VenuesLive Management Services (formerly Stadium Australia Operations) has been confirmed as the operator of Perth Stadium.
Western Australia’s sport and recreation minister, Mia Davies, said the agreement represented another significant milestone for the stadium and gave the operator more than 18 months to prepare for the opening in early 2018.
“One of the operator’s first priorities will be to undertake a recruitment search for key operational personnel ahead of employing about 70 full-time operational staff and an additional workforce of 1,750 for event days,” Davies said in a statement on the venue’s website, adding that the recruitment process for the chief executive would commence today.
“VenuesLive will also now progress key contracts for ticketing and security, while working with Tourism Western Australia and VenuesWest to secure a range of exciting events for Perth Stadium.”
Davies said as part of its bid, VenuesLive proposed on average 40 different events each year using its unique experience driving events at ANZ Stadium within the Sydney Olympic Park Precinct in New South Wales.
“The state government is focused on ensuring this world-class Perth Stadium and its surrounding sports precinct delivers a year-round event schedule comprising a mix of large and small events across the precinct facilities,” she said.
The minister said the operator would now enter into negotiations to finalize user agreements with football and cricket teams while talks would also be progressed with other potential users such as Australian Rugby Union and Football Federation Australia, English Premier League soccer clubs, concert promoters and a range of community arts and smaller sport event owners.
VenuesLive is contracted for an initial five-year term and the state government has an option to extend for a further five years.
Construction of the stadium is more than 40% complete and it is on schedule to open in time for the start of the 2018 AFL season.
June 30, 2016
