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read moreLegends ASM (APAC & MENA) Global Chairman and Chief Executive Harvey Lister has today announced that Darren Burden will become Suncorp Stadium’s General Manager.
Lister advised “Darren will lead our Suncorp Stadium management team commencing later this year after having successfully operated Kai Tay Sports Park, a US$4 billion multi-venue development in Hong Kong.”
Kai Tak Sports Park is a 28 hectare development on the former Hong Kong Downtown Airport site and comprises a 50,000 seat stadium with retractable roof, a 10,000 capacity arena, a 5,000 capacity athletics stadium, and 60,000m2 of retail, dining and other leisure facilities including climbing walls, outdoor sports courts, and a 40-lane bowling centre.
Lister added “Since 2019, Darren has led the commercial and operations functions of the precinct through design development and pre-opening periods and into the operation stage, including conducting extensive test events before opening with the Hong Kong Sevens tournament, followed by four sellouts with Coldplay and most recently a capacity crowd for the first international football match.”
He noted that Burden’s stadium and venue experience is as deep as it is impressive, resulting in his being recognised within the industry with the Asia Pacific Venue Management Association Venue Professional of the Year Award in 2018. Burden also led New Zealand’s Vbase (now Venues Otautahi) as Chief Executive operating Christchurch’s leading convention, entertainment, cultural and sporting venues.
Burden’s stadium and venue experience also includes driving the development of the 30,000 seat capacity Forsyth Barr Stadium for the Carisbrook Stadium Trust in Dunedin, and Dunedin Venues Management as Chief Executive overseeing not only the stadium, but Dunedin Centre and Town Hall including, at the newly-developed stadium, hosting the 2011 Rugby World Cup games, just one month after handover not dissimilar to the completion challenge Darren has successfully navigated for Hong Kong.
Burden shared “I very much look forward to leading the Legends ASM team at such an iconic venue, and especially during an exciting period of time as Brisbane becomes the focal point in the green and gold runway to Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“I have great respect for Alan Graham who has built incredible momentum and global recognition for Suncorp Stadium, and I’m excited to be given the opportunity to extend the productive working relationships the Stadium team enjoys with each of the venue’s sports tenants, entertainment promoters, the local community, venue owner Stadiums Queensland, Brisbane City Council, and other Government stakeholders”.
Lister said that the group is proud its managed venues like Suncorp, Optus and Kai Tak Stadiums are part of the world’s leading family of iconic sports and entertainment stadia operated by Legends and added “on a global scale, Suncorp Stadium is one of the busiest Stadiums in the world regularly hosting 60 events a year of rectangular football, major stadium concerts and other spectaculars.
“Darren has successfully delivered the ‘latest stadium’ in the world, in Hong Kong, and will now assume responsibility for what is universally recognised as the greatest Rugby League Stadium in the world, in Brisbane, and is looking forward his bringing his broad experience and innovative ideas to Queensland’s much loved Suncorp Stadium”.
8th June 2025 - Suncorp Stadium General Manager Alan Graham to retire in July
29th May 2025 - Four million containers collected during State of Origin I at Suncorp Stadium
30th April 2025 - NRL fans at Suncorp Stadium able to support flood affected western Queensland farmers
19th December 2024 - Suncorp Stadium’s Annual Golf Day generates biggest ever charity donation
2nd December 2024 - ABC report scrutinises ASM Global’s management of Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium
31st October 2024 - Ticketek renews Suncorp Stadium partnership
26th August 2024 - New wrestling format to make Australian debut at Suncorp Stadium
12th August 2024 - Crowd violence erupts during Suncorp Stadium NRL clash
6th August 2024 - Suncorp Super Netball season the most attended in Australian women’s sport
31st July 2024 - Survey finds public backing for permanent increase in Suncorp Stadium concerts
18th June 2024 - Suncorp Stadium welcomes 22 million patrons since 2003 redevelopment
10th June 2019 - New report highlights the need for tourism industry to acknowledge ‘invisible burden’
26th April 2019 - Darren Burden named SMG’s Project Executive Director for Hong Kong Kai Tak Sports Park project
7th December 2016 - Christchurch’s Darren Burden and Isaac Theatre Royal recognised with supreme venue industry awards
20th November 2013 - Darren Burden to leave Dunedin Venues for Christchurch Vbase role
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