Venues Back Earth Hour

Leisure venues across Australia, New Zealand and Asia are to demonstrate their support for World Earth Hour this Saturday night.

The iconic face of Melbourne's Luna Park will have its lights switched off for one hour, between 8pm and 9pm, on Saturday 28th March.

A number of AEG Ogden managed venues in the Asia Pacific region will also be demonstrating their support for World Earth Hour this Saturday night.

World Earth Hour is a global initiative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) which encourages millions of people and businesses to show their support for action on climate change by turning off their lights for one hour.

WWF says that by voting with their light switches, Earth Hour participants will send a powerful message to world leaders for immediate action on climate change.

2009 will be the second year that Luna Park has shown support for Earth Hour. Other Melbourne venues supporting the initiative include the Arts Centre, Rialto Towers, Melbourne Aquarium, The Jam Factory, Federation Square, Melbourne Town Hall and Melbourne Zoo.

AEG Ogden Chief Executive, Harvey Lister explained that all of its venues had been encouraged to participate, with AEG venues across the world including O2 World in Berlin, New York's Nokia Theatre and Los Angeles' Staples Centre to show support for the project.

However, Lister acknowledged that participation would present its share of challenges, stating "a number of our venues are hosting events at the designated hour and therefore it is not possible to completely shut down lighting.

"For example, lighting is required to stage sporting events, conventions and concerts, and patron safety cannot be compromised in any way.

"But by showing some initiative and creativity, venues can still participate in World Earth Hour without it impacting on the delivery of their respective events."

Lister said Suncorp Stadium, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Darwin Convention Centre and His Majesty's Theatre in Perth are all hosting events on Saturday night. Acer Arena in Sydney, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and the Perth Concert Hall, while not hosting events, will be participating in different ways.

For more information on the event go to www.earthour.org 

31st July 2008 - AEG OGDEN EXPRESS INTEREST IN MANAGING PERTH ARENA 

25th June 2008  - MELBOURNE’S LUNA PARK FREEZES