The State Government has signed the operator agreement with VenuesLive Management Services allowing it to commence its role as operator of Perth Stadium.

Sport and Recreation Minister Mia Davies said the agreement with VenuesLive (formerly Stadium Australia Operations) represented another significant milestone for the stadium and gave the operator more than 18 months to prepare for the opening in early 2018.

“One of the operator’s first priorities will be to undertake a recruitment search for key operational personnel ahead of employing about 70 full-time operational staff and an additional workforce of 1,750 for event days,” Davies said, adding that the recruitment process for the chief executive would commence today.

“VenuesLive will also now progress key contracts for ticketing and security, while working with Tourism Western Australia and VenuesWest to secure a range of exciting events for Perth Stadium.”

Loyal Neale hungry for success

Davies said as part of its bid, VenuesLive proposed on average 40 different events each year using its experience driving events at ANZ Stadium within the Sydney Olympic Park Precinct.

“The State Government is focused on ensuring this world-class Perth Stadium and its surrounding sports precinct delivers a year-round event schedule comprising a mix of large and small events across the precinct facilities,” she said.

The Minister said the operator would now enter into negotiations to finalise user agreements with football and cricket while talks would also be progressed with other potential users such as Australian Rugby Union and Football Federation Australia, English Premier League clubs, concert promoters plus a range of community arts and smaller sport event owners. 

VenuesLive is contracted for an initial five-year term and the State Government has an option to extend for a further five years.

Construction of the stadium is more than 40 per cent complete and on schedule to open in time for the start of the 2018 AFL season.