Sydney Entertainment Centre Renamed Ahead Of Rebuild

The Sydney Entertainment Centre will now be known as the Qantas Credit Union Arena in a new sponsorship deal that will run until the building is knocked down.

The venue, one of Sydney's premier large entertainment rooms with a capacity of 13,250, is part of the planned redevelopment of the Darling Harbour precinct and, as previously reported, will cease to operate in December 2015. The sponsorship deal was part of the business case for the Entertainment Centre to remain open for the two years up until 2015 while the rest of the development begins.

A representative for AEG Ogden, the venue managers who in 2012 won the contract to operate the venue until its closure and will oversee the new International Convention Centre, confirmed to theMusic.com.au today that they still intend to close the Qantas Credit Union Arena in December 2015 and have its replacement open by December 2016.

They also confirmed that the sponsorship deal would only run until the closure and demolition of the current building.

“Qantas Credit Union has stepped up to the plate in being a major contributor to the financial viability of the Centre during the next two years,” said the venue's General Manager Steve Hevern.

A 8,000 capacity red carpet theatre and 2,000 capacity Grand Ballroom are believed to be part of the redevelopment plans.

AEG Ogden are one of the region's top venue management companies, and have the likes of Western Sydney's Allphones Arena, the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Perth Arena and the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on its books.

The company are involved in an ACCC investigation with ticket company BangTango regarding market share, which is believed to be ongoing.

The Qantas Credit Union Arena will play host to artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire, Dolly Parton, Queens Of The Stone Age/Nine Inch Nails and the Dave Matthews Band in the coming months.