Legends Global signs joint venture with Saudi Arabia for sport, entertainment venues
The Queensland-based operators of Suncorp Stadium have inked a deal to build three new venues in the Middle East, including one that will be very similar to one planned for Brisbane 2032.
The Queensland-based operators of Suncorp Stadium have inked a deal to build three new venues in the Middle East, including an arena that will be the same size as another planned for Brisbane 2032.
Saudi Arabia’s Event Investment Fund (EIF) and Legends Global, led from Brisbane, announced a new joint venture late on Thursday night Australian time to deliver an Olympic-standard shooting range, business convention and exhibition centre and an arena by 2034.
Legends Global Asia Pacific and Middle East President and Chief Executive Harvey Lister AM flew to the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, to seal the deal with EIF CEO Wahdan Suliman Alkadi.
Under the joint venture, Legends Global will deliver management services exclusively for the EIF-developed venues as they are delivered in Saudi Arabia.
Mr Lister said the EIF had a mandate to deliver up to 30 venues in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup in 2034.
“The first venue to be delivered under the agreement will be an Olympic standard shooting range, followed by a business convention and exhibition centre and an arena in Riyadh, that is identical in size to those planned for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said.
“Legends Global will be providing early operator input into functional design briefs and the technology required as used across their network of 450-plus venues globally.
“This joint venture opens up new relationships for trade with Saudi Arabia which will be of great benefit to both Queensland and Saudi Arabian companies with such a rich history in venue management and event delivery.”
EIF CEO Wahdan Suliman Alkadi said the joint venture was a defining moment for Saudi Arabia’s events sector.
“By combining EIF’s vision with Legends’ world-class operational expertise, we are building the foundation for a sustainable, globally competitive industry,” he said.
“This partnership will not only set new standards for venue quality and guest experience but will also unlock new opportunities for local talent and drive economic growth through innovation and international best practices.”
Legends Global CEO Dan Levy hailed the collaboration as a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
“Drawing on decades of experience, we will deliver a bold vision that benefits citizens and residents while attracting millions of visitors,” he said.
“Together, we are creating destinations, activating communities, and advancing Vision 2030
through a portfolio of iconic spaces that serve as catalysts for economic diversification, tourism growth, and cultural exchange.”
Legends Global, formerly ASM Global and AEG Ogden, operates Suncorp Stadium, the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Queensland.
The company has expressed interest in building and operating venues for Brisbane 2032, including a 17,000-seat indoor entertainment arena on the 9ha Goprint site in Woolloongabba.
In May, they were the first to publicly confirm their interest to the build that arena — a venue the state government did not include in its official 2032 Delivery Plan but said would be used for the Games if it was built in time.
Mr Lister said at the time Legends Global would be aggressively competitive in its bid to secure the project.
The idea of an inner-city indoor Brisbane entertainment venue at Roma St was floated in 2016 as part of a private consortium led by Mr Lister.
The company has already trademarked use of the words “Brisbane Live” and “Brisbane Arena”.
Legends Global are also behind the world’s newest stadium precinct — Hong Kong’s $5.82bn Kai Tak Sports Park – which opened in March.
First look: ‘Green Grid’ plan to link Brisbane Olympic venues
