Blockbuster games will be offered up by the AFL in a desperate bid to re-negotiate a deal that currently ties a new Gold Coast team to the Gabba in Brisbane.

AFL executive Gillon McLachlan attended the Gold Coast bid group's official launch on the tourist strip on Wednesday but still had no answer to one of the big question's hanging over the 2011 hopefuls - where will they play?

Barely 24 hours after officially applying for the AFL's 17th licence, the bid group - dubbed GC17 - on Wednesday unveiled a game plan for tackling the tough criteria they must meet in six months.

But arguably the hardest task has been taken on by the AFL - securing a home stadium.

It didn't get any easier on Wednesday when the state government reiterated that they expected the AFL to honour the deal that ensures a second south-east Queensland team is based at the Gabba until 2016.

McLachlan said it would "make sense" to offer the Gold Coast team's blockbuster clashes to the Gabba as a deal breaker.

"You would have to play the Lions, Collingwood and Essendon and the bigger drawing teams at the largest capacity venue - the Gabba," he said.

An option reportedly being considered by the AFL is paying out $40 million to the Queensland government to clear existing Gabba debts and contracts.

"I don't want to discuss cans or can'ts. The agreement exists and the challenge exists," McLachlan said.

"We have never said anything other than we respect that agreement, acknowledge the agreement exists.

"Our challenge is to convince the government of the merits of varying them, to make them adjust that.

"(But) it's been very clear advice to us from the Gold Coast group that for the Gold Coast to really own its team it needs to be playing the majority of its games on the Gold Coast."

McLachlan said a venue with a 20,000-25,000 capacity would be the "right size" for a Gold Coast home venue, similar to Geelong's Skilled Stadium.

"We need a venue either new or redeveloped that can deal with that number," he said.

If GC17 bid member John Witheriff was concerned about a stadium deal, he wasn't showing it.

"I work with the state government, I'm director of a company building a desalination plant down here - I've got the utmost faith in them," he said.

"I'm not worried about it. A resolution will be found."

Witheriff has other worries on his plate - namely finding 111 sponsors and 20,000 committed supporters by October.

But the wheels are in motion to meet the tough criteria set down by AFL boss Andrew Demetriou on Tuesday.

A football forum to attract supporters and discuss club name, jumper design and colours will be held on April 30 at the Gold Coast Stadium.

Volunteers will also be sent out into the community to sign committed supporters.

A business forum to nail down sponsors will be finalised soon.

Witheriff said people and businesses can register their support by logging on at gc17.com.au which was launched on Wednesday.

Witheriff also announced a GC17 football committee, in alliance with AFL Queensland, to build the first incarnation of the Gold Coast team which will compete in a second tier competition in 2009.

It comprises former Brisbane Lions president Graeme Downie, Southport Football Club president Alan Mackenzie, AFL Queensland CEO Richard Griffiths and David Matthews, the AFL's general manager of national and international development.

Gold Coast City Council chief executive and former Brisbane Bears player Dale Dickson was also unveiled as the bid team's new board member.

The launch also unveiled GC17 ambassadors - four-time Olympic basketballer Shane Heal and former champion triathlete Loretta Harrop.

Curiously former Brisbane Lions champion Shaun Hart was also present on Wednesday.

But Witheriff said it did not mean Hart had a foot in the door for the Gold Coast coaching job.

Former Lions captain Michael Voss is still the long-term favourite.

"I would be disappointed if Michael wasn't in the mix," Witheriff said.

Downie added: "Personally I think Michael ticks all the boxes to make a senior coach but it is difficult to talk about a 2011 coach when we are probably looking at an interim coach when we play two years in a second tier competition."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP