AusLeisure

Perth's Burswood Arena, the Western Australian entertainment venue that has hosted some of the world's biggest acts on its stage, is to be demolished after 26 years of providing entertainment.

The venue, owned by, and in the grounds of, the Crown Perth casino has been home to memorable concerts from Michael Jackson to AC/DC, as well as hosting the Hopman Cup tennis tournament until this year.

With its role as Western Australia's major entertainment and sport arena replaced by the recently opened Perth Arena, Western Australia Racing and Gaming Minister Terry Waldron has announced his approval for the demolition of the venue.

Minister Waldron said the Dome is now too expensive to maintain adding that it had been kept in operation in recent years primarily to provide a venue for the Hopman Cup until Perth Arena was completed.

The Minister said the Dome would make way for more than 1,000 ground-level parking bays to ease the parking shortage at the Burswood complex, stating "annual visits to the resort have almost doubled to nearly eight million people since Crown acquired it in 2004, and that number is expected to grow to 10 million within the next few years.

"Today is a day to reflect on some of the really memorable performances and sporting events that have taken place under the unique pressurised roof.

"The dome has hosted everyone from Michael Jackson to Beyonce and beyond. The first concert was Mick Jagger in 1988 and the last concert was the Beach Boys in September, 2012."

Crown has invested about $750 million since taking over the resort in 2004, and committed a further $560 million to future projects, such as the new six-star Crown Towers Hotel.

Minister Waldron thanked Crown for keeping the Dome in operation as a venue for the Hopman Cup, concluding "it really is the end of an era for the Dome but there is no use for it anymore. The brand new, world-class Perth Arena provides a completely new level of event experience above what the Dome could ever offer.

"So far, Perth Arena has hosted 54 events for more than 430,000 patrons in the first six months, making it one of the busiest venues of its type in the world."

Crown is expected to start demolition work shortly. 

12th November 2012 - PERTH ARENA OPENS IN SPECTACULAR STYLE 

2nd October 2012 - SIR ELTON JOHN TO OPEN PERTH ARENA ‘UNDER THE STARS’

4th September 2012 - VALE: DAVID HUMPHREYS, RESPECTED VENUE MANAGER 

29th May 2012 - TICKETEK CONFIRMED AS PERTH ARENA TICKETING PROVIDER

3rd May 2012 - WORLD CLASS ENTERTAINMENT PREPARED FOR PERTH ARENA OPENING 

4th April 2012 - VOW TO MAINTAIN HOPMAN CUP AS A ‘WORLD-CLASS’ EVENT 

15th December 2011 - BURSWOOD ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX TO BECOME CROWN PERTH

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