Australasia News: Bruno Mars To Reopen Allianz Stadium, Live Nation Expands Venues; NZ: ASM Benefits Venues

AUSTRALIA

Bruno Mars To Reopen Sydney’s Allianz Stadium

Bruno Mars reopens Sydney’s rebuilt 42,600-seat state-of-the-art Allianz Stadium with two exclusive shows October 14-15 through TEG Dainty.

President Paul Dainty called it “incredibly exciting to welcome audiences back to Allianz Stadium in the heart of Sydney and who better to lead the opening celebrations than the legendary, record-breaking artist Bruno Mars.”

The stadium’s A$720 million (US$499 million) reconstruction features includes a 360-degree open concourse inside and outside, steep seating angles for better views, and better accessibility.

It first hosts a number of National Rugby League games first week September.

Live Nation Expands Venue Portfolio

Live Nation expanded its venue portfolio, taking over the 1,000-seat Anita’s Theatre in Thirroul, a seaside suburb 60km south of Sydney.

“Keeping venues, such as Anita’s Theatre, open is imperative to the ongoing growth of local Australian artists,” said Roger Field, president of LN Asia Pacific.

Opening in 1925 as King’s Theatre, it had $9 million ($6.2 million) of renovations in 2017 by an owner who named it after his wife and sold it for $1 million ($693, 094) after his company went into receivership in 2010.

It continued to be an effective music venue, with LN planning a big-name schedule.

LN’s other venues include the 3,000-capacity Palais Theatre in Melbourne, 800-capacity Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane and the 1,800-seat Hindley Street Music Hall in Adelaide which opens September after a $6 million ($4.1million) makeover.

NEW ZEALAND

Christchurch Convention Centre Benefits From ASM Tie-Up

Harvey Lister, chairman and CEO of ASM Global Asia Pacific noted how the ASM Global Advantage scheme – which shares the expertise of its workforce in 350 global venues – worked during a busy opening period at the NZ$450 million ($280.2 million) Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre at a time of industry-wide staff shortages.

General manager Ross Steele put out an urgent call for aid in its audio visual/ technical area.

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre CEO Bob O’Keeffe and general manager Kym Guesdon and Brisbane Entertainment Centre general manager Trish McNamara responded within hours.

Days later BCEC’s audio visual systems manager Dion Amato and BEC’s technical coordinator Graham Ironside were in Christchurch for short-term engagements.

Lister said staff interchanges “provide a different perspective from their everyday roles in their home venues, but it can also inspire them to think outside the square and the broader experience can be of great actual benefit to their long-term career growth.”