A new entertainment and conference centre for Newcastle has moved a step closer, with the NSW Government committing almost $15 million to complete the final design phase of the long-awaited Broadmeadow project.
The funding announcement marks a significant milestone for the proposed Newcastle Arena, a 12,000-seat venue planned for land immediately north of McDonald Jones Stadium.
The project was a key priority in City of Newcastle’s pre-budget submission earlier this year and is seen as a major piece of the broader transformation planned for Broadmeadow.
Once complete, the $499 million arena is expected to become a major destination for concerts, conferences and national sporting competitions.
The facility is designed to attract international touring acts that currently bypass Newcastle, while also providing a home venue for future professional basketball and netball teams competing in national leagues.
City leaders believe the project will deliver substantial economic benefits to the Hunter, with forecasts suggesting the arena could attract more than 640,000 visitors annually and contribute almost $41 million to the local economy each year.
The development is also expected to strengthen Newcastle’s position as a major entertainment destination while reducing the need for residents to travel to Sydney or Melbourne for large-scale events.
“The Newcastle Entertainment Centre was built 34 years ago and was only intended to operate for five years,” Chair of City of Newcastle’s Infrastructure Committee and Hunter Park Advisory Member Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said.
“Its condition is now at a point where our local economy is losing more than $20 million annually in missed events from artists and promoters who refuse to perform there. We know from ticketing data that 70% of all ticket sales to the existing entertainment centre
come from the Hunter.”
The announcement forms part of a much larger vision for Broadmeadow, which is earmarked to become a significant residential and entertainment precinct.
Plans for the area include housing for up to 40,000 residents and employment opportunities for as many as 8,000 workers. The existing Newcastle Entertainment Centre, which opened more than three decades ago as a temporary facility, is expected to eventually make way for future housing development once a replacement venue is operational.
If construction funding is secured following the next state election, demolition of the current Newcastle Entertainment Centre could begin by 2029, paving the way for both the new arena and the next stage of Broadmeadow’s redevelopment.
Detailed design work on Newcastle Arena is expected to take around 12 months. The demolition plans would not affect the showground ring or grandstands, which remain protected as local heritage items. Find out more and keep up to date by heading to newcastle.nsw.gov.au.
