Brisbane Entertainment Centre facts for kids
Panoramic view of arena (c. 2012)
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| Address | 1 Melaleuca Drive |
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| Location | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Coordinates | 27°20′32″S 153°4′16″E / 27.34222°S 153.07111°E |
| Owner | Stadiums Queensland |
| Operator | ASM Global |
| Capacity | 13,500 (concerts) 11,000 (seated capacity) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1985 |
| Opened | 20 February 1986 |
| Construction cost | A$71 million (A$205 million in 2018 dollars) |
| Builder | Watpac |
| Tenants | |
| Brisbane Bullets (NBL) (1986–97, 2007, 2016–19, 2024–present) Queensland Firebirds (ANZ/NNL) (2008–18) |
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The Brisbane Entertainment Centre is a big indoor building in Boondall, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia. It's used for many different things. A company called ASM Global takes care of it.
It also has sports areas and smaller rooms you can rent for parties or meetings. Most of the time, people go there to see concerts and musical theatre shows because it can hold a lot of people. You can also watch exciting ice-skating shows there, like Disney On Ice. Back in 1995, the TV show Gladiators filmed all its Australian episodes here!
Contents
History of the Centre
The Brisbane Entertainment Centre was built by the Brisbane City Council. It first opened its doors on February 20, 1986. The very first event was a show by famous ice dancers Torvill and Dean.
Later, on July 1, 2002, the ownership of the centre changed to Stadiums Queensland. The same company, ASM Global, has been running the centre since it first opened.
Getting There
The centre is in Boondall, right near the Gateway Motorway. You can easily get there by train. Just take a Queensland Rail City network service to Boondall railway station on the Shorncliffe railway line. Taxis are another option.
If you're driving, there are 4,000 parking spaces available. However, public buses do not go to the centre, even on event nights.
Inside the Arena
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The Brisbane Entertainment Centre has 11,000 fixed seats. For concerts, it can hold up to 13,601 people. This makes it the biggest indoor entertainment arena in Brisbane. It's also the second largest permanent indoor arena in Australia.
The centre cost $71 million to build. It has different ways to set up the seats. This helps make sure everyone is comfortable, no matter what kind of show is happening. The seating can be arranged for a stage at one end, a stage in the middle (called "in the round"), or a smaller, more "intimate" setup using only half the arena.
Sports Teams and Events
Brisbane Bullets Basketball
From 1986 to 1997, the Brisbane Entertainment Centre was the home court for the Brisbane Bullets. This team played in Australia's top basketball league, the NBL.
The Bullets won the NBL championship in 1987 while playing at this venue. They also played some games here in 2007 when they won their third NBL championship. The Brisbane Bullets returned to the NBL in the 2016–17 NBL season. They still play some of their games at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
Queensland Firebirds Netball
The centre was also the main home for the Queensland Firebirds netball team. They won championships here in 2015 and 2016. In 2019, the Firebirds moved to a new building made just for netball.
Other Sports Events
The centre has hosted international basketball tournaments. It was a co-host for the FIBA Oceania Championship in 2007 and 2011. The Australian national basketball team won the gold medal both times.
On February 15, 2025, All Elite Wrestling held a special TV show called Grand Slam Australia here. It was their first time holding this event outside the United States.
Famous Performances
The very first event at the centre was on February 20, 1986, with ice skaters Torvill and Dean. Many famous artists have performed here since then.
In 1987, Michael Jackson performed two sold-out shows. On one of those nights, Stevie Wonder even joined him on stage to sing!
Beyoncé has performed at the centre many times. She was here in 2002 and 2005 with her group Destiny's Child. Then, as a solo artist, she performed in 2007, 2009, and 2013. She has sold over 50,000 tickets at the venue!
Lady Gaga performed for more than 31,000 fans over three sold-out shows in June 2012. She also performed here in 2010 and 2014.
American singer and dancer JoJo Siwa started her 2020 tour at the centre on January 10 and 11.
American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish performed at the venue from September 17 to September 19, 2022. She returned for more shows on February 18, 19, 21, and 22, 2025.
American rock singer P!NK has sold more tickets than any other solo artist at the centre. In 2009, she even officially opened the "P!NK Ladies Door 6 Female toilets" to celebrate this amazing achievement!
See Also
- Popular entertainment in Brisbane
- List of indoor arenas in Australia
