About
Croatian Sports Centre Gold Coast is home of the Gold Coast Knights Football Club, located on Nerang-Broadbeach Road, in the heart of Carrara. Established in 1983, the centre features a clubhouse, indoor and outdoor function spaces, three soccer fields, and grandstand seating for up to 200 spectators.
Inside the centre, there is a range of function spaces available, catering for intimate occasions of 10 people or more, through to lavish events for 450 people.
Croatian Sports Centre Gold Coast is the ideal venue for intimate celebrations through to large sit-down or cocktail events such as birthday parties, multicultural and corporate events, sports or recreation events, school formals, and weddings.
We often open our restaurant for dinner, or for special Croatian events throughout the year such as New Year’s Eve, Christmas, or other special themes. Please follow our Facebook page for updates about upcoming events and restaurant opening hours or see our What’s On section.
Why choose Croatian Sports Centre Gold Coast for your next event?
Proudly, on site we have:
- A variety of air-conditioned indoor function spaces for intimate events or up to 450 pax.
- Free onsite bitumen parking for 200 cars.
- Indoor and outdoor bars/spaces, depending on your event.
- Full indoor commercial kitchen and outdoor kitchen.
- Food and beverage packages prepared by our excellent quality chefs.
- Indoor stage, portable stage, and indoor dance floor.
- Onsite Roman Catholic chapel for weddings, christenings, and funerals.
- Flexible services to cater for your taste and budget.
ASSOCIATIONS
Croatian Sports Centre Gold Coast is home to many associations including Gold Coast Knights Football Club, GC Knights Old Boys, Gold Coast NK Adriatic, St Leopold Mandic Chapel, Australian Croatian Pensioners Club Gold Coast Inc, GCK Croatian Social Golf Club, and traditional folkloric dance group HFS Velebit Gold Coast. It is the permanent base of the Gold Coast Knights Football Club and St Leopold Mandic Chapel.
HISTORY
Croatian Sports Centre Gold Coast is the heart of Croatian culture on the Gold Coast, offering a welcoming place for all “Croat Australians” to gather for the love of food and soccer. As the club has grown, so has its impression on the entire Gold Coast community. Today, Gold Coast residents of all backgrounds enjoy dining at the centre – cheering on their teams and hosting special occasions there.
The club’s origins began more than 40 years ago, on April 16, 1982, when 146 Croatian migrants purchased land in the heart of Carrara. A small clubhouse was built first, and that would soon become home for the Gold Coast Knights Football Club (then named St. Anthony’s Soccer Club, with the club house called Croatian Australian St. Anthony’s Sports Centre Club).
The Centre was also established as a place where new Croatian migrants and Australian-born Croatians could come together. Founders and their families would soon refer to the Centre as a second home, and that sentiment describes exactly how second and third generation Australian-Croatians feel about it today, decades on.
MEMBERSHIP
Prior to July 2021, the constitution had one layer of memberships and only unofficially recognised its foundation members. To reflect the history of the club, and to steer the club to a sustainable future, the committee passed a new constitution in July 2021 to officially recognise foundation members. They also introduced three extra levels of membership: perpetual, ordinary, and social.