Proposal to build major indoor entertainment arena in heart of Brisbane

A MAJOR indoor entertainment arena would be built in Brisbane under an exciting new proposal by the world’s biggest venue operator - but ‘several’ locations are being considered for the complex.

DO NOT USE BEFORE DEC 28TH, CONTACT COURIER MAIL PIC DESK Aerial images over Brisbane in summer. Brisbane City, CBD, highrise, skyline, office buildings, Southbank, King George Square, Brisbane River.

A MAJOR indoor entertainment arena would be built in the heart of Brisbane under an exciting new proposal by the world’s biggest venue operator.

The $400 million state-of-the art complex, with a capacity of about 15,000, would host concerts by international music stars such as Taylor Swift, ice spectaculars and other family shows, monster trucks and sports events.

A final site has yet to be decided, but The Sunday Mail understands a likely location is the riverside Parmalat dairy factory in South Brisbane, adjacent to the existing South Bank cultural precinct.

EDITORIAL: Build it and they will come

It also would be within easy walking distance of the new $3 billion Star casino and integrated resort being built at Queen’s Wharf.

The arena plan — being investigated by the State Government under its market-led projects scheme — is being proposed by Brisbane-based AEG Ogden, part of the international giant Anschutz Entertainment Group, which is about to open the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and runs 130 top venues around the globe including London’s O2 and the Staples LA Live in Los Angeles as well as Australian venues such as the Perth Arena and Suncorp Stadium.

AEG Ogden chairman and chief executive Harvey Lister said Brisbane’s success in attracting top events meant a new venue would soon be needed, and the worldwide trend was for inner-city locations with good public transport access.

“It would be enormously exciting for Brisbane and southeast Queensland,” he said.

“It is a new world city and it is time for the fans of music, family events and indoor sports to be provided with the next generation top-level facilities.”

Headline events would move to the new arena, but the existing Brisbane Entertainment Centre would continue to operate, with a greater focus on sports.

He refused to discuss specific sites for a new venue, saying several were being considered.

Sources have told The Sunday Mail that one option is a land-swap deal for part of the huge BEC site at Boondall, 20km from the CBD, in return for the ­Parmalat block.

Deputy Premier and local MP Jackie Trad yesterday said any proposal for that Kurilpa precinct was “premature’’ with a masterplan to be developed.

But she backed the idea of an inner-city location.

“Having a central entertainment venue would be of enormous benefit to Brisbane residents and for our reputation as an internationl city,” Ms Trad said.

Another possibility is an arena on top of a planned underground train station at the former GoPrint site in Woolloongabba.

A spokeswoman for Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said he “welcomes investment for projects that will add to the lifestyle and leisure opportunities for Brisbane.’’

His Labor rival Rod Harding said: “Brisbane deserves a world-class entertainment venue in the CBD. I’ll make it happen.”