GCCEC | |
View from The Star Gold Coast looking north to Surfers Paradise
|
|
Location | 2684 - 2690 Gold Coast Highway, Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Queensland 4218 |
---|---|
Coordinates | 28°1′43″S 153°25′43″E / 28.02861°S 153.42861°ECoordinates: 28°1′43″S 153°25′43″E / 28.02861°S 153.42861°E |
Owner | Queensland State Government |
Operator | Star Entertainment Group |
Capacity | 6,000 Basketball / Netball: 5,269 |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 2003 |
Opened | June 29, 2004 |
Construction cost | AU$167m |
Tenants | |
Gold Coast Blaze (NBL) (2007-2012) Queensland Firebirds (ANZ) (2008–2016), (NNL) (2017–) AFL Draft (2010, 2012 - 2014) 2018 Commonwealth Games (Netball) |
The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) is located on the Gold Coast Highway in Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Queensland. The world-class venue was opened on 29 June 2004 at a cost of A$167 million and is linked by a covered walkway to The Star Gold Coast. Managed by the Star Entertainment Group, the Centre caters for 10 to 6,000 people.
The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre has conference facilities for up to 6,000 delegates and 10,000 sqm of exhibition space. The property features a main arena, four halls, 22 meeting rooms, four registration offices and 12 kitchens for catering. The Centre is located 18.3 kilometres (11.4 mi) from Coolangatta airport. The facility has wireless internet access.
The Centre was expanded at a cost of $40 million in early 2009. The makeover was funded by the Queensland Government, adding two extra exhibition halls, a registration office, three meeting rooms and three new kitchens and an extra 3,000 square metres of floor space in total. The Queensland Government commenced construction proceedings as a result of the increasing demand on the Gold Coast for larger space and concurrent sessions during national and international conventions and incentives. The final product required over 124,000 man hours, 1550 m3 of concrete poured, 375 tonnes of structural steel erected and 7,000 litres of paint.
The GCCEC is home to numerous conventions, from the association, corporate and franchise sectors to consumer shows and entertainment events.
From the 2007-08 NBL season until the end of the 2011-12 season, the venue was home to the Gold Coast Blaze of the National Basketball League with the capacity to seat 5,269 spectators. During Blaze home games the Centre was referred to as "The Furnace" and gained a reputation for having close games with three Blaze games during the 2010-11 NBL season going into overtime. Along with the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Queensland Firebirds, a Brisbane-based netball team in the Suncorp Super Netball play regular home games at the venue.