Gold Coast wins rights to host IRB 7's from 2012

[TOCC]

Skilled Stadium will today be announced as they new home of IRB 7's from 2012 on a 4 year contract

 

[barbarian]

Good call. Easily accessible from the major centres, good social town with plenty to do after hours. Will definitely be tempted to go next year.

Also an important market of sports-lovers.

 

[Brumby Jack]

A snippet from the ARU:

The International Rugby Sevens Gold Coast will be held at Skilled Park on 25-26 November 2011 and will be the first stop of the 2011/12 HSBC Sevens World Series.

ARU Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill said the decision to award the four-year contract to the Gold Coast came after a thorough bidding process.

“Last November, we invited a range of interested parties from across Australia to submit proposals to host the Australian leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series and we received very competitive responses from Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast,” Mr O’Neill said.

“After a thorough review process, which included consultation with the International Rugby Board, I am pleased to announce that the Gold Coast was selected as the new home to one of Australia’s fastest growing sports and one of the World’s most exciting Rugby events.

 

[TOCC]

Its a shame for Adelaide, but the reality is, that the stadium was only 25% full over the weekend, those sort of figures are in reality pretty poor.

The event has real potential to flourish on the Gold Coast, the city is perfectly designed to host big events like this.

 

[Jets]

Lock me in. Great timing too as it will be just after the RWC this year and I should just be starting to recover from the hangover I have after the Wallabies win. I think I will be on the phone to organise the kids to be looked after for the weekend. Mother in law lives walking distance from the stadium so I might have to house swap with her.

 

[Bradley]

Great news. I will attend for sure. Bad luck to Adelaide but having the lowest crowds on the world tour did not inspire their chances of getting a contract renewel.

 

[TOCC]

I guess the other thing is that the Gold Coast has really laid the groundwork for hosting this event after years of building the Gold Coast 7's tournament into one of the best and biggest in Australia, its always good to see hard work rewarded.

 

[#1 Tah]

Awesome. Looks like its going to be a boys weekend for me and my old man!

 

[Doc]

Was complaining about it being in Adelaide still and thought GC would make a great location to host it, with the only real downside being the stadium lacks the festival feel that makes 7s so great.

BUT, to hold the event on the GC during schoolies is about the most ridiculous decision I've seen in a long time. Hard to attract fans when there is no accommodation.

 

[Nusadan]

BUT, to hold the event on the GC during schoolies is about the most ridiculous decision I've seen in a long time. Hard to attract fans when there is no accommodation.

That's a very valid point...I didn't realise about the timing itself...and I know many others wouldn't...

There'll be no such thing as reasonably priced accomodation in the GC...my son (or more like me lent him) paid $850 to get a one sixth share of an apartment up in Q1 building for one week.

What chances are there for people wishing to book a weekend stay there when the accommodation operators can get better value booking it out on a week by week basis at that time of the year with the changeover day being Saturday? Two chances...

 

[en_force_er]

GC is a great location for 7s, completely synonymous with the image of the sub-sport.

But there is no reason for Adelaide to not see any professional rugby, SA has excellent participation numbers proportionate to their population when compared to Victoria and WA.

Perhaps a Rebels game of little note or a preseason game could be sent there on a yearly basis. I've been saying since day 1 that the Rebs should try to claim SA and maybe even Tas as part of their "catchment area".

 

[grievous]

I guess the other thing is that the Gold Coast has really laid the groundwork for hosting this event after years of building the Gold Coast 7's tournament into one of the best and biggest in Australia, its always good to see hard work rewarded.

I think Adelaide clearly did the groundwork in this case. Im sure GC will be full each day with newly converted mungos.

 

[grievous]

GC is a great location for 7s, completely synonymous with the image of the sub-sport.

But there is no reason for Adelaide to not see any professional rugby, SA has excellent participation numbers proportionate to their population when compared to Victoria and WA.

Perhaps a Rebels game of little note or a preseason game could be sent there on a yearly basis. I've been saying since day 1 that the Rebs should try to claim SA and maybe even Tas as part of their "catchment area".

I think a carrot of future 4 nations games involving Arg has been dangled. The 7s has helped grow the game there.

 

[TOCC]

Not sure how the profits for the tournament are split(Organisers/ARU/IRB), but it could potentially work as a precursor to having a fully professional 7's squad in Australia.

Sources have told The Australian that the West Australian government guaranteed the $2m profit as the race to win the tournament narrowed down to Perth and the Gold Coast.

Adelaide, which had staged the tournament for five years, and Sydney also were bidding.

Indications are the Queensland government matched or even topped that figure, but it certainly wasn't about to admit as much.

"It was a competitive tender process and that's all commercial in confidence," a spokesman for Premier Anna Bligh said last night.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/gold-coast-sevens-coup/story-e6frg7o6-1226038722546

 

[TOCC]

Woops, just realised the title of this thread is wrong, since the 7's circuit operates across 2 calender years, the Gold Coast will actually host there first 7's leg 25-26 November 2011

This means the tournament will start earlier then in previous years, which could mean the IRB is still pursuing there plans to expand the 7's in 2011/2012, Tokyo was supposed to be included but we might see China(yes i understand Hong Kong is technically China) or Singapore instead, a new South American leg is on the cards as well.

 

[TheTruth]

Congrats to the Gold Coast

 

[FiveStarStu]

Disappointed Adelaide lost it, went there this year and loved it. Sure GC will do a ripper of a job and will definitely consider going up for it.

Agree with en_force_er that this is a great opportunity for either the Rebels or the Force to move into SA.

 

[FiveStarStu]

Also odd that it's starting on a Friday.

 

[Set piece magic]

it being on during schoolies could either turn it into THE schoolies event or it could fail. I actually heard about this at school due to friends talking about schoolies when one of them mentioned the rugby was on...

I think it'll work. Just be prepared for a yob atmosphere

 

[Bowside]

Playing it during schoolies is a bit stupid.

If they want to tie it in with something they could play it the week after the indy, or during the Bond Uni O-Week.