The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) today welcomed GL events ExpoNet Pty Ltd as an Official Supplier delivering temporary grandstand seating for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018).
Minister for the Commonwealth Games, Stirling Hinchliffe said GL events ExpoNet will deliver more than 60,000 temporary seats for use across 13 Games venues, complementing existing infrastructure and ensuring adequate seating for spectators to enjoy the sporting spectacular.
“With more than 1.5 million spectators expected at the Games, temporary seating will be critical to the successful staging of GC2018.
“It’s another great example of how the Commonwealth Games are delivering economic benefits to Queensland by using local business expertise,” he said.
GL events ExpoNet; General Manager, Shaun Rae, said the company was looking forward to delivering world class event solutions for the Games.
“ExpoNet is an Australian company based between the Gold Coast and Brisbane with support from other national facilities. ExpoNet is one of the largest, local suppliers in the Australian event industry and GL events is a worldwide leader of integrated solutions and management services, delivering high profile international major events such as the Sydney Olympics. Both companies jointly delivered the G20 in Brisbane.
“GC2018 is unique in terms of its size and scope but our professional team of project managers, designers and logistic experts from both parent organisations bring their experience from successfully delivering events such as the Rio and London Olympics and thousands of national events to deliver the seating requirements for GC2018,” Mr Rae said.
GOLDOC Chairman, Peter Beattie AC, said it was great to see local businesses and contractors benefitting from GC2018 opportunities.
“In fact, GL events ExpoNet was the only Australian business that submitted a tender for this work with all other bids from international firms.
“From a GOLDOC procurement perspective, over 70% of our contracts have been issued to businesses with a Gold Coast presence and 89% of our contracts have been issued to companies with a presence in Queensland.”
“This is in addition to the $606 million in construction contracts awarded for the venues and Games Village projects, from which $261 million have been awarded to Gold Coast contractors and a further $284 million to businesses in South East Queensland.
“As we get closer to GC2018 our focus moves from planning to delivery of an unforgettable global Games and this contract is crucial to shaping the experience for spectators and delivering the Games overlay requirements,” he said.
GOLDOC Chief Executive, Mark Peters, said this partnership is another example of how GC2018 is delivering on the promise of diverse and enduring economic growth bringing major economic benefits to the local area.
“This is a great opportunity for a local supplier to be a part of a high profile contract, but also to work with and learn from a world leader in temporary event structure.
“Temporary seating is a key part of many major sporting events. It will provide greater capacity to venues, improve comfort and not leave an unnecessary oversupply of underused seats post-Games,” Mr Peters said.
