The manager of Wollongong’s entertainment centre says after two decades bringing big names – and games – to the Illawarra, it’s time to look at the venue’s future.
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The facility, today known as the WIN Entertainment Centre (WEC), celebrates its 20th birthday on Monday.
Built as a basketball court, the 6000-seat venue opened its doors amid much fanfare on September 3, 1998.
Fast-forward to 2018 and some of the world’s biggest stars have since graced the WEC stage. Each have brought an entourage and equipment that, even the centre’s boss admits, have put its facilities to test.
Marc Swan – who manages the WEC and adjacent WIN Stadium – said management was currently exploring how to bolster the centre’s appeal.
Mr Swan said the venue’s design meant it was “not always suited for the types of events and performances available in the market”.
“To put it in perspective, when a basketball team plays, they bring a change of clothes, an extra pair of shoes and a ball or two,” he said.
“When Cirque du Soleil come, they bring nearly 3000 handmade costumes and shoes and they’re squashed into sports locker rooms, hallways and anywhere we can fit them.
“If we want to compete with other facilities going forward we need to put some thought into our future needs.”
That process is already under way; the WEC’s owner, Venues NSW, is about to begin work on a concept plan for the venue.
Venues NSW chief executive Paul Doorn said consultation, including that with the community, would be undertaken before any decisions were made.
Among the big names to have played inside the entertainment centre in the past two decades include Pink – who arrived in 2009 with 54 tonnes of equipment so she could winch herself up to the roof and sing upside down – and Ed Sheeran in 2013.
The venue has also hosted sell-out, Illawarra-produced events such as the annual Southern Stars school spectacular, held at the weekend. Mr Swan said Southern Stars was one of the WEC’s largest events.
“With 3000 performers on stage we need extra space, so we turn the loading dock into a mini-campsite with changing ‘tents’ instead of changing rooms,” he said.
Almost 3.7 million people have been through the WEC’s doors during the past 20 years.
The centre averages about one event every five days and injects more than $20 million into the city’s economy every year.
The WEC has 20 special events planned for 20 weeks of birthday festivities, as well as an social media Emerald Ticket competition that gives the winner two free seats to every concert at the venue in 2019. For competition details, visit: wsec.com.au
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
