Heritage Bank Stadium is a well-known sporting venue located in Carrara on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Australia. The stadium is closely connected with Australian rules football and is recognised as the home ground of the Gold Coast Suns. Over the years, it has hosted AFL matches, cricket games, concerts and major sporting events, making it an important entertainment destination in the region.

The venue has also experienced several name changes throughout its history. It was previously known as Carrara Stadium and Metricon Stadium before becoming Heritage Bank Stadium in 2023. In March 2024, it was renamed People First Stadium. Despite the latest name change, cricket fans and sports followers still search for Heritage Bank Stadium when looking for its history, location, capacity and previous match records.

Where Is Heritage Bank Stadium?

Heritage Bank Stadium is situated in Carrara, a suburb of the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. It is located along Nerang-Broadbeach Road and forms part of the Gold Coast Sports Precinct. The stadium is surrounded by other sporting facilities, including the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre and Carrara Indoor Stadium.

Its location makes it accessible to residents and visitors travelling from different parts of the Gold Coast. The venue is also connected to the city’s major roads and public transport network, making it a convenient destination for people attending football matches, concerts and other events.

A Quick Look at the Venue

Heritage Bank Stadium is a multi-purpose sporting facility designed to accommodate different types of events. Although Australian rules football is its primary sporting attraction, the venue has also welcomed cricket competitions, athletics events and large-scale entertainment programmes.

The stadium underwent a major redevelopment before reopening in 2011. The project transformed the older Carrara ground into a modern sporting facility with improved seating, spectator facilities and event infrastructure.

Stadium Details	Information
Former name	Heritage Bank Stadium
Current name	People First Stadium
Location	Carrara, Gold Coast, Queensland
Country	Australia
Main sport	Australian rules football
Home team	Gold Coast Suns
Reopened	2011
Redevelopment cost	Approximately AUD $144 million
AFL capacity	Around 25,000
Previous name	Metricon Stadium
Non-commercial name	Carrara Stadium

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Map Out Carrara Oval To A Modern Stadium

The history of Heritage Bank Stadium goes back several decades, when the ground was known as Carrara Oval and Laver Oval. Before becoming a major AFL venue, the location was used for different sporting activities, including baseball, cricket and rugby league. It also served as a home ground for local sporting teams during its earlier years.

A major transformation took place when the Gold Coast received an AFL expansion team. The stadium was redeveloped at a cost of approximately AUD $144 million and reopened in mid-2011. The upgraded facility became the home of the Gold Coast Suns and provided the region with a modern venue capable of hosting major sporting competitions and entertainment events.

The Naming Timeline

The stadium has been known by several different names because of changes in commercial sponsorship agreements. Its traditional identity is connected with the Carrara area, but corporate naming partnerships have introduced new names over the years.

Heritage Bank became the naming rights partner in February 2023, replacing Metricon. However, the name did not remain for long. Following the merger of Heritage Bank and People’s Choice, the venue received another name change in March 2024 and became People First Stadium.

Period	Stadium Name
Earlier years	Laver Oval / Carrara Oval
Traditional name	Carrara Stadium
2011–2022	Metricon Stadium
2023	Heritage Bank Stadium
March 2024–present	People First Stadium

This timeline is useful for people searching for older match reports, stadium photographs and event information. All these names refer to the same sporting venue in Carrara.

Capacity and Configuration

The Heritage Bank Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium designed to host various types of sporting events. It has a seating capacity that is generally accepted as being about 25,000 when hosting Australian Football League (AFL) matches. This would make Heritage Bank Stadium a mid-size stadium in terms of size when compared to some of the largest stadiums in Australia.

The maximum number of people who can attend each event will depend upon the type of event and how the seats are arranged. Most football games are played in a standard stadium layout, but there are times when some events (such as concerts) will have additional standing room, or require different configurations. As a result, it is important that all potential attendees refer to the specific seat configuration for the event they wish to attend prior to buying their ticket.

Some important features of the stadium include:

• Modern spectator seating and grandstands.
• Facilities for AFL and other sporting competitions.
• Areas designed for concerts and entertainment events.
• Media and broadcasting facilities.
• Food and beverage services for visitors.
• Flexible event arrangements for different audience sizes.

Photos of Heritage Bank Stadium

Heritage Bank Stadium features a unique oval-shaped playing surface with spectators sitting around it. With its contemporary architecture, open playing field, and large spectator seating area, Heritage Bank Stadium is a visually appealing location for taking sports photographs. These photographs provide a glimpse of the stadium’s exterior, playing surface and general architecture to allow visitors to experience the stadium.

