Acer Arena in Line for Prestigeous International Award

Acer Arena's standing as one of the best entertainment arenas in the world has been reinforced by its nomination for a prestigious international music industry award.

The Sydney-based venue was today confirmed as one of the three nominations for the Top Arena category in the 2009 Billboard Touring Awards.

The awards are an initiative of Billboard magazine - the world concert touring industry's 'Bible'.

Up against Acer Arena for this award are two of the worldâs most famous concert venues - The O2 in London and New York's Madison Square Garden.

The winner will be announced at the Roosevelt Hotel, New York City on 5th November.

Harvey Lister, Chief Executive of AEG Ogden which manages Acer Arena said that the venue had experienced a sensational year, not only in the quality and diversity of performances but in the number of shows and patrons who have attended them.

For concerts and family entertainment tours, a total of 35 headline acts performed at Acer Arena over 86 event days between October 2008 and September 2009. They ranged from family spectaculars Disney on Ice and Top Gear Live to fabulous concerts from music legends Stevie Wonder, The Who, Simon and Garfunkel and Billy Joel to current favourites Beyonce, Kylie, Pussycat Dolls, Coldplay and P!NK.

These shows were attended by 629,823 patrons, with key highlights being P!NK electing to close out her record-breaking concert tour at Acer Arena with a final two blockbuster concerts that sold out in record time. With the addition of functions, conferences, sporting and other events, Acer Arena hosted more than one million patrons in the past year.

As Lister explains, "we promised at the time of our appointment in 2006 that AEG Ogden would firmly establish Acer Arena as Australia's 'must play' venue for all leading artists, and performances that appeal to families would also be high on our list of priorities.

"This top arena nomination recognises those efforts as well as the commitment of the 500 plus staff who proudly deliver an exceptional event experience at Acer Arena.

"Our long standing relationships with concert artists and their promoters, together with the company's involvement in the operation of over 100 venues globally has delivered for Sydney a diverse entertainment calendar equal to any in Australia.

"Not only has the Sydney public embraced Acer Arena by snapping up unprecedented numbers of tickets for events, but the venue has now truly established itself as an iconic international entertainment venue.

"Irrespective of the final outcome, for Acer Arena to be mentioned in the same breath as The O02 and Madison Square Garden is an outstanding accolade for Sydney and its 'next generation' concert arena."

The O2 arena in London is also an AEG managed venue.

16th October 2008 - ACER ARENA IN WORLD TOP THREE