Global giant to run convention centre
A massive multi-national company will run Christchurch’s convention centre when it opens next year, with 65 events booked so far.
Rebuild agency O¯ ta¯ karo chose AEG Ogden to operate the $475 million anchor project, which is due to open in 2020.
The decision was announced at a trade show event in Melbourne, attended by O¯ ta¯karo staff, a spokesman said. Australian Ross Steele has been appointed venue manager. He has managed the Cairns convention centre (also run by AEG Ogden) for the past 12 years.
Known as Te Pae, the Christchurch convention centre will have a 1400-seat auditorium, 3600 square metres of exhibit space and 24 meeting rooms. Contractor Australian company CPB is more than a quarter of the way through the build, with the steel framing nearly finished and the facade going up now.
Sixty-five national and international conferences are booked for the first two years of operating.
These would bring about 54,000 delegates to Christchurch, most from the health, science, agriculture, education and corporate services sectors, an
O¯ ta¯ karo spokesman said.
AEG Ogden, which part-owns the Sydney Kings basketball team, may have a name change down the track because its owner, AEG Facilities, has just merged with another company to form global behemoth ASM Global.
That company’s portfolio will include more than 310 venues globally, such as arenas, stadiums, convention centres and performing arts centres. Steele said his priority would be to attract international conventions to the Christchurch building.
O¯ ta¯ karo chief executive John Bridgman said O¯ ta¯karo chose AEG Ogden because of its ‘‘significant experience in delivering world class events’’.
AEG Ogden chair and chief executive Harvey Lister said the company would apply its ‘‘global expertise’’ to Christchurch.