Business Group Calls for the demolition of the SEC

The Sydney Business Chamber has called for the demolition of the Sydney Entertainment Centre (SEC) to allow for an expansion of the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The proposal to demolish the SEC was revealed today and features in the Sydney Business Chamber's submission to a NSW Government review of the future of the southern area of Sydney's Darling Harbour.

The Sydney Business Chamber's recommendations include:

• Demolition of the Sydney Entertainment Centre and car park to build a multi-purpose facility that will act as an extension of the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre;
• Expanding the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre to reflect a world-class convention facility that can host major conventions and exhibitions and run other smaller events at the same time;
• Connecting Darling Harbour south with the University of Technology Sydney and integrate the precinct with Barangaroo and the CBD; and
• The exploration of alternative funding models for the redevelopment.

Patricia Forsythe, Executive Director of the Sydney Business Chamber explains “we need more convention space in the CBD to attract high-profile international events to Sydney that will boost the economy and cement Sydney as a regional business and cultural powerhouse. The development of a master plan for South Darling Harbour is the opportunity to capture more of this market.

“The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre needs to be expanded and upgraded to compete with other convention complexes in the Asia-Pacific region. Sydney has stagnated in attracting top-quality events compared to our regional competitors Singapore, Beijing, Seoul and Bangkok who have taken advantage of a booming global events market.

“Demolishing the Sydney Entertainment Centre and car park to make way for a larger multi-function facility could provide an additional 20,000 square metres of exhibition space in addition to supporting traditional concerts and entertainment events that are held at the Entertainment Centre.”

Forsythe said Sydney needed to rethink the way it managed events by moving domestic events to convention facilities at Olympic Park and focusing the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre resources on attracting international and national conventions and events.

“More space and an internationally-focused booking system would allow Sydney to attract fashion shows, film premieres and a variety of entertainment, cultural and sporting events.

“A revitalised conventions and exhibition precinct would compliment the redevelopment of Darling Walk and connect the university campus of UTS through to the financial hub that will be developed at Barangaroo.”

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the proposal to pull down the largest indoor entertainment venue in Sydney's CBD has met concern from the music industry, quoting promoter, Michael Chugg as saying it would be ''a horrible thing to see the (SEC) disappear''.

Music industry analyst Phil Tripp was quoted as saying it would be ''kind of crazy to take a venue that has been recently renovated and destroy it.”

22nd September 2009 - ROMER GETS SEC BACK ON TRACK

8th September 2009 - END OF THE ROAD FOR ARENA MANAGEMENT

27th August 2009 - SYDNEY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS

13th August 2009 - SHOW GOES ON AT SYDNEY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE