Perth Entertainment Centre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Perth Entertainment Centre | |
|---|---|
| PEC | |
 |
|
| Location | Perth, Western Australia |
| Opened | December 27, 1974 |
| Closed | 2002 |
| Owner | Seven Network Limited |
| Tenants | |
| Perth Wildcats (NBL) (1991-2002) Perth Breakers (WNBL) |
|
| Capacity | |
| Basketball: 8,200 | |
Perth Entertainment Centre (or PEC) is a disused indoor arena located in Wellington Street in the city centre of Perth, Western Australia.
Opened on December 27, 1974 the venue has a capacity of 8200 seats.
It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest purpose built regular theatre in the world.[1] Colloquially it is known as The Bottlecap for its passing resemblance to a beer bottle cap.
Contents |
[edit] Music Concerts
The arena has hosted several music concerts. These include:
- ABBA performed 10th March 1977
- Alice Cooper performed 14th-15th March 1977
- Bob Marley performed 23rd April 1979
- The Police performed 19th March 1980
- David Bowie performed 4th November 1983
- Elton John performed 6th-7th March 1984
- U2 performed 23rd-24th September 1984, and launched their Lovetown Tour in September 1989 at the centre.
- Elvis Costello performed 8th September 1991
- R.E.M. performed 13th January 1995
- Cliff Richard performed 1st and 2nd March 1998
- Pearl Jam performed 19th March 1998
- Metallica performed 12th April 1998
- Bob Dylan performed 18th March 2001
- Kylie Minogue performed 28th and 30th May 2001
- Robbie Williams performed in December 2001.
- Youth Alive WA performed in August 2002. (final show at the venue before closure).
[edit] Sporting Events
The Perth Entertainment Centre was home to the Perth Wildcats basketball team from 1991. In 1997, the average crowd at the arena for Wildcats games was 7,500[2].
[edit] Other Events
The venue has also played host to a range of other events, including theatrical extravaganzas, musicals, circuses and corporate events as well as international beauty pageants (Miss Universe 1979).
[edit] Current Status
The venue is currently owned by Channel 7 and has not been used since 2001.[3] It was officially closed in August 2002.
In September 2003, Multiplex secured an option to buy the site for $25 million but the Government of Western Australia is still working out what to do with the site as it considers the location of a new indoor sports and entertainment centre for Perth. The City of Perth wishes a new center to be placed at the existing Perth Entertainment Centre site, to benefit the Northbridge Link area project.[4]
In 2005, the state government unveiled plans for a new entertainment centre to be built on the site of the carpark for the existing centre - for the present time, the existing entertainment centre structure will be left in place, though will remain closed. On 27th August 2006, the new centre was officially given the name of 'Perth Arena' and preliminary plans and images of the new venue have been released for public viewing.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ [1] Save the Perth Entertainment Centre from the Bulldozers. Accessed 20 July 2006.
- ^ City Vitality - City of Perth Summer of 1998. February 1998. Available. Accessed 22 March 2006.
- ^ Perth Entertainment Centre at Austadiums Perth Entertainment Centre. Accessed 22 March 2006.
- ^ www.cityofperth.wa.gov.au Green light for Northbridge Link rail project. Accessed 22 March 2006.
- ^ [2] Home of the new Perth Arena.
[edit] Websites
- Perth Entertainment Centre at Austadiums
