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Perth Arena
Perth Arena
Perth Arena
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Perth Arena (known commercially as RAC Arena)[5] is an entertainment and sporting arena in the city centre of Perth, Western Australia, used mostly for basketball matches. It is located on Wellington Street near the site of the former Perth Entertainment Centre, and was officially opened on 10 November 2012. Perth Arena was the first stage of the Perth City Link, a 13.5-hectare (33-acre) major urban renewal and redevelopment project which involved the sinking of the Eastern Railway to link the Perth central business district directly with Northbridge.[6]

Key Information

History

[edit]
Perth Arena, as seen from the 50th floor of the Central Park building.

It is owned by VenuesWest (which operates the Perth High Performance Centre, Arena Joondalup, WA Basketball Centre, and others) on behalf of The Government of Western Australia and is managed by AEG Ogden.[7]

The inaugural General Manager of Perth Arena was David Humphreys, former General Manager of the Perth Entertainment Centre and the Sydney SuperDome.[8] Humphreys died two months before the venue's opening.[9] AEG Ogden announced Steve Hevern as the interim General Manager on 3 October 2012.[10]

Anchor tenants of Perth Arena include the West Coast Fever, Perth Wildcats[11] and formerly the Hopman Cup.[12]

Design and construction

[edit]
The arena under construction in February 2011, with underlying steel framework visible

The tender for the project was won by Western Australian construction consortium BGC, and work commenced on the site in June 2007. The arena was jointly designed by architectural firms Ashton Raggatt McDougall and Cameron Chisholm Nicol. With its design based on the Eternity puzzle, the venue holds up to 13,910 spectators for tennis events,[13] 14,846 for basketball (the arena's capacity is capped at 13,000 for National Basketball League regular season games)[14] and a maximum of 15,000 for music or rock concerts. The venue has a retractable roof, 36 luxury appointed corporate suites, a 680-bay underground car park, 5 dedicated function spaces, and touring trucks can drive directly onto the arena floor.[15]

The construction was marred by controversy in relation to the cost and time blowouts from the original $150 million estimate to $550 million. Auditor General Colin Murphy reported in 2010 that "the initial estimates of the cost and opening date for the Arena were unrealistic and made before the project was well understood or defined."[16] An example of the modifications to the original Arena design is the change of the carpark location from being built above the nearby railway line as a separate project to underneath the Arena itself.

Naming rights

[edit]

For the first six years of operation, Perth Arena retained its non-commercial name. In September 2018, the venue name was changed to RAC Arena. The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC) agreed to a five-year naming rights arrangement, with the deal estimated to be worth about $10 million to the Government of Western Australia.[17] Prior to the name change, the Government of Western Australia had paid around $8 million to stadium operator AEG Ogden as compensation for not being able to sell the naming rights.[17]

Entertainment

[edit]

On 8 and 9 November 2013, the American living legend Beyoncé played 2 sold-out shows there to conclude the Oceania leg of her world tour, The Mrs Carter Show World Tour.

On 29 October and 1 November 2014, The Rolling Stones played two sold out nights at the venue on their first visit to Perth since 1995.

On 14 March 2015, Australian singer Kylie Minogue performed at the arena as part of her Kiss Me Once Tour. On 15 February 2025, she returned for a stop on her Tension Tour.

On 4 August 2018, French Canadian singer Celine Dion performed at the arena for the first time, as a part of Celine Dion Live 2018. This was the first show by Dion, since her Taking Chances World Tour, to be held in Perth.

On 12 October 2018, American singer-actress Cher performed for the first time at the Arena as part of her Here We Go Again Tour.

In 2022, it was announced that Perth Arena would be the new host for the Channel Seven Perth Telethon.[18]

On 29 and 30 September 2022, the American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish performed her final two dates in Australia during her tour, Happier Than Ever: The World Tour.

On 25 October 2023, Irish folk-rock band The Corrs performed at the arena as part of their 2023 tour of Australasia and Southeast Asia.[19] The group was supported by Australian pop icon Natalie Imbruglia, as well as Toni Childs and Germein.

