Australasia News: Olympic Cost-Cutting; Fred Sells Again..; Fogerty Kerfuffle; NZ: North Harbour Stadium

AUSTRALIA

Cost Cutting At Brisbane Olympics, Paralympics, Stadiums

Plans to demolish and rebuild the Brisbane Cricket Ground – better known as The Gabba – for the 2032 Summer Olympics and Paralympics could be abandoned due to concerns about the A$2.7 billion ($1.76 billion) price tag.

A review committee of the games’ infrastructure is expected to suggest an upgrade for the much lower cost of A$250 million ($161.1 million).

The rebuild would have increased capacity from 42,000 to 50,000, with concerts to hold 80,000 so as not to miss out on A1 international tours.

The Gold Coast suggested three venues – including the 22,500-seat Carrara and 10,000 capacity Southport stadiums – as cheaper options.

Also getting media attention was architecture firm Archipelago’s Brisbane Bold proposal with a new 70,000-seat stadium and 90-hectare (222-acre) sports and entertainment precinct in Victoria Park, which incorporated the 18,000-seat Brisbane Live arena to be built above the Roma Street precinct.

Impromptu Fred again.. Arena Tour Sells 100k Tix In One Hour

British DJ Fred again.., whose impromptu gigs in N.Y.C., Los Angeles and London sold out in minutes, took it to another level Down Under.

A social media posting after arriving unexpectedly in Australia mentioned six arena dates in three cities the week after (March 4-4). One million fans queued online for 100,000 tickets.

Before the arena shows, he did pop-up shows in venues ranging from 200-seat clubs to the Sydney Opera House’s Concert Hall, where a record-breaking 125,000 went on the waiting list for 2,664 tickets.

“What he has done is absolutely unprecedented in Australia,” declared Tim McGregor, managing director of TEG Live, one of the three TEG divisions handling the tour, alongside Laneway Presents and Handsome Tours.

“It really goes to show you the power music has on an incredibly passionate fan base which he reaches through unconventional ways.”

He added, “It shows to the world we have in TEG people who always put artists first and understand their creative vision.”

John Fogerty, Festival Head To Court

The sudden cancellation of John Fogerty’s exclusive headliner set at the March 30-31 Country Fest Queensland led to the legendary performer posting “I was blindsided.”

SFP Events responded that “well-advanced” negotiations “did not reach a final outcome, resulting in (them) ceasing on February 23.”

It filed an application in Brisbane Supreme Court against Fogerty’s Little Swamp II and Creative Artists Agency LLC to be heard March 13.

Roof For Accor Stadium

The New South Wales government announced plans for a roof for Sydney’s 82,000-
capacity Accor Stadium to lure major entertainment and sports events away from Melbourne where many venues have retractable roofs.

NSW Sports Minister Steve Kamper was already concerned a Taylor Swift show there in February was threatened and delayed by thunderstorms.

He was impressed with the state-of-the-art, fully locked-coil roof of Las Vegas’ indoor Allegiant Stadium after two Australian National Rugby League games played there March 2 were fully protected from wild weather outside.

NEW ZEALAND

Auckland Stadium Facing Wrecking Ball

Auckland Council is suggesting demolition of the 22,000-capacity North Harbour Stadium, “the least-used facility in the Auckland outdoor regional stadium network,” as one of three options being offered for community feedback.

Other possibilities are for the council to keep operating it and spend NZ$33 million ($20.16 million) in upgrades over 10 years, or to change operational management to find ways to increase attendance and use.

Nick Hill, CEO of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU), which owns and operates the facility for the council, told Stuff, “The data shows that it’s just not being utilised at a level that justifies the current stadium and the council is looking to use its assets and facilities as efficiently as it can.”