AusLeisure

Brisbane newspaper The Sunday Mail has reported that a private consortium involving giant global venue operator AEG and its local joint venture AEG Ogden is planning a new $400 million entertainment venue in the heart of Brisbane.

The new 15,000 capacity venue, which would play host to major international concerts, shows and events, would potentially be sited at one of three locations: at the Riverside Parmalat dairy factory in South Brisbane, adjacent to the existing cultural facilities on Brisbane’s South Bank; at the former GoPrint site, which would sit on top of a future Cross River Rail underground station, near The Gabba or on top of Brisbane’s Roma Street Station.

The Sunday Mail suggests that the Queensland Government is currently investigating a market-led projects scheme which is being proposed.

With the current Brisbane Entertainment Centre located almost 20 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, an inner city based entertainment venue would boost the city’s ability to attract major acts and would likely be a highly successful venture for the locally-based AEG Ogden.

AEG Ogden Chairman and Chief Executive Harvey Lister said that with a worldwide trend for inner city locations connected to public transport, Brisbane’s future success in attracting top events meant the new venue is needed.

Lister said that Brisbane’s claim to be a new world city meant that fans of music, events and indoor sport needed to be provided with the next generation top level facilities, commenting “it would be enormously exciting for Brisbane and South East Queensland.”

The Sunday Mail reports that the new venue would replace the “ageing and isolated” Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Boondal, with the older venue continuing “to operate ... with a greater focus on sports and non-headline events.”

Website BrisbaneDevelopment.com has compiled a list of potential site locations, listing potential advantages of each site.

1. Parmalat Factory – South Brisbane

The Parmalat site would be walking distance of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Queensland Museum and the new $3 billion Queens Wharf Integrated Resort, effectively creating a ring of state-of-the-art entertainment facilities around South Bank and the CBD.

BrisbaneDevelopment.com suggests that a possible land swap deal may occur for this site with the Parmalat factory relocating to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Boondal. However, this is not confirmed.

2. Built over Roma Street Station – Roma Street

Sitting above Brisbane’s largest railway interchange hub with direct access to all rail lines this proposal would also transform some Brisbane’s most disliked and unsightly buildings

3. Former GoPrint Site – Woolloongabba

Would sit above a planned Cross River Rail station and adjacent to the Woolloongabba busway station this proposal would also link with The Gabba to create a stadium precinct.

BrisbaneDevelopment.com is inviting votes on these proposals.

Click here to take part in the poll.

AEG Ogden is the result of a joint venture between Australian based interests and AEG Facilities, a stand-alone affiliate of the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG).

Top image shows the AEG Facilities managed Mercedes-Benz Arena, Shanghai, China.

18th January 2016 - ICC SYDNEY SET FOR END OF YEAR OPENING

8th September 2015 - AEG PARTNERS WITH POGOSEAT TO FACILITATE REAL TIME SEAT AND VIP UPGRADES

26th August 2015 - AEG OGDEN SECURES SUNCORP STADIUM MANAGEMENT RIGHTS UNTIL 2020

21st July 2015 - DESTINATION BRISBANE CONSORTIUM SUCCESSFUL IN BID TO REDEVELOP BRISBANE’S QUEEN’S WHARF

29th June 2011 - BRISBANE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE HIGHEST GROSSING MID-SIZED VENUE IN THE WORLD

10th December 2009 - MERCEDES TO NAME SHANGHAI ARENA

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.