Records and Big Crowds

Heritage Bank Stadium has been host to thousands of people watching some of the most major sporting events and entertainment programs. On 5 July 2014, Heritage Bank Stadium hosted one of the largest Australian Football League (AFL) crowds ever, with 24,032 fans in attendance to watch the Gold Coast Suns play against Collingwood. The game received a lot of media coverage due to the fact that Collingwood was traveling with many supporters, as well as the popularity of the game itself.

In addition, the stadium has had even bigger crowds attend concerts. For example, according to Stadiums Queensland, Harry Styles broke a record for concert attendance with 49,957 fans attending his Queensland show at the stadium in 2023. This demonstrates how well-suited this facility is to host various types of events and generate huge crowds.

Some notable attendance figures include:

Event	Attendance
Gold Coast Suns vs Collingwood (2014)	24,032
Gold Coast Suns vs Collingwood (2011)	23,302
Harry Styles concert (2023)	49,957

The 2023 Season at the Ground

The 2023 season is notable for its uniqueness, as it is the only season that the facility operated under the “Heritage Bank Stadium” moniker. In addition, the Gold Coast Suns continued to play all of their home Australian Rules Football (AFL) games at Carrara. They hosted many other clubs over the course of the season. Additionally, the stadium continued to be a major location for fans of the team to follow the club as they advanced through the season.

The season was difficult for the Gold Coast Suns. Their results were inconsistent and coach Stuart Dew lost his job part way through the year, as Steven King took over coaching duties for the rest of the season. A highlight of the season for the Suns occurred in Round 17 against Hawthorn, where they recorded a 67-point win.

Major Events Beyond AFL

Although Australian rules football is the main focus of the stadium, Heritage Bank Stadium has hosted many major sporting and entertainment events. An example of one such event is the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. The stadium was a critical site for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games, and it also was a vital site for athletics during the international sporting event.

The stadium has hosted cricket games, rugby league matches, and some of the world’s most popular musicians. Many famous international artists such as Harry Styles, Guns N’ Roses, and P!NK have played at this stadium to sell-out crowds. In addition, the Brisbane Heat (BBL) team plays there, making it an excellent example of how a stadium can serve many purposes.

Some major sporting and entertainment activities associated with the venue include:

• Australian Football League (AFL) matches.
• AFL Women’s (AFLW) competitions.
• Big Bash League cricket matches.
• 2018 Commonwealth Games ceremonies.
• International music concerts.
• Community festivals and entertainment programmes.

Why The Name Still Resonates With Searchers

The Heritage Bank Stadium remains a popular search item for users who are looking up results, matches, tickets and/or advertising for events held at the stadium in 2023. While the stadium was officially renamed after 2023, there is still some older content on the internet that refers to it by its former name.

Another reason why it is still referred to as the old name is due to its history of being used for Australian Cricket and Football. People who have looked up past games, player statistics or historical photos will be able to see that the old name was used for this stadium. Knowing about the different name changes that occurred at the Carrara venue can help visitors realize that Heritage Bank Stadium, Metricon Stadium and People First Stadium are all names that were given to this stadium.

For anyone conducting a search online, it would be beneficial to keep in mind that the present name is People First Stadium. On the other hand, the previous name can be used to find historical data for the 2023 season.

Location: Heritage Bank Stadium

How to Get there and Plan your Visit

Reaching Heritage Bank Stadium is relatively convenient for people travelling from different parts of the Gold Coast. Visitors can use private vehicles, taxis, ride-sharing services and public transport depending on their starting location. Nerang and other nearby transport connections can help visitors reach the Carrara area.

Planning ahead is particularly important during major sporting fixtures and concerts because traffic and parking demand can increase significantly. It is advisable to check the latest transport arrangements, entry instructions and parking availability through the official venue information before leaving.

Here are a few useful tips for visitors:

1. Check the event date and starting time before travelling.
2. Purchase tickets through authorised booking platforms.
3. Confirm the stadium’s current entry and gate arrangements.
4. Check public transport and parking information.
5. Arrive early to avoid last-minute delays.
6. Follow the venue’s rules regarding prohibited items and visitor facilities.

Visitors should also remember that their tickets or older event advertisements may mention Heritage Bank Stadium or Metricon Stadium. Both names refer to the same venue now known as People First Stadium.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Heritage Bank Stadium has an important place in the sporting history of Australia’s Gold Coast. Originally associated with Carrara Oval, the venue developed into a modern sporting facility following its major redevelopment in 2011. It became widely recognised as the home of the Gold Coast Suns and hosted several AFL matches, cricket competitions, concerts and international sporting events.

Although the Heritage Bank Stadium name was used only during 2023, it remains relevant for people researching historical matches and stadium information. The venue is now officially called People First Stadium, but its earlier names continue to be part of its history. Knowing these changes makes it easier to find accurate information about the stadium’s location, capacity, events and records.

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