Sports

[edit]

Basketball

[edit]
Perth Arena during a basketball match, 20 October 2018

Perth Arena hosted its first National Basketball League game on 16 November 2012 when the Perth Wildcats played (and lost) against the Adelaide 36ers in front of a crowd of 11,562.[20] The attendance was the largest recorded in Western Australia for an indoor event,[21][22] breaking the previous record of 8,501 set at the Burswood Dome in 2004.[23] The arena has, of course, hosted larger crowds since that time, with the current record being 13,615 set during the Wildcats 101–83 win to the Tasmania Jackjumpers on 19 December 2021 during Round 3 of the 2021–22 NBL Season.

With a capacity of 14,846, Perth Arena is the second-largest venue currently in use in the NBL (2016–17) behind the Sydney SuperDome (18,200). The arena is also the third largest venue ever used in the NBL behind Sydney and the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne (15,400).

In 2024, Perth Arena became the grand final host venue of the NBL1 West.[24][25]

Tennis

[edit]

On 2 January 2019, a record crowd of 14,064 attended the venue for the 2019 Hopman Cup match between United States and Switzerland.[26] This was also the highest attendance for a tennis match in Western Australian history. The stadium hosted the Hopman Cup until the tournament switched to using different host countries after 2019. It was chosen by Tennis Australia to host the 2019 Fed Cup Final between Australia and France.[27] Since 2020 the arena has been one of three Australian venues to host ties in the multi-nation ATP Cup tournament. In 2022 it was one of three venues to host the multi-nation mixed-team United Cup tournament.[28]

Boxing

[edit]

George Kambosos and Vasily Lomachenko fought for the vacant IBF lightweight title, and Kambosos' IBO title, at Perth Arena on 12 May 2024. Lomachenko was crowned the new unified champion by eleventh round technical knockout.

Mixed martial arts

[edit]

The UFC hosted UFC 221: Romero vs. Rockhold at Perth Arena on February 11, 2018.[29] The promotion returned to the arena five years later for UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski on February 12, 2023.[30] The UFC held UFC 305: du Plessis vs. Adesanya at Perth Arena on August 18, 2024.[31] The arena hosted UFC Fight Night: Ulberg vs. Reyes on September 28, 2025.[32]

Netball

[edit]

Netball was first played at the arena on 27 April 2013, when home team the West Coast Fever lost 49–58 to the Melbourne Vixens in the ANZ Championship. The Fever has continued to play occasional matches at the venue over the years, sharing fixtures with the smaller Perth High Performance Centre. Ahead of the 2018 season, the club shifted all home matches to Perth Arena. The crowd of 13,722 at the 2018 Super Netball Grand Final was a domestic-league record.[33]

The first international netball test was played at Perth Arena on 30 October 2015 between Australia and New Zealand in the final test of the Constellation Cup.[34]

Professional wrestling

[edit]

American professional wrestling company WWE hosted their Premium Live Event Crown Jewel on Saturday, 11 October 2025.[35]. As well as Friday Night Smackdown on Friday, 10 October and Monday Night Raw on Monday, 13 October. The attendance total for three days was announced as 40,503.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Perth Arena

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
RAC Arena, formerly known as Perth Arena, is a multi-purpose indoor arena located at 700 Wellington Street in Perth, Western Australia. Opened in November 2012, the venue features a capacity of 15,500 and a design inspired by the Eternity Puzzle with nine unique façades. It serves primarily as a host for live entertainment, including concerts by major artists such as Elton John and Celine Dion, and sports events. The arena is the home venue for the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL) and the West Coast Fever of Super Netball. Notable achievements include setting the NBL all-time season attendance record in 2019 and the Australian domestic netball game attendance record in 2018. It has also hosted international competitions such as the ATP Cup and UFC events. Construction costs escalated to $548.7 million AUD due to contractual disputes and delays, marking a significant overrun from the initial $483 million budget. Managed by Venues West, a Western Australian government entity, RAC Arena has accommodated over 700 major events in its first decade.

