Sydney SuperDome

The Sydney SuperDome (currently known as the Qudos Bank Arena for sponsorship reasons) is a large multipurpose arena located in Sydney Olympic Park suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was completed in 1999 as part of the facilities for the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Sydney SuperDome
Exterior view of venue from Olympic Bvd (c. 2016)
Former namesSydney SuperDome (1999–2006)
Acer Arena (2006–2011)
Allphones Arena (2011–2016)
AddressOlympic Bvd and Edwin Flack Avenue
Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127
Australia
LocationSydney Olympic Park ()
Coordinates33°51′S 151°04′E
OwnerTEG Live
OperatorASM Global
Capacity18,000[1]
21,032 (with floor seats)
Construction
Broke groundSeptember 1997 (1997-09)
Opened4 October 1999 (1999-10-04)
Construction costA$200 million
($339 million in 2018 dollars[2])
ArchitectPhilip Cox and Yaeger Architecture
Structural engineerTaylor Thomson Whitting
Services engineerNorman Disney & Young
General contractorObayashi Corporation
Main contractorsAbigroup
Tenants
Sydney Kings (NBL) (1999–2002, 2016–present)
Sydney Swifts (CBT) (2001–08)
New South Wales Swifts (ANZ/NNL) (2008–2019)
Giants Netball (NNL) (2017–2019)
Website
Venue Website

The A$190‑million facility was designed by COX Architecture & Devine deFlon Yaeger, and constructed by Abigroup and Obayashi Corporation[3] Bob Carr, premier of New South Wales, officially opened the stadium in November 1999.[3]

The development of the stadium was part of three subsites which also included a 3,400-space carpark which cost A$25 million,[3] and a plaza with external works, also costing $25 million.[3] The roof's masts reach 42 metres (138 ft) above ground level, and the stadium occupies a site of 20,000 m2 (220,000 sq ft; 4.9 acres).[3]

It is currently managed by AEG Ogden. For three consecutive years the venue was a finalist for the Billboard Touring Awards in the top venue category.[4]

The arena has a total capacity of 21,032 with a seating capacity of around 18,000 making the SuperDome the largest permanent indoor sports and entertainment venue in Australia.

Stadium name history

The arena was known as the Sydney SuperDome from opening in 1999 until 11 May 2006 when it was renamed Acer Arena (after Acer Inc.) as part of a naming rights deal.[5][6] The naming rights were subsequently purchased by Allphones, the new name Allphones Arena taking effect from 1 September 2011.[7] Since 11 April 2016, the venue has been known as Qantas Credit Union Arena then Qudos Bank Arena (after the rebranded Qudos Bank).[8]

Design
Interior view of the Sydney SuperDome, in concert configuration. Various seating configurations, such as the minor extension of the stand seen here, allow the venue to host up to 21,000 spectators seated.

The Sydney SuperDome is designed at an average capacity of 18,000 seated, with a maximum possible capacity of 21,032, according to the Sydney Olympic Park Authority.[9] The SuperDome's bowl is rearrangeable in various modes to accommodate for sports events, concerts, and the like, and the venue's capacity fluctuates depending on the event hosted. The floor of the venue measures 48 m (157 ft) by 78 m (256 ft) at its maximum extent.[10] The venue is created from 5,696m3 of concrete, 1,884 tonnes of reinforcing steel, and is topped with a 1,235 tonne roof structure.[9] 18 steel masts suspend from the zinc and aluminium-composed and alloy-coated steel roof, which is tensioned by cables stretching from the top of each mast to the center of the roof.[10] The interior ceiling of the venue is decorated in a corrugated steel profile, heavily insulated with materials such as numerous copies of unused Yellow pages telephone directories.[9][10]

Various measures were made at the request of the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) for environmentally friendly design measures. In its early years, the Sydney SuperDome used renewable energy for a fraction of its power supply, provided by EnergyAustralia's green power scheme. The venue saw use of green power through a deal with EnergyAustralia that lasted the duration of the 2000 Summer Olympics and the five years following.[11] The SuperDome's power architecture includes 1,176 photovoltaic solar panels, installed on the arena's roof, which provide 10% of the venue's daily energy consumption, estimated at ~8612MWh annually. Energy efficient lighting and heating/cooling systems were also installed in the venue.[11] The roof's drainage system consists over 2000m of high-density polyethylene pipes, in addition to nearly 3000m of cast iron and copper pipes used in the venue's plumbing system, and 1000m of vitrified clay pipes that make up the SuperDome's surrounding stormwater drainage system.[11] The SuperDome was also one of many venues built at Sydney Olympic Park that made use of recycled timber, used to construct the exterior balconies of the venue. The timber was sourced from Kempsey, and Oberon, along with local sources in Sydney.[11] Additionally, polypropylene seats with nylon arms and mountings make up the SuperDome's stands.[11]

Events
Sydney SuperDome at full capacity during a Muse concert in December 2017

The arena is home to many major entertainment and conference events and is a venue of choice for major entertainment promoters.

