catch regular Queensland Rail train services from any station on the Gold Coast line to Nerang station and then board an event shuttle bus to Metricon Stadium from the eastern side of Nerang station. The taxi rank operates in front of the Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre.
Parking
No parking is available at the stadium for events, however there are free shuttle buses from Broadbeach South Shuttle Station, Nerang Station and the Boowaggan Road.
Accommodation
See hotels near People First Stadium VIEW ACCOMMODATION
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Information about People First Stadium (Carrara Stadium / Heritage Bank Stadium) in Gold Coast including venue layout, history, records, events, map, tickets, directions and accommodation.
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