Global venues giant to run Christchurch convention centre

Tuesday, 19 February 2019

Take an animated look at the yet-to-be-completed Christchurch convention centre, Te Pae.

A massive multi-national company will run Christchurch's convention centre when it opens next year, with 65 events booked so far.

Rebuild agency Ōtākaro 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 Ōtākaro staff, a spokesman said. Australian Ross Steele has been appointed Te Pae's venue manager. He has managed the Cairns Convention Centre (also run by AEG Ogden) for the last 12 years.

Christchurch's convention centre is about a quarter built.

Known as Te Pae, the 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.

**READ MORE:

The facade is going up and a multi-national company has been named the operator, with an Australian venue manager.

* Christchurch's new convention centre nearly a quarter complete

* ChristchurchNZ to take 'proactive' approach in chasing high impact events

An artist's impressions of the completed Christchurch convention centre, seen from Victoria Square.

* Christchurch convention centre animation shows final shape of anchor project**

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 Ōtākaro 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.

Ōtākaro chief executive John Bridgman said Ōtākaro 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.