It’s 40 years since the Brisbane Entertainment Centre (BEC) was officially opened, with more than 19 million people enjoying a range of shows at the venue in the years since.
The BEC has hosted international artists like P!NK, Elton John, David Bowie, Prince, Metallica, Michael Jackson and Madonna to home grown talent such as Cold Chisel, Kylie, Paul Kelly, and family classics like Les Misérables, Disney on Ice and The Wiggles. It also hosted basketball, conferences, gala dinners, religious conventions, the Lions International Convention, trade and craft shows.
General Manager Trish McNamara said they haven’t found a show that they have not been able to host yet.
“We’ve hosted Monster Trucks, Bull Riding, Ballet, Boxing, UFC, Opera, Dance, concerts, yearling sales, truck shows, gala dinners, trade shows, craft shows, Top Gear live, Walking with Dinosaurs; Rock Eisteddfods, Disney On Ice and of course The Wiggles,” she said.
“We’ve been many things for the city of Brisbane and stood up when it counted including being a mass vaccination hub during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 and then in 2025 as DIY sand bag depot in preparation for Cyclone Alfred.”
Originally owned by the Brisbane City Council, Stadiums Queensland assumed ownership for the venue in 2002. The venue is managed by Legends Global.
Key Statistics:
- The site is 64 hectares in total, with a roof area of 4.8 acres and total floor space is 19,480 sqm and a capacity of up to 14,500 capacity.
- Officially opened on 20 February 1986, by Brisbane Lord Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson.
- First show was ice skaters Torvill & Dean on 20 February 1986. They did 10 more performances to over 100,000 audience members.
- 19 million attendees for ticketed events
- 2,875 tickets events
- 10,000 people employed (over the course of the last 40 years)
- 32 PINK shows – with 11 shows in 2009 alone.
- 14,454 largest single audience for Metallica in 2010
- Oldest person to perform was Leonard Cohen at 79 years of age
- Youngest person to perform solo was JoJo Siwa at 17 years of age
- The Brisbane Bullets played their first game onsite on 30 May, 1986 and over 190 NBL Basketball games have been played
- Leroy Loggins was immortalised in a bronze statue which is located at the Main Stairs and was part of the ‘Pokemon Go Era’ craze.
- Brisbane Entertainment Centre ranked number 1 in the world by Billboard Magazine for centres with 10, 001 to 15,000 seat capacity.