New Newcastle Arena gamechanger for ‘the Hunter’ Region

Image: NSW Government

Newcastle (Australia) will soon be home to a new world-class arena with the Minns Labor Government recently committing $14 million to unlock the next stage of planning for the New Newcastle Arena.

‘NSW GOVERNMENT’ stated that the plans include a new 12,000- capacity entertainment center and creating a world class indoor arena attracting up to 160 new events to ‘the Hunter’ (a major economic and cultural hub in New South Wales) each year.

The New Newcastle Arena will be a gamechanger for ‘the Hunter’ Region.
 

Lifestyle Precinct

The current 7,528-seat Newcastle Entertainment Centre was originally built 33 years ago as a temporary structure to operate for only five years. The new Newcastle Arena will be relocated next to the 30,000-capacity McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia, to create a dedicated live sport, entertainment and lifestyle precinct.
 

Thriving Destination

‘NSW GOVERNMENT’ further stated that relocating the arena is the first key move to unlock the precinct for future hotel, commercial and residential development to create a thriving, year-round destination. It also continues the transformation of the precinct which is home to the McDonald Jones Stadium, the Newcastle Knights Centre of Excellence and the 1,000-capacity Newcastle International Hockey Centre.
 

Visitor Economy

Together with the opening of the Newcastle International Airport Newcastle is rapidly transforming into a powerhouse for the regional visitor economy thus creating jobs, driving the local business and showcasing ‘the Hunter’ to the world.
 

Real Economic Benefits

The Minns Labor Government is committed to growing regional New South Wales (NSW) tourism and securing international concerts and other major events that attract the visitors year-round to the regional hubs and will deliver real economic benefits to the local communities.
 

Economic Benefit

During construction 610 jobs will be created, 133 additional jobs for the precinct and 157 for the NSW Region. With the Newcastle Arena expected to inject an additional $400 million in economic benefit over the next 10 years thus driving a near 10-fold increase in the interState visitors to the events.
 

New Newcastle Arena

The Newcastle Arena will be the catalyst for the delivery of the Broadmeadow Placemaking Strategy (a 30-year urban renewal plan by the ⁠City of Newcastle and the NSW Government to transform Broadmeadow [located three km from the Newcastle Central Business District] into a vibrant destination) and is aligned with the Hunter Regional Plan 2036 (the NSW Government’s 20-year strategic blueprint for managing land use, housing, infrastructure, and economic growth in the Hunter Region of Australia) and the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan 2036 (an official strategic framework guiding the sustainable growth, land use and infrastructure of Greater Newcastle, Australia’s seventh-largest city).
 

Broader Redevelopment

The broader redevelopment will deliver more housing and green space, improved transport connections, accessible and safe walking and cycle paths, and a new outdoor plaza for the events and the live site activations.
 

‘Puzzle Piece’

Observed Yasmin Catley, Minister for ‘the Hunter’, “This is the first piece of the puzzle in transforming Broadmeadow into a world-class sport, entertainment and lifestyle precinct. For too long Newcastle has had the talent, the fans and the energy – but not the venue to match. That starts to change today. This is a major vote of confidence in Newcastle and ‘the Hunter’. It means more concerts, more visitors, more jobs, and more to love about our region.”
 

‘Once-in-a-generation Moment’

Stated Steve Kamper, Minister for Sport, “The existing entertainment center reached its end-of-life decades ago. This investment unlocks the next chapter for Newcastle. A new world‑class arena will give ‘the Hunter’ the facilities it deserves and the pulling power to attract the major events, the international artistes and elite sport all year round. This is a once-in-a-generation moment to finally deliver the sporting and entertainment infrastructure Newcastle and ‘the Hunter’ deserves.”
 

‘Legacy to Live On’

Added Tim Crakanthorp, Member for Newcastle, “The Newcastle Entertainment Centre has welcomed the likes of Kylie Minogue (Australian singer-songwriter and actor), John Farnham (Australian singer) and even Taylor Swift (American singer-songwriter) to its stage, as well as many more. That legacy will live on in the New Newcastle Arena set to bring 160 performances each year. Newcastle is NSW’ second largest city and we not only deserve but need a world-class entertainment center and precinct and this Government is committed to delivering that.”
 

‘Gamechanger’

Remarked Jodie Harrison, Member for Charlestown, “This investment is a gamechanger for our region that will benefit our local talent, the businesses and the community for decades to come. This announcement is another example of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to investing in the infrastructure our region needs to grow and thrive.”
 

‘Huge Win’

Maintained Emily Suvaal, Duty Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) for Upper Hunter and Lake Macquarie, “This is a huge win for ‘the Hunter’, Lake Macquarie and the communities across our region who want to see our regions grow. A world-class arena in Newcastle means more major events, more visitors, more jobs, and more opportunities for the local businesses – from the Upper Hunter to Lake Macquarie and beyond.”
 

‘Huge Honor’

Noted Nikita Tszyu, Australian Boxer, “Fighting at the new arena would be a huge honor and I’d love the opportunity to help open the venue with its first major event. Some of my best memories have come from here in Tszyu-castle and a new world-class arena would be a gamechanger for boxing and major events in ‘the Hunter’.”

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