Waverley Council votes for investigation to host screenings for major sporting events at Bondi Pavilion

A bold proposal could see global sporting events, including the AFL Grand Final and the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup, be screened at the renovated Bondi Pavilion.

Bondi Pavilion reopened after an extensive upgrade in late 2022.

A plan to open the amphitheatre at the freshly-renovated Bondi Pavilion to screen live sporting events has been enthusiastically embraced by Waverley councillors, despite concerns it would see sponsor advertising plastered across the site.

Labor councillor Michelle Gray tabled the motion at the council’s first meeting of 2023, where she argued the plan would increase use of the Pavilion’s expansive courtyard and provide a family-friendly environment to view live sport outside of pubs and bars.

Ms Gray asked councillors to vote to enable the council to investigate the steps required to prepare the Pavilion for screenings, the possibility of partnering with relevant organisations to deliver screenings, and estimate the costs involved.

She said the idea had initially been raised to her by residents at a recent Bondi precinct meeting.

The councillor said the inner courtyard was the “perfect space” to attract members of the community who would not otherwise use facilities at the Pavilion, such as pottery studios and theatre performances.

Waverley Council has proposed sporting events like the FIFA World Cup be screened at Bondi Pavilion. Picture: Khaled Desouki

The reopened Bondi Pavilion could soon show major sporting events as part of a plan to open the space for more cultural and community events. Picture: Waverley Council.

“It is hard to imagine a better venue or way to foster a sense of community in Waverley/Bondi, or a more effective way to encourage and invite a different demographic of residents to use the Pavilion,” Ms Gray wrote in the council’s agenda ahead of the meeting.

A number of councils including the City of Sydney screened FIFA World Cup games held across November and December in public outdoor spaces.

City of Sydney and City of Melbourne hosted screenings of the recent FIFA World Cup in public spaces. Picture: Fadel Senna/AFP.

Bondi Pavilion. Picture: Waverley Council.

FIFA and Rugby World Cups, the Australian Open, the World Surf League, the AFL Grand Final and the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup being hosted by Australia and New Zealand were floated as potential events that could be screened.

Friends of Bondi Pavilion member Nicolette Boaz told the council that while she “generally had no problem” with sport being screened at the Pavilion, she was concerned about how it would practically unfold “given recent events”.

A Waverley Council spokesman confirmed this week a diesel generator had been installed at the Bondi Pavilion because the solar panels installed to provide 70 per cent of the building’s power during the day were not able to meet its electricity needs.

The council also said it had shut the Bondi Story Room, an interactive exhibition, to repair broken technology.

Labor councillor Michelle Gray.

Ms Boaz said she was worried that because ratepayers would presumably not fund the screening, advertisers from the gambling and alcohol sector could be used.

“It goes without saying that advertising from sponsors would need to be very tightly controlled, not for example, stencilled on our heritage walkway.”

Ms Gray said the council would “need to be really careful about advertising” but said it could be rolled out in a respectful way, in-line with other council events.

She said the council were well-placed to handle crowds given the tens of thousands of visitors Bondi Beach receives over the summer

Waverley Council voted unanimously to investigate the matter.