Exciting progress has been made ahead of International Convention Centre Sydney’s (ICC Sydney) planned December opening, with the venue technically complete and management operating on site.
What follows now is an intensive three-month testing and commissioning phase, including an all staff introduction in the 1,000 seat Pyrmonth Theatre.
ICC Sydney’s CEO, Geoff Donaghy, says the current priority is ensuring the venue meets its “expected world-leading standard”.
“All of ICC Sydney’s state-of-the-art facilities will be activated and tested, including the five star convention and exhibition centres, the largest purpose-built Grand Ballroom in the region, the ultramodern ICC Sydney Theatre, and the stunning outdoor event deck,” he says.
As part of an Operational Readiness Plan, Donaghy says ICC Sydney (above) will host 25 non-commercial test events, including meetings and ceremonies. Room set ups and client site inspections are also planned.
“Our test series will include a raft of events including Taxi Days – so local drivers can get to know the new city layout and key drop off points, loading dock trial runs, an open day and a concert within ICC Sydney Theatre, amongst others,” he says.
“Each event will bring us closer to our official opening in December, when we look forward to celebrating this remarkable venue that will truly change the way events are held in our city.”
ICC Sydney, located on the active precinct of Darling Harbour on Cockle Bay, has already secured over 340 events, and is expected to generate at least A$5 billion (just over US$3.8b) in economic benefits for New South Wales over a 25 year period.
The venue will have 35,000 sqm of exhibition space, a 3,500-pax ballroom, a tiered theatre with capacity for 8,000, outdoor event space for up to 11,000, 70 meeting rooms and an adjacent 600-room hotel (below).
ICC Sydney is a US$1.2 billion development being delivered by the New South Wales Government and Darling Harbour Live.
The project is part of a larger US$2.6 billion, 20-hectare transformation of Darling Harbour.
Header photo: ICC Sydney team members in the Pyrmonth Theatre
More from Geoff Donaghy here.