See also: List of entertainment events at the Sydney SuperDome
A Sydney Kings match in March 2023

Regular or annual events

Notable occasional events

On 11 December 1999, a league record 17,803 spectators attended a NBL match between the Sydney Kings and West Sydney Razorbacks. The record has since been eclipsed twice by Kings games at the Superdome. On 10 March 2023 18,049 fans watched the Sydney Kings defeat the New Zealand Breakers in Game 3 of the 2023 NBL Grand Final series.[16] Just five days later the current record of 18,124 attended the deciding Game 5 of the series where the Kings defeated the Breakers to win the Championship.[17]

During the 2000 Olympic Games, the venue hosted the men's and women's basketball finals, and the artistic and trampoline gymnastics events.[18] In the men's basketball, the Bronze medal playoff won by Lithuania 89-71 over host nation Australia, and the Gold Medal playoff, won by the United States 85-75 over France, drew 14,833 fans to the arena. The permanent seating capacity of the SuperDome was reduced to approximately 15,500 during the Olympics due to the usual large number of seats allocated for the media.[19]

In 2001 the SuperDome was the host of the ATP World Tour Finals Tennis Masters Cup won by Australian World number one men's tennis player Lleyton Hewitt, defeating Frenchman Sébastien Grosjean in the Final 6–3, 6–3, 6–4.[20]

On 13 November 2004, the SuperDome attracted the record attendance for a netball game in Australia when 14,339 turned out to see the Australian Netball Diamonds defeat the New Zealand Silver Ferns, 54–49.[21]

On 28 July 2008, an ANZ Championship-record 12,999 fans saw the New South Wales Swifts defeat the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, 65–56, in the ANZ Championship Grand Final at the Acer Arena.[22]

On 3 July 2009, Taiwanese pop singer Jay Chou came to Sydney to perform a one-off concert. It became the number one box office record holder for Allphones Arena, and has stayed in this position ever since. In that concert he broke 11 records in Australia including largest audience (15,200), highest total sponsored amount and highest production cost ($480 000). The box office reached US$2.6 million, out-grossing Beyoncé and The Eagles placing him at rank 2 worldwide.[23]

On 17 November 2014, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, addressed Indians residing in Australia.[24]

Matches of the 2015 Netball World Cup were held at Allphones Arena, and the world record for a netball match was broken three times. Day 3 of the World Cup attracted 16,233 spectators. Day 9 attracted 16,244 while the Final held on 16 August 2015 attracted a netball world record attendance of 16,752 to see Australia defeat New Zealand 58–55 to win their third straight INF Netball World Cup and their 11th overall.[25]

In November–December 2014, American singer-songwriter Katy Perry performed at the arena as part of The Prismatic World Tour, breaking the Allphones Arena ticket record with 89,500 patrons over six shows.[26]

In 2021, it was announced that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the arena would be used as a COVID-19 mass vaccination hub, commencing on 9 August 2021.[27][28]

The UFC hosted UFC 293: Adesanya vs. Strickland at Qudos Bank Arena on 10 September 2023.[29]

Sports teams

The venue is the home of the Sydney Kings who compete in Australia's National Basketball League and play all home matches at the SuperDome. The venue is affectionately nicknamed the 'King-Dome' by fans.

Other NBL teams to play home games at the SuperDome include the West Sydney Razorbacks (as a part of double header with a Kings game after) and Melbourne United. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic on 28 May 2021, Melbourne announced they would play a home game at the Arena against the Cairns Taipans. Originally to be played at John Cain Arena, then Cairns Pop-Up Arena, the game commenced with no audience three days later.[30]

The venue is also the former home of Suncorp Super Netball clubs Giants Netball and the New South Wales Swifts, both of whom have played finals and high-profile matches at the arena. Both teams have since relocated to the smaller but newly renovated Ken Rosewall Arena nearby.

Attendance Records

The Sydney Kings have set attendance records for the league on five occasions while playing at the Superdome. In the 1999/2000 season, the Kings hosted a double header at the Superdome with the West Sydney Razorbacks playing the Brisbane Bullets and the Kings playing the Canberra Cannons. This double header set a league record of 17,143 fans in attendance.

In a game against the Illawarra Hawks on 17 November 2019, the Kings set the all-time NBL single game attendance record with 17,514 the Superdome. A major drawcard for the game was future NBA star and social media icon LaMelo Ball playing for the Hawks.