History

Planning and urban renewal context

The Perth Arena was conceived as the flagship component of the Perth City Link project, a Western Australian state government initiative launched in the mid-2000s to revitalize a 13.5-hectare underutilized precinct in the central business district (CBD) and Northbridge areas. This renewal effort addressed longstanding urban fragmentation caused by the elevated Perth-Fremantle railway viaduct, constructed in the 1960s, and the adjacent Mitchell Freeway, which had severed pedestrian connectivity between the CBD's commercial core and Northbridge's cultural and entertainment zones, resulting in isolated land parcels with limited mixed-use potential. The project's core strategy involved submerging approximately 1.8 kilometers of railway track underground over a three-year period starting in 2012, freeing surface land for redevelopment while integrating new transport infrastructure, public spaces, and high-density developments including residential, retail, and office buildings. Planning for the arena specifically stemmed from assessments of the aging , a 1988 facility with a capacity of around 6,000 that lacked modern amenities and flexible configurations for contemporary , prompting calls for replacement amid growing demand for large-scale indoor venues in Perth's expanding metropolitan population of over 2 million by the 2000s. In 2006, the state government committed funding under the Royalties for Regions program, allocating an initial $500 million for the arena as a catalyst to anchor the broader City Link regeneration, with site selection on Wellington Street leveraging the rail-sinking works to position the venue atop future underground tracks for seamless urban integration. This approach prioritized economic multipliers, projecting the arena to stimulate adjacent private investments exceeding $1 billion and enhance nightlife vibrancy in an area previously dominated by parking lots and light industrial uses. The framework emphasized evidence-based , drawing on principles to foster pedestrian-oriented precincts and reduce , with the arena's development timeline aligned to precede rail works for minimal disruption, reflecting a phased master plan approved in that anticipated completion of key elements by 2015. reports highlighted the initiative's role in countering Perth's historical suburban sprawl by concentrating activity in the core, supported by feasibility studies demonstrating net positive returns through increased and local , though early phases faced logistical challenges from coordinating public-private partnerships amid fluctuating costs.

Design and construction phase

The Perth Arena project was announced by the Western Australian government in September 2005, with an initial budget of A$160 million and a targeted opening in January 2009 to host the tennis event. The design phase was led by a between ARM and Cameron Chisholm Nicol (CCN), drawing inspiration from the —a 12-sided geometric challenge by Christopher Monckton—as well as local landmarks like the Round House in and Renaissance urban ideals. This resulted in an angular façade composed of interlocking "puzzle piece" elements symbolizing Western Australian icons, such as a horse's head, sailing boat, and mining equipment, overlaid with a blue canopy in . Key features included a operable in 14 minutes, natural ventilation systems, and sustainable elements like photovoltaic arrays and water-sensitive landscaping, though initial design scoping was incomplete, leading to unpriced changes that increased state risk under a "construct only" contract model. Construction commenced in June 2007, awarded to BGC Construction as the primary contractor. By December 2009, the project was three months behind schedule, with costs escalating to A$483 million due to factors including a major redesign relocating the car park underground (adding A$54 million) and inadequate in tendering and . Further delays and penalties of A$45,000 per day accrued against BGC for overruns, culminating in a contractual dispute over design-induced claims. The government settled with BGC in December 2011, finalizing the budget at A$548.7 million after negotiations addressed prior unpriced variations and reduced some claims by over A$100 million. support from WSP included mechanical, electrical, , , and services. The arena was completed and opened on 10 November 2012, three years later than originally planned.

Opening and initial operations

Perth Arena officially opened to the public on 10 November 2012, following delays in construction and a total project cost exceeding initial estimates. The venue's inaugural gala event featured a performance by and his band, marking the start of operations managed by . This opening aligned with the arena's role as the first phase of the Perth City Link project, connecting Northbridge to the Perth via new infrastructure. Initial operations commenced with a series of high-profile events, including concerts by and during the opening week. The team played their first game at the arena in November , drawing an attendance of 11,000 spectators and establishing it as the home venue for National Basketball League matches. Within months of opening, the facility hosted over a dozen major events, leveraging its 15,000-seat capacity for sports and concerts, though early programming focused heavily on to build operational momentum. The arena's debut year saw approximately 3 million visitors across more than 350 events by later counts, but initial operations emphasized testing technical systems like the and acoustic configurations during these flagship performances. announcements highlighted the opening as a for Perth's infrastructure, replacing the outdated and aiming to attract international acts previously deterred by limited facilities.

