Brisbane Entertainment Centre highest grossing mid-sized venue in the world

Brisbane Entertainment Centre has been named the highest grossing mid-sized venue in the world by US music industry magazine Billboard magazine.

The Boondall venue was named the top earning 10,000 to 15,000 seat capacity sized arena in the magazine's 2010-2011 half yearly report.

It also received the same recognition from industry publication Venues Today.

The BEC earned more than $50.1 million in gross income between 16th October 2010 and 15th May this year, selling 380,365 tickets for 52 different acts.

During that period it hosted international superstars such as Metallica, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Top Gear and the Eagles.

BEC General Manager Trish McNamara said the strong Australian dollar had helped attract international acts that had never been to the city, stating "Alan Jackson was here for the first time ever and to sell three shows out in Brisbane is an achievement that means stars like him will keep coming back.

"It shows that a lot of people are more actively involved in getting their entertainment live."

McNamara also cited the state's population growth as a factor.

Veteran music industry commentator Phil Tripp said the BEC had performed well on the Billboard charts in the past, but the strong dollar would have helped its climb up the rankings, which are collated using US dollars.

Tripp explained "if the (BEC) was on the same figure last year on Australian dollars it would be 20% higher simply on the exchange difference."

Tripp added that the poll's results could be skewed by some venues not reporting their grosses because of a request by artists and promoters that figures were not to be made public. He also suggested that venues may also have used conference and convention attendance to boost live performance.

However, Greg Adermann, spokesman for BEC operator AEG Ogden, said the Boondall figures were based solely on live performances.

Queensland Sports Minister Phil Reeves said BEC's ranking was a powerful endorsement of the venue "punching well above its weight" in the international arena, stating "to claim the number one billing is a credit not only to the venue, but to the Entertainment Centre staff, and to Stadiums Queensland - congratulations.

"Acknowledgement in two internationally respected industry magazines is the icing on the cake and a great reward."

Other Australasian venues in the top ten earners included Auckland's Vector Arena and the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

Recent national tour opening performances by Kylie Minogue and Miley Cyrus were not included in the BEC's results, both coming just after the closing date of both polls.

The results of both polls will be published in upcoming editions of both Billboard magazine and Venues Today.

Highest grossing venues of a 10,001-15,000 capacity (source: Venues Today)

1. Brisbane Entertainment Centre
2. Vector Arena, Auckland
3. Auditorio Telmex, Guadalajara, Mexico
4. Sydney Entertainment Centre
5. Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, New Jersey, USA
6. Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
7. Valley View Casino Center, San Diego, USA
8. Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita, Kansas, USA
9. Save Mart Center, Fresno, California, USA
10. Long Beach Arena, California, USA

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