The Coldplay extravaganza kickstarts one of the biggest summers for sporting and entertainment events in Perth, with some 900,0000 people expected to flock to Optus Stadium and RAC Arena over the next few months to get their fix.
On the back of 120,000 people packing Optus to rock along to Coldplay this weekend, almost 500,000 people are expected to head to the stadium this summer to see Australia take on Pakistan, watch BBL games, cheer on the WWE wrestling extravaganza, and listen to Pink perform.
RAC Arena is expecting about 265,000 fans to go through the doors this summer to watch acts from the Wiggles, Blink 182 and Matchbox Twenty, to the United Cup featuring tennis legend Novak Djokovic.
WA Premier Roger Cook said Perth’s proximity to Asia meant the State had a unique opportunity to attract big acts, such as Coldplay.
“While in the past, certain acts have left Perth off their Australian tours, what we are seeing here is a unique opportunity given Western Australia’s proximity to Asia, which means it’s easy to add Perth onto an Asian tour,” Mr Cook said.
“This is a successful template for what will hopefully be something we’ll see more of in the future, especially given Perth is closer to Jakarta than we are to Sydney.
“Hopefully Coldplay’s hugely successful visit and sold-out shows will see more major acts concentrate on Perth by linking our city and our State into Asian tours.”
Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti said WA was gaining a reputation as the “Western Gateway to Australia”.
“The band themselves came out and said the reason they came to Perth instead of Sydney was due to our close proximity to Asia, to save on fuel and create less pollution,” Ms Saffioti said.
“Our Government is delivering on our ambition to become the fastest-growing events’ destination in the South East Asian region, and this Coldplay exclusive has only added to our increasing list of credentials in landing and delivering these major blockbuster events.
Optus Stadium’s Chief Executive Officer Mike McKenna said this summer was shaping as the stadium’s “biggest ever”.
He said WWE extravaganza Elimination Chamber on February 24 was something fans would never forget.
“If you imagine the biggest entertainment shows in the world, WWE has to be right at the top of the list,” Mr McKenna said.
“Not a regular WWE show, the Elimination Chamber is the final step on the journey to WrestleMania, wrestling’s grand final. The eyes of millions of WWE fans all around the globe will be on this event and Perth.
It will be the first time a WWE Premium Live Event has been held in WA, and only the second time the worldwide phenomenon has hosted a televised Premium Live Event in Australia.
He said thousands of “out-of-State fans” were expected to travel to Perth to witness their favourite WWE superstars live.
“Perth people are fans of the big stadium events, and it is expected that those with, normally, less interest in wrestling will also want to be part of the live entertainment experience that is WWE,” Mr McKenna said.
“The event will be broadcast live to WWE’s extensive global audience, including 180 countries in more than 25 languages, and available in more than one billion homes. It will be the largest event broadcast of an event at Optus Stadium. “
Mr McKenna said the recent announcement that reigning WWE United States Champion Logan Paul will be returning to Perth for the Elimination Chamber has added to the anticipation.