Facilities and technical specifications

Architectural design and engineering

The architectural design of Perth Arena, now known as RAC Arena, was led by ARM Architecture in collaboration with Cameron Chisholm Nicol (CCN). The structure features a distinctive geometric form inspired by Christopher Monckton's , approximating an irregular with nine unique façades clad in Reynaers aluminum systems. This puzzle-like configuration, combined with a prominent horse-head entrance referencing the historic Round House, integrates the arena into Perth's urban fabric as the initial phase of Northbridge-Central redevelopment. A key engineering feature is the , engineered to open in seven minutes and permit into the main bowl, enhancing flexibility for diverse events. The building employs a composite and frame, supported by a 25,000 m² raft foundation varying from 0.75 to 1.5 meters in thickness for the car park. , including facade and fire safety systems, was handled by , while BG&E provided specialized facade structural analysis and engineering. Mechanical, electrical, and , alongside and lighting consultancy, were delivered by WSP, incorporating natural ventilation strategies. services, encompassing drainage treatment, bulk earthworks, and service diversions, were managed by amid site remediation challenges. The roof structure utilizes a complex matrix of trusses, featuring two primary mega-trusses spanning the arena bowl to support the requirements. These elements collectively enable a 15,500-seat capacity with adaptable configurations for sports and entertainment.

Capacity, amenities, and infrastructure

RAC Arena features a flexible seating configuration with a maximum capacity of 15,500 patrons, varying by event type and setup; for instance, games hosted by the typically accommodate around 14,000 seated spectators, while and end-stage configurations can reach up to 15,000 including floor standing areas. events are configured for approximately 13,910 seats to optimize court visibility and space. The venue's design allows for end-stage, center-stage, and in-the-round layouts, with record attendances including 14,152 for a UFC event in August 2024 and 13,908 for a Super Netball grand final in July 2022. Amenities include five dedicated function rooms such as the Reveley Room, Granite Room, and Indigo Room, suitable for corporate events and pre-show gatherings, alongside the RAC Local Lounge and Backstage with areas for premium experiences. A ground-floor café and bar operate during events and non-event periods, providing food and beverage services, while the main arena offers tiered seating with improved sightlines and comfort features like cushioned seats in select zones. amenities encompass dedicated ACROD parking bays adjacent to the mobility entrance on Milligan Street, equipped with lifts for users, and companion seating options throughout the venue. Infrastructure highlights a fully retractable roof enabling all-weather operations, state-of-the-art acoustic engineering for optimal sound distribution, integrated video screens, and LED lighting systems. The five-level superstructure includes a basement car park with 680 bays, operating on a cashless flat rate of $30 per event, accessible via Milligan or Market Streets. Located at 700 Wellington Street in Perth's central business district, the arena benefits from extensive public transport integration, including nearby train stations on the Transperth network and bus routes, as well as an upgraded cycle path along its western boundary for pedestrian and bike access.

Naming rights and management

Evolution of naming rights

Perth Arena commenced operations on 10 December 2012 without a commercial agreement, maintaining its original geographic designation as a state-owned facility focused on accessibility rather than . The venue retained this non-commercial name for its first six years, during which no sponsorship deals for primary naming were pursued or announced by the Western Australian Government or venue operators. In June 2018, the Government initiated the sale of to generate revenue, announcing an agreement with the Royal Automobile Club of (RAC), a member-owned motoring organization, for approximately $10 million over five years. The deal was finalized on 19 August 2018, renaming the venue RAC Arena effective 1 September 2018, marking the first such corporate sponsorship in its history and aligning with the government's pledge to secure at least $10.5 million from across major venues including Perth Arena. The five-year term concluded in August 2023, after which the venue has continued to operate under the RAC Arena designation, with no verified public disclosures of termination, renewal, or alternative sponsorship as of October 2025.

