Sydney Entertainment Centre, Indoor stadium in Haymarket, Australia.
The Sydney Entertainment Centre was a multipurpose indoor arena in Haymarket featuring flexible seating arrangements and modern lighting systems. Its layout could be reconfigured for different types of events, from concerts to sporting competitions.
The Sydney Entertainment Centre opened on 1 May 1983 on the former fruit and vegetable market site in Haymarket, replacing the demolished Sydney Stadium. Construction from 1979 was overseen by Neville Wran, who appointed Sir Asher Joel as project chairman, with John Holland Group as contractor. It closed in December 2015 and was demolished in January 2016, replaced by the Darling Square residential development.
The venue hosted concerts, sporting events, and theater shows that drew both international performers and local fans together throughout its operating years. It served as a gathering place where Sydney residents experienced live entertainment on a regular basis.
The venue was easy to reach by public transport, with Central Station and light rail stops located nearby. It could accommodate different numbers of visitors depending on the event setup.
The venue's record attendance came in 1995, when almost 12,000 fans filled it for an international basketball game between the Australian Boomers and the Magic Johnson All-Stars; Magic Johnson sat out with a calf injury but apologised to the crowd from centre court.
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