Harvey Lister doesn’t want Brisbane Entertainment Centre knocked down
Queensland entertainment king Harvey Lister has hit back at calls to knock down the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
QLD News
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Queensland entertainment king Harvey Lister has hit back at calls to knock down the Brisbane Entertainment Centre with the venue ranked among the world’s most successful indoor arenas.
Built on swampland in 1986, the entertainment centre has been part of the fabric of Brisbane for decades, but logistical challenges have seen it cop criticism, with Hutchinson Builders chairman Scott Hutchinson last week sensationally offering to demolish the venue for free.
However, Mr Lister, whose Legends ASM events company runs several Brisbane venues including the entertainment centre, said it is one of the state’s best facilities – claims backed by a report from Billboard magazine ranking it one of the world’s most successful “mid-sized” venues.
In an opinion piece published in today’s Sunday Mail, Mr Lister labelled calls to knock down Boondall’s 13,000-capacity entertainment centre as “reckless”, pointing to the venue’s glowing endorsement from Billboard, long considered a “bible” of the entertainment industry.
“We were surprised to read a recent reckless, ‘knock it down’ comment by a local construction identity, who also happens to own smaller passion project music venues,” he said.
“Social infrastructure, like indoor arenas, hosting all genres of music are important to the life and fabric of a modern city.
“This is the public’s venue, and over 750,000 people will attend the complex in 2025 – making it one of our state’s busiest and most successful venues.
“It is their venue and they are supporting it in droves.”
According to Billboard, the BEC was No. 15 in the world for concert gross revenue in 2024 for mid-size venues globally and was ranked ninth for its 76 concerts last year.
The venue has previously been ranked as high as No.1 in the category, but has slipped behind other world benchmarks such as Austin’s Moody Centre in the US and London’s OVO Arena at Wembley.
However, BEC general manager Patricia McNamara said the venue was going from strength to strength.
“This year the schedule is one of the strongest line-ups I have ever seen and February alone is incredible,” she said.
“It’s still a very important piece of infrastructure for our community.”
She said many issues of complaint, such as access and transport connectivity, had been addressed over the years.
“People love coming here,” she said.
Billie Eilish, Drake, Kylie and Chris Stapleton are among the performers set to appear at the BEC next month, while the Brisbane Bullets basketball team have experienced a 31 per cent increase in crowds since returning to their spiritual home this season.
Disney on Ice, The Wiggles, Paw Patrol, Frozen, monster trucks, indoor motocross, bull riding and Les Miserable are among the other events slated for the BEC this year.
Originally conceived as part of Brisbane’s doomed tilt at the 1996 Olympics, the BEC has been slated to host handball at the 2032 Games.
Originally published as Harvey Lister doesn’t want Brisbane Entertainment Centre knocked down
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