Ownership, operators, and funding model

The RAC Arena (formerly Perth Arena) is owned by VenuesWest, a statutory authority established under the VenuesWest Act 2010 and wholly owned by the , acting on behalf of the state. VenuesWest holds title to the asset as part of its portfolio of 14 major sporting and entertainment venues, with ownership structured to ensure public control and alignment with state economic development objectives in areas like Northbridge. Operational management is contracted to ASM Global, a global venue management firm, which handles day-to-day functions including event booking, facility maintenance, security, and guest services under a long-term agreement with VenuesWest. ASM Global assumed these responsibilities following the 2019 merger of its predecessor, , with SMG, and continued operations after Legends' acquisition of ASM Global in August 2024, which integrated additional expertise in fan experience and monetization without altering the core management contract. The funding model combines upfront public investment with ongoing commercial revenues to achieve operational self-sufficiency. Construction, commencing in 2007, was financed entirely by the state budget, with an initial contract value of A$335 million awarded to BGC Construction, escalating to A$548.7 million by completion in 2011 due to resolved contractual disputes over changes and ; the project was delivered debt-free to avoid long-term fiscal burdens. Recurrent operations rely on diversified income streams, including ticket sales, food and beverage concessions, premium seating, sponsorships, and —such as the 2018 five-year deal with the Royal Automobile Club of valued at approximately A$10 million—which collectively offset maintenance, staffing, and capital upgrade costs while returning surpluses to the state treasury. VenuesWest's broader portfolio model emphasizes revenue generation from high-occupancy events to subsidize lower-utilization periods, with subsidies minimal and targeted at renewals rather than core operations.

Events and usage

Entertainment and concerts

RAC Arena has hosted over 228 concerts in its first decade of operation since opening in 2012, establishing itself as Perth's primary indoor venue for live music performances ranging from international rock legends to contemporary pop acts and family-oriented shows. The arena's debut concert featured Sir Elton John on November 10, 2012, drawing a near-capacity crowd for a 25-song set that marked the venue's launch amid rainy conditions, with a second show following on November 12. This event set a precedent for the arena's role in attracting global artists, supported by its flexible staging and acoustics designed for up to 15,000 attendees in end-stage concert configurations. Notable performances include on October 29, 2014, delivering high-energy rock despite personal tragedies delaying the tour; Prince's intimate solo piano show on February 25, 2016, as part of one of his final tours; and Kanye West's on September 5, 2014, which attracted 12,000 fans with its theatrical masked presentation. Other highlights encompass Bruce Springsteen's politically themed set on January 22, 2017; Fleetwood Mac's classics-driven performance on August 9, 2019; and Midnight Oil's farewell gig on September 25, 2022, attended by 11,000 spectators and featuring onstage protests. The venue has also accommodated multiple residencies, such as P!nk's eight shows and ' 16 performances, catering to diverse audiences including families. Attendance for major concerts often approaches the venue's 13,000–15,000 capacity for music events, with sell-outs common for acts like in 2014 and Tame Impala's immersive hometown show in 2022. Post-COVID reopening featured on May 22, 2021, with 5,000 attendees under capacity restrictions, underscoring the arena's adaptability amid health protocols. These events contribute to the venue's broader draw of six million total patrons across all programming in its initial ten years.

Sports events

RAC Arena has been the home venue for the of the National Basketball League (NBL) since its opening in December 2012, hosting the team's regular season home games and playoffs. The Wildcats have played numerous matches there, including high-attendance games such as their 2025 season fixtures against teams like the and . The arena serves as the primary home court for the West Coast Fever in Suncorp Super Netball, accommodating their league matches since 2013. Notable games include their 2025 season encounters, with crowds reaching a record 12,813 for a home game. Internationally, RAC Arena has hosted major tennis tournaments, featuring temporary hard courts for events like the from 2013 to 2019, the , and the annually since 2023. These competitions have drawn top-ranked players from nations including , the , and various European countries, contributing to the venue's reputation for elite indoor sports. Other basketball events, such as Grand Finals, have also been staged at the arena, expanding its role in regional sports competitions.

