Perth Entertainment Centre

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Perth Entertainment Centre
nickname = PEC


location = Perth, Western Australia
broke_ground =
opened = December 27, 1974
closed = 2002
demolished =
owner = Seven Network Limited
operator =
surface =
construction_cost =
architect =
former_names =
tenants = Perth Wildcats (NBL) (1991-2002)
Perth Breakers (WNBL)
seating_capacity = 8,200|

The Perth Entertainment Centre (or PEC) is a disused indoor arena and cinema complex located in Wellington Street in the city centre of Perth, Western Australia.

History

The venue was conceived and championed by the late Brian Treasure, then General Manager at Perth television station TVW 7 and theatrical entrepreneur Michael Edgley. Their interest was principally that their two organisations had mounted large stage shows which toured the country in circus tents; a process that created major logistical challenges. The venue was designed by architects Hobbs, Winning and Leighton and was forecast to cost $5 million, but its construction coincided with a period of intense industrial action. Delays and interruptions, including strike action which was timed to coincide with concrete pours, led to a cost blow-out. The final cost was $8.3 million and interest charges put immediate financial pressure on the venture. [ [http://www.sro.wa.gov.au/pdfs/Guideto1976CabinetPapers.pdf] "State Records Office: A guide to cabinet papers of 1976" Accessed 7 June 2008]

The venue opened on December 27 1974 as the Channel 7 Edgley Entertainment Centre with the Australian debut of the second "Disney On Parade" show. In around 1975 the owners approached the State and Federal governments for assistance and the Government of Western Australia took ownership of the building, renaming it The Perth Entertainment Centre. [ [http://www.sro.wa.gov.au/pdfs/Guideto1976CabinetPapers.pdf] "State Records Office: A guide to cabinet papers of 1976" Accessed 7 June 2008]

With a capacity of 8003 seats, the Entertainment Centre was Perth's primary large concert venue from 1974 until its closure in 2002. It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest purpose built regular theatre (containing a proscenium arch) in the world. [ [http://savepec.homestead.com/index.html] "Save the Perth Entertainment Centre from the Bulldozers". Accessed 20 July 2006.] The venue also played host to a number of theatrical extravaganzas, as well as a range of other events including musicals, circuses, corporate functions and international beauty pageants (Miss Universe 1979).

The Perth Entertainment Centre was home to the Perth Wildcats basketball team from 1991 until 2001.

Music Concerts

The arena hosted many major music concerts. These include:
*ABBA performed 10th (6pm & 9pm) - 11th (8pm) & 12th (3pm & 8.30pm) March 1977.
*Alice Cooper performed 14th-15th March 1977, 5th September 1997, 17th April 2001.
*Fleetwood Mac performed 18th-19th November 1977, February 21-22 1979, April 8th-9th 1990.
*The Beach Boys performed 14th-15th March 1978
*David Bowie performed 14th November 1978, 4th, 5th, 6th November 1983
*Bob Marley performed 23rd April 1979
*The Police performed 19th March 1980
*Kiss performed 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th November 1980, 4th Feb 1995
*AC/DC performed 13th February 1981, 1st-2nd February 1988, 23rd-24th October 1991
*Duran Duran performed 27th November 1983
*Robert Plant performed 28th January 1984
*Elton John performed 6th-7th March 1984, 27th-28th January 1990
*U2 performed 23rd-24th September 1984, and launched their Lovetown Tour in September 1989 at the centre.
*Phil Collins performed 20th April 1985
*Aerosmith performed 15th October 1990
*Elvis Costello performed 8th September 1991
*Metallica performed 7th-8th April 1992, 11th-12th April 1998
*Bon Jovi performed 1988, 4th October 1993
*R.E.M. performed 13th January 1995
*Celine Dion kicked off her Falling Into You Tour on 18th-21th March 1996
*Red Hot Chili Peppers performed 1992, 10 May 1996, 2000
*Cliff Richard performed 1st and 2nd March 1998
*Pearl Jam performed 6th March 1995, 19th March 1998
*Tina Turner performed 3th,4th,5th April 1997
*Van Halen performed 29th April 1998
*Bob Dylan performed 18th March 2001
*Kylie Minogue performed 28th and 30th May 2001
*Robbie Williams performed in December 2001
*Tool performed in 2002
*Youth Alive WA performed in August 2002 (final show at the venue before closure).

Current Status

The venue is currently owned by the Seven Network and has not been used since 2002. It was officially closed in August 2002.

In 2005, the Government of Western Australia unveiled plans for a new entertainment centre to be built on the site of the carpark for the existing centre. In 2006, the new centre was officially given the name of 'Perth Arena'. [ [http://www.dhw.wa.gov.au/pertharena/index.html] "Home of the new Perth Arena".] This facility is currently under construction and the project is scheduled to be completed in 2011. During construction, the existing Entertainment Centre structure will be left in place, though will remain closed.

References

Websites

*

External links

* [http://www.thinkaboutthelink.com.au/NorthbridgeLink/ Northbridge Link]
* [http://freebeer.com.au/brian-treasure/ Brian Treasure]
* [http://www.biziworks.com.au/biziworks/BiziGen?ownerID=CURTAIN&docID=21 Michael Edgley]