The Gold Coast Titans has today joined with the City of Gold Coast and the National Rugby League in unveiling plans for a new headquarters in a huge sporting precinct at Coomera confirming the Titans’ long term future on the Gold Coast.
The land has been provided by The City of Gold Coast on a community lease arrangement and is located in a precinct being developed for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the fastest growing area of the region.
The new training and administration complex will be developed by Titans shareholder and director Darryl Kelly in a sign of confidence in the future of the Titans and the on-going development of rugby league on the Gold Coast.
“The Titans are an important part of our social fabric and make a valued contribution to the local economy and Gold Coast pride,” said City of Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate.
“We are right behind the Titans and, through our Sports Plan, delighted to support their expansion into an exciting new precinct.
“This is a good deal for the Titans, a great deal for fans, and an outstanding deal for residents.”
NRL chief executive officer Dave Smith, who visited the Gold Coast to take part in the announcement, said it was an exciting move for the Titans.
“This development puts to bed any suggestions about the Titans being relocated,” he said.
“The Titans are a key part of the NRL’s long term plans.
“They will now operate from one of the best administration and training centres in the game and under a strong board.”
The new centre will include state of the art player and administrative facilities and will be open in time for the 2016 NRL season.
In the interim the Titans will move into office space in the council’s administration building next month and the team’s training base will be temporarily located at The Southport School (TSS), the most prestigious private school on the Gold Coast with first class facilities to rival any professional sporting team in Australia.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the Titans to draw a line in the sandand focus solely on the future,” said Titans CEO Graham Annesley. “It marks the beginning of a new chapter which will provide the impetus for the club to realise its potential both on and off the field.
“I want to sincerely thank the Titans board, mayor Tate, CEO Dale Dickson and council administration, Dave Smith and the NRL, as well as the TSS School Council and headmaster Greg Wain for their tremendous support and co-operation in making this possible.
“A strong and sustainable Gold Coast Titans is not only crucial for rugby league as a sport, it is also an important community asset for the sixth largest city in Australia.”
The Coomera area is a new driver of the city’s economy and the main centre for the northern Gold Coast, located in the fastest growing part of the Coast. Coomera’s population increased by more than 150 per cent in the past five years with more than 6000 people moving to the area.
The precinct in which the Titans will be located is supported by integrated bus and rail services and good access to the Pacific Motorway, planned to transform Coomera to an employment-based and highly accessible transit orientated centre.
It will include a sporting hub plus retail, commercial, entertainment, civic and residential development.
The club will continue to play its home games at Cbus Super Stadium at Robina which gives it a presence in the northern and southern ends of the Gold Coast.
ILLUSTRATION: Preliminary artist impression only of the new centre.