Is Moore Park Set For A New Arena Venue?

Last month, it was reported that Sydney could be receiving a brand new music venue that holds 15,000 to 20,000 punters, with the government on board for the plans.

This week, rumours about said venue heated up when The Daily Telegraph hinted that the Moore Park Entertainment Quarter owners were looking to international developers Oak View Group to build an indoor arena.

The new arena, set to sit between the Sydney Cricket Ground, Centennial Park, and Allianz Stadium (per the North West Star), could be built by Oak View Group. The group led a state-of-the-art indoor venue in Manchester and has Harry Styles as an investor.

Tenders for a potential new venue opened in late October, with plans to "completely overhaul" the Moore Park Entertainment Quarter precinct to feature a large new indoor space.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said about the project (per 9 News), “We desperately need a new indoor arena. There's literally hundreds of acts around the world that want to come and tour Australia and Sydney in particular.”

Minns added, “Ultimately, this could be a fantastic asset for Sydney.

“We want to turn the EQ into a thriving world-class precinct, full of dining and entertainment options, complete with a brand new venue.”

Even the opposition is on board.

Opposition leader Mark Speakman said, “That is a site that is significantly underutilised, and we want to see it reach its full potential.”

According to the North West Star, the new venue could attract new crowds for various events, including the Royal Easter Show. With a capacity of 15,000 to 20,000 people, the potential venue would be one of the largest venues in Sydney, “on par” with Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.

Arts Minister John Graham described the new space as a “missing step on the venue ladder,” adding: “The (precinct) has got a really important role to play for the city, but it's never reached the hopes that I think the city's held for it.”

Carsingha Investments holds the current lease for the Entertainment Quarter site. The lease ends in 2046, but a tender has opened for bold new moves.