National Rugby League side Gold Coast "slammed the door shut" on its Centre of Excellence "house of horrors after being handed the keys to a new home and a fresh start by the NRL, Gold Coast City Council and club saviour Darryl Kelly," according to Badel, Balym & Meyn of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. The club announced on Wednesday that it will move to a new A$7M ($6.2M) headquarters at Coomera on the northern end of the Gold Coast in '16. The NRL "took up a 20-year lease on Council land behind the Dreamworld theme park, adjacent to the 2018 Commonwealth Games development." Titans co-Owner Kelly "will fund the development," which will see his overall contribution to saving the club exceed A$10M (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 9/25). In Sydney, Brent Read reported the "decision to abandon the Centre of Excellence ends a turbulent period in the Titans' history." The building was meant to carry the club into the future. Instead, "it became a millstone around their neck." Ultimately, "it was sold but the damage had been done." The Titans have struggled financially since, "hence the speculation over the club's future on the tourist strip." NRL CEO Dave Smith said, "This development puts to bed any suggestions about the Titans being relocated" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 9/25).
