Carrara Stadium’s massive makeover ahead of GC2018

It’s a known fact that every stadium improves by 100% when it has an athletics track in it.

One only needs to look at Carrara Stadium, currently undergoing a massive transformation to become the centrepiece venue for the track and field at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, as well as the 2018 Australian Athletics Championships & Nomination Trials as evidence of that.

Carrara Stadium (known commercially as Metricon Stadium) is primarily used as the Gold Coast Suns' AFL home ground during the year, but since September the ground has seen the turf removed and work begin on the IAAF certified track, as well as the stands to increase the spectator capacity to 35,000.

The temporary northern stand that has been constructed can hold 9,500.

With the track line marking almost complete, the stadium is expected to be finished on schedule in time for its first big test, where Australia’s best track and field talent will fight for glory and a place on the Australian team at the 2018 Australian Athletics Championships & Nomination Trials from 15-18 February 2018.

The time lapse below shows the extent of the transformation between mid-October to the end of November.

Following the Games next April, the track will be cut up and sent around Queensland to be used by schools for long-jump run-ups.

“Children will be able to run, jump and follow in the steps of their elite sporting heroes, including our own Sally Pearson,” Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“This is an exciting time in the Games' journey with this key venue evolving from an AFL field to a spectacular stadium where the eyes of the world will be focused for the Opening Ceremony on 4 April 2018.”

See below shots of the stadium before the construction and during the transformation.

As well as the athletics, the stadium will also host the Games’ opening and closing ceremonies. Just recently GOLDOC declared Opening Ceremony tickets have sold out.

GC2018 athletics tickets are still available, with seats to sessions that include the men’s 100m, 400m and long jump finals, as well as the women’s 400m, 1500m and javelin throw finals among many other events. Click here for tickets.