Sergeant Returns to Manage Acer Arena

Paul Sergeant, one of Europe's most experienced and decorated venue managers, has been announced as the new General Manager of Sydney's Acer Arena.

Sergeant is well known in Australia having been General Manager of Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium between 2007 and 2009 and takes over the role from David Humphreys who earlier this week was appointed General Manager of the new Perth Arena.

The two executives will together during the next month to ensure a seamless handover of the General Manager's role.

Welcoming Sergeant's return the AEG Ogden 'family', AEG Ogden the Chairman and Chief Executive Harvey Lister said the company was fortunate to have an executive of his standing and experience to take on such a key role managing one of the world's premier entertainment arenas.

Lister stated "it is great to have Paul back in the fold and having seen firsthand what he achieved in Brisbane, I look forward to him making an even bigger impression at Acer Arena.

"Acer Arena is now regularly recognised in as one of the leading arenas in the world. Most recently, the highly respected Billboard magazine ranked Acer Arena number three internationally.

"It was important in replacing David that we found someone with extensive international knowledge and industry contacts to be able to take the venue to the next level. Paul Sergeant is precisely the right person to do that.

"Since AEG Ogden took up the management of the Arena in 2006, it has turned the business around to now be strongly profitable, on the back of increased numbers of events - up from an average of 60 to more than 90 each year - as well as through the development of additional revenue streams."

Sergeant said it was wonderful to be back in Australia, stating "Sydney is one of the great cities in the world and Acer Arena is a magnificent facility with a reputation to match. The performance and reputation of Acer Arena is a testament to the fantastic work by David and his team and I am looking forward to building the business further on the solid platform he has created."

Among Sergeant's previous roles were the Director of both Wembley Arena and Wembley Stadium in London, Chief Executive of world renowned Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and most recently, the chief executive of a privately owned, professional rugby club and its venue in Wales.

In 2007, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to the events industry, will commence his new role early this month.

Acer Arena is Australia's foremost concert and entertainment arena. Formerly known as Sydney SuperDome, the 21,000 capacity venue opened in September 1999 in preparation for its hosting of the basketball and gymnastics events at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The venue is located at Sydney Olympic Park and is leased by the NSW Government to PBL Media which appointed AEG Ogden to manage its operations.

The arena hosts the cream of Sydney's international concert, entertainment and indoor sporting events, highlighted by artists such as Eagles, Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, P!nk, Coldplay, Bon Jovi, Bette Midler, Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Andrea Bocelli, Kylie Minogue, Foo Fighters, Britney Spears, Green Day, UFC, WWE, Wiggles, Walking with Dinosaurs and Disney on Ice.

Acer Arena has consistently been ranked in the top 10 arenas in the world for ticket sales in the most important industry publications, with the most recent half year and full year rankings of number 3 in Billboard, number 6 in Pollstar and number 5 in Venues Today. The venue hosts over 1 million guests each year and creates 1.5 billion impressions annually.

25th June 2009 - GRAHAM RETURNS TO SUNCORP

16th October 2008 - ACER ARENA IN WORLD TOP THREE