Controversies and criticisms

Cost overruns and contractual disputes

The Perth Arena project, initially budgeted at A$160 million when announced by the Western Australian Labor government in September 2005, experienced significant cost escalations, reaching A$483 million by 2009 and ultimately A$548.7 million upon completion in 2012. This overrun exceeded the original estimate by more than three times, attributed primarily to design changes, inadequate initial planning, and contractual complexities inherited from the prior administration. A key factor in the delays and additional expenses was a major contractual dispute between the state government and primary contractor BGC Construction, which refused to pay daily liquidated damages of A$45,000 for failing to meet completion milestones. The dispute centered on claims related to design modifications imposed by the previous Labor government, leading to protracted negotiations; Premier Colin Barnett's Liberal-National administration publicly blamed the ALP for "poor planning and terrible contract decisions" that complicated resolution. Settlement was reached in December 2011, incorporating A$65.7 million in additional claims, which finalized the budget at A$548.7 million without further escalation. The Western Australian Auditor General's 2010 report highlighted systemic management failings, including insufficient during the project's early alliance contracting phase and over-reliance on optimistic cost projections, contributing to the overruns and a three-year delay from the original 2010 opening target. commenced in 2008 under a valued at approximately A$168 million, but variations and claims amplified costs, underscoring broader challenges in Australian projects where overruns often stem from scope changes and inefficiencies. No evidence of or was identified in official s, though the episode drew criticism for eroding public trust in processes.

Public and design critiques

The angular, puzzle-inspired exterior of Perth Arena, designed by ARM Architecture in collaboration with CCN Architects, has proven divisive since its completion in 2012. Architects praised its innovative form and experiential qualities, awarding it the Award for Public Architecture at the 2013 Australian Institute of Architects National Awards for embodying a "fearless" post-modernist complexity that draws from puzzles, historic buildings, and public interaction. Public reception, however, has frequently highlighted aesthetic shortcomings, with many residents decrying the structure as an eyesore due to its misshapen, geometric appearance resembling a "melted " or a "geometric sheep shed." Urban commentators have noted that "many would call the Perth Arena the worst building in Perth," attributing this to its unresolved angularity and lack of harmony with surrounding urban fabric. Visitor reviews and local discourse often describe the facade as polarizing, evoking both intrigue and repulsion, with some appreciating its boldness as a departure from bland while others view it as an ill-fitting, industrial mishmash that dominates the unflatteringly. These sentiments persist despite the arena's functional interior successes, underscoring a gap between professional acclaim for conceptual experimentation and broader public preference for more conventional architectural coherence.

Impact and reception

Economic contributions and achievements

The RAC Arena has bolstered the Western Australian economy through substantial visitor inflows from major events, generating direct and indirect spending in , retail, and sectors. In the 2022–2023 financial year, the venue accommodated 667,037 patrons across sports and programming, contributing to VenuesWest's aggregate self-generated revenue of $202.66 million from operations including ticket sales and venue hires. High-profile gatherings, such as on February 11, 2023, exemplified this impact by drawing 14,100 attendees—with 63% from interstate—yielding a $42.8 million economic injection, including $13.8 million in wages that sustained 233 jobs and $910,000 in associated taxes. Event-driven tourism has amplified these effects, with record-breaking ticket sales at RAC Arena for UFC bouts surpassing prior benchmarks and channeling out-of-state expenditure into local businesses. Broader blockbuster programming at Perth's key venues, encompassing RAC Arena, generated $286 million in statewide economic activity during 2023–2024, of which $184 million stemmed from major events fostering sustained demand for ancillary services. Operational achievements further underscore fiscal viability, including 91% ratings that support repeat visitation and revenue stability, alongside public recognition as Australia's top indoor arena in venue awards. These metrics reflect the arena's efficacy in leveraging for multiplier effects, where initial event expenditures circulate through supply chains, enhancing long-term regional prosperity without reliance on disproportionate subsidies post-construction.

