By Abbey Cannan
Plans are in place to unveil the new-look USC Stadium when Sunshine Coast Lightning hosts the Giants in a Round 5 clash of the Suncorp Super Netball on Saturday 25 May.
Sunshine Coast Lightning CEO Danielle Smith said the club was excited about providing more people with the opportunity to attend live games at Lightning HQ.
“We are thrilled to have arguably the most loyal, enthusiastic and vocal supporters in the league and we can’t wait to hear them cheering loud and proud in the upgraded stadium,” she said.
Work to expand the sporting venue seating capacity by 50 percent is progressing well, with the $9 million redevelopment project on track for completion within two months.
Structural steel work for the project finished in February, and the new section of the stadium is expected to be made watertight by the end of March.
University of the Sunshine Coast released artist impressions of the redevelopment, which is being funded by the Queensland Government and constructed by Sunshine Coast company Evans Built.
The images highlight the new section on the eastern side of the stadium that will add 1,000 seats to the venue, expanding its capacity from 2,000 seats to 3,000.
In addition to the increased spectator seating, the extension will incorporate new athlete changerooms, a multi-purpose function room, new sound system, dedicated seating for people with a disability, and new public bathrooms.
State Government funding for the stadium redevelopment was announced in late 2017, soon after Lightning won the first of its two consecutive Suncorp Super Netball grand finals, following strong lobbying by Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson.
