AEG Ogden’s Suncorp Stadium Deal Extended

The firm had managed the 52,500-capacity sports and entertainment venue for more than a decade. But in March, after a rival bid by Sydney-based Stadium Australia Operations (which runs ANZ Stadium) led the government to put the rights to tender through its Queensland Stadium entity.

There were five bidders. AEG Ogden chairman and CEO Harvey Lister said, “Since AEG Ogden was appointed in 2002 to open and manage the venue, it has established Suncorp Stadium as one of the world’s leading sports and outdoor concert venues.” AEG Ogden is a joint venture between Anschutz Entertainment Group’s AEG Facilities, and a number of Australian-based interests. It manages a A$2.7 billion ($1.95 billion) network of arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centres and theatres through Australia, Asia and the Middle East.

Its Australian venues include the Allphones Arena in Sydney (21,000 capacity), Perth Arena (15,000), Brisbane Entertainment Centre (13,500), Newcastle Entertainment Centre (6,500) and Qantas Credit Union Arena in Sydney (13,250). Until this year AEG Ogden was limited to four concerts a year at Suncorp Stadium. But that becomes six from 2016 after an online public opinion poll by the government found 83 percent in favour.

This year, it hosted One Direction and Foo Fighters, with Ed Sheeran Nov. 28 and Qantas Credit Union Arena Dec. 5.