In Game Three of the 2022 NBL Grand Final series against the Tasmania Jack Jumpers at Qudos Bank Arena, the team attracted a crowd of 16,149 – then the biggest playoff crowd in NBL history and the third-largest crowd overall in NBL history.[31]

In the Grand Final Series of the 2022/2023 season against the New Zealand Breakers the Sydney Kings set the new single game attendance record and playoff game attendance record twice. With the Kings having home court advantage, Games 1, 3 and 5 were played at the Superdome. On Friday 10 March 2023, a new record of 18,049 attended Game 3 of the series.[32]

Just five days later with the series at tied 2 wins each, the Kings prevailed in Game 5 to win the championship in front of another record attendance of 18,124.[33]

Panorama of Acer Arena before a Metallica concert in 2010

See also

References
  1. "Qudos Bank Arena". Austadiums. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  2. 1850-1899: McLean, I.W. (1999), Consumer Prices and Expenditure Patterns in Australia 1850–1914. Australian Economic History Review, 39: 1-28. For later years, Australian Consumer Price Inflation figures follow the Long Term Linked Series provided in Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011) 6461.0 – Consumer Price Index: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2011 as explained at §§3.10–3.11; this series comprises "from 1901 to 1914, the A Series Retail Price Index; from 1914 to 1946–47, the C Series Retail Price Index; from 1946–47 to 1948–49, a combination of the C Series Index, excluding rent, and the housing group of the CPI; and from 1948–49 onwards, the CPI." (3.10). Retrieved May 4, 2015
  3. "Acer Arena - History". Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2011..
  4. "Allphones Arena, Rod Laver named in top three global live venues - Live Music - the Music Network". Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  5. "Sydney SuperDome to become Acer Arena". Sydney Olympic Park Authority. 28 March 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
  6. "Sydney SuperDome is now Acer Arena!". 22 March 2006. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  7. "New naming rights sponsor for Allphones Arena". Sydney Olympic Park Authority. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  8. "Allphones Arena Name Change to: Qudos Bank Arena".
  9. "Fact Sheet – Venues" (PDF). Sydney Olympic Park Authority. Government of New South Wales. January 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  10. "Superdome Case Study" (PDF). BHP Steel. 17 November 2003. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  11. Palese, Blair; Millais, Corin; Posner, Rupert; Koza, Fiona; Mealey, Elisabeth; McLaren, Warren; Luscombe, Darryl; Ruchel, Matt; Oakwood, Mark; Dam, Tanja; Wuelser, Gabriella; Landman, Sybrand; Stewart, Danielle; Shepherd, Jo; Apps, Linda (September 2000). "How green the Games? - Greenpeace's Environmental Assessment of the Sydney 2000 Olympics" (PDF). Inov8. Greenpeace Australia Pacific. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  12. "Hillsong Conference". Archived from the original on 5 February 2007.
  13. "Aria Awards". Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 26 May 2007.
  14. "Allphones Arena Hosts 2011 ARIA Awards". Australasian Leisure Management. 27 November 2011. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  15. "Esports, news: IEM Melbourne 2020 confirmed, tickets, dates, IEM Sydney moves to Melbourne, Melbourne Esports Open". Fox Sports. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  16. "Kings Take 2-1 Lead in Front of Record NBL Crowd". Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  17. "Kings' Big Finish to Secure Back-to-Back Championships". National Basketball League | NBL Australia | Australia's Basketball League. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  18. 2000 Summer Olympics official report. Archived 9 November 2000 at the Wayback Machine Volume 1. p. 390.
  19. Norwood, Robyn (1 October 2000). "U.S. Is Lucky to Escape Alive". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  20. Harman, Neil (18 November 2001). "Hewitt bandwagon surges on". telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  21. "A True trans-Tasman GF for netball's inaugural season". nswswifts.com.au. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  22. "ANZ Grand Final: Swifts v Magic - Austadiums". www.Austadiums.com. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  23. "Jay Chou - Allphones Arena : Concert Halls and Sport Stadiums and Live Entertainment and Functions in Homebush Bay, Sydney". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  24. Wade, Matt (17 November 2014). "Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi draws thousands to Sydney Olympic Park". smh.com.au. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  25. "Qudos Bank Arena Crowds (Sydney SuperDome) - Austadiums". www.Austadiums.com. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  26. "Katy Perry's Australia Tour Sells 350,000 Tickets, Could Have 'Easily' Added a Dozen Shows". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 19 December 2015.
  27. "Live: NSW Now: Year 12 students to be vaccinated at second Olympic Park hub". www.abc.net.au. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  28. "BLACKPINK brings their BLACKPINK 2019 WORLD TOUR to Qudos Bank Arena". Qudos Bank Arena.
  29. Shaun Al-Shatti (8 August 2023). "Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland headlines UFC 293 in Sydney". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  30. "NBL21 Round 20 Schedule Changes". nbl.com.au. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  31. "Sydney Kings set new record for biggest crowd in NBL history". basketnews.com. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  32. "NBL Record Crowd Packs Game 3". National Basketball League | NBL Australia | Australia's Basketball League. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  33. "Kings' Big Finish to Secure Back-to-Back Championships". National Basketball League | NBL Australia | Australia's Basketball League. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
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Events and tenants
Preceded by ATP World Tour Finals
Venue
2001		 Succeeded by
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