It's a story WEC general manager Stuart Barnes is happy to recite and this time he was retelling it ahead of the centre's 10th anniversary celebrations, which kick off on Friday.

"We had just built this centre and we were still trying to commission everything else when we get the email through from (Dylan's) production company that he wants a leather reclining chair," Mr Barnes said yesterday.

"So we went up to Waters (department store) at the time and asked them to lend us a jade green leather chair for Bob, and put it in his dressing room.

"As it turned out Bob was being stalked at the time by somebody so there was a high level of security backstage ... so he came in about five minutes before going on stage and probably spent about 30 seconds on this leather reclining chair.

"Then he went on stage, came straight off stage and was up Mt Ousley before the applause had even ended."

And the chair? It was put back in the window of Waters with a sign "Bob Dylan sat here", and snapped up by a Kiama lawyer for twice the price.

But the WEC has had many stories to tell in its 10-year history, many of which will be celebrated in Gerry Doyle's book, On Common Ground, to be launched on Monday.

Other highlights of the WEC's 22 days of partying include the two-millionth visitor, expected to arrive on Saturday about 1pm, and who will be surprised with champagne, flowers, chocolates and free tickets.

There's also going to be a huge birthday cake - to feed 2000 people - at the Wollongong ahm Hawks versus Sydney Spirit NBL game on September 20. More details at www.wec.org.au.