SEC Plans Relaunch

The Sydney Entertainment Centre’s new management, Darling Harbour Convention and Exhibition (DHCE), is working on a business and marketing plan to relaunch the venue.

“It’s an iconic infrastructure,” GM Steve Romer says of the 12,500-capacity building. “Our key plan is to strategically work with promoters to bring back concerts from western Sydney to the CBD [Central Business District]. It’s a far more desirable location and it should be the first venue of choice.”

DHCE took over Aug. 6 after previous lease-holders, Arena Management, went into administration with debts estimated at A$10 million to A$12 million.

Cliff Richard, Liza Minnelli, Il Divo and Keith Urban are booked to play the venue shortly. Romer says that bringing stability back to the SEC meant no one pulled out their shows.

DHCE is a joint venture between hotels group Accor Asia Pacific and catering organization Compass Group.
Romer can see the two venues eventually share cleaning, security, food and beverage, marketing, finances and event management systems.

Meantime, creditors voted Sept. 7 to wind up Arena Management. Its boss, Kevin Jacobsen, who did not attend the meeting, proposed three alternatives to keep the company going.

Creditors include the Tax Office ($1 million), music promoter Michael Coppell ($1.4 million) who staged Pink’s lengthy run there this year, Ticketmaster ($3.8 million) and the Entertainment Centre owner the Harbour Foreshore Authority ($6.7 million in unpaid rent). Arena’s 123 staffers are owed $770,000.

Now the investigation will begin as to whether Arena traded for nine months while insolvent.