Long-term value assessment

The RAC Arena, originally constructed at a final cost of A$548.7 million after significant overruns from an initial estimate of approximately A$157 million, has demonstrated sustained operational viability since its opening in December 2012. Managed by the state-owned VenuesWest corporation, the arena's long-term value derives primarily from consistent high-volume event hosting, which supports ancillary economic activity in , , and , though comprehensive cost-benefit analyses remain limited. In the financial year 2022–2023, it recorded of 667,037 visitors across sports, concerts, and other events, with at 91%, indicating robust demand and repeat usage that underpins indirect returns through local business stimulation. Financially, the venue operates within VenuesWest's broader portfolio, which generated self-earned revenue of A$202.7 million against costs of A$309.0 million in 2022–2023, reflecting typical subsidized operations for public infrastructure where direct profitability is offset by (A$76.7 million) and employee expenses (A$74.8 million). Landmark events, such as in February 2023, achieved record sporting attendance of 14,124 and highest single-event ticket sales in the arena's history, amplifying economic multipliers from visitor spending. Major events hosted at VenuesWest facilities, including RAC Arena, contributed to a A$286 million economic injection for in 2023–2024 via and related sectors, though attribution to the arena specifically is not isolated in available assessments. Long-term assessments highlight the arena's role in enhancing Perth's appeal as an events destination, with ongoing investments in upgrades—such as for the —aimed at preserving asset value (revalued at A$489.7 million in 2023) and future-proofing against obsolescence. While initial planning flaws led to delays and escalated , post-completion performance suggests positive net societal returns through job creation and regional prestige, evidenced by awards like Best Indoor Arena in 2024 (47% vote share), without documented evidence of underutilization or operational failure over its first decade. Absent independent, peer-reviewed ROI modeling, value judgments rely on empirical metrics like sustained and event-driven GDP contributions rather than pure fiscal recoupment, aligning with causal patterns observed in comparable multi-purpose venues where funding prioritizes broader externalities over accounting.

References

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  41. https://greenstreetnews.com/article/bgc-wins-335m-perth-arena-project/
  42. https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Carpenter%2520Labor%2520Government/%2527Debt-free%2527-Perth-Arena-reaches-major-milestone-20080726
  43. https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/4010805a2d3f0d6205fe72e5482581b5002a46f2/%24file/805.pdf
  44. https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/rac-arenas-10th-anniversary-the-10-most-memorable-concerts-hosted-by-the-venue--c-8733945
  45. https://www.setlist.fm/venue/perth-arena-perth-australia-73d76aa5.html
  46. https://www.wildcats.com.au/schedule
  47. https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/rac-arena/events
  48. https://westcoastfever.com.au/
  49. https://www.racarena.com.au/events/sporting-events-perth/
  50. https://www.nbl.com.au/news/rac-arena-to-host-nbl1-blockbusters
  51. https://www.theage.com.au/national/western-australia/perth-arena-cost-blows-out-to-548-7-million-20111228-1pc74.html
  52. https://www.irbnet.de/daten/iconda/CIB_DC27432.pdf
  53. https://www.smh.com.au/national/barnett-blames-alp-for-perth-arena-mess-20110704-1gy0d.html
  54. https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Barnett%2520Liberal%2520National%2520Government/Settlement-reached-on-Perth-Arena-20111228
  55. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-03-10/cost-overruns-at-perth-arena-criticised/358812
  56. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-03-10/failings-found-on-perth-arena-project/360098
  57. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/%2528ASCE%2529CO.1943-7862.0000575
  58. https://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/perth-arena-wins-national-public-architecture-award/news-story/6a9237056b36b5498a0a9dc74f9ffaba
  59. https://architectureau.com/articles/arm-architecture-building-the-impossible-and-making-a-culture/
  60. https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/nov/03/urbanist-guide-perth
  61. https://www.reddit.com/r/perth/comments/1mk620i/they_really_couldnt_have_made_it_any_uglier_if/
  62. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g255103-d3609662-Reviews-or20-RAC_Arena-Perth_Greater_Perth_Western_Australia.html
  63. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g255103-d3609662-r223663614-RAC_Arena-Perth_Greater_Perth_Western_Australia.html
  64. https://www.venueswest.wa.gov.au/docs/default-source/venueswest/venueswest/corporate-publications/vw_annual_report2022-2023.pdf?sfvrsn=f14c8d14_5
  65. https://us.ufcespanol.com/news/ufc-284-delivers-428m-boost-western-australia-economy
  66. https://www.ausleisure.com.au/news/blockbusters-at-perth-venues-contribute-to-286-million-boost-for-western-australian-economy
  67. https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/4113294a29f2b32a6d5093a448258bb800165923/%24file/tp%2B3294%2B%282024%29%2Bvenueswest%2B2023-24%2Bannual%2Breport%2Bfinal%2B-%2Be-copy.pdf
  68. https://www.ausleisure.com.au/news/ufc-284-event-sets-new-sporting-event-attendance-record-for-perths-rac-arena
  69. https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook%2520Labor%2520Government/Events-boom-generates-a-record-%2524286-million-for-WA-economy-20241020
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