MESSAGE FROM PETER KING

As Sydney creeps into cooler months, things are just starting to heat up at Sydney Showground.

I'm a relative newcomer to the Showground and what continues to strike me is the sheer variety and scope of events which take place every day in our different venues.

We have an exciting line-up of events happening over the upcoming months - this edition of Eventful Thinking highlights just a few.

The Sydney Olympic Park precinct continues to develop and grow around us, and visitors to our events now have more food, accommodation, facilities and transport options than ever before.

And with our own redevelopment plans just around the corner things have never looked brighter for Sydney Showground.

If you'd like to come and check out our facilities for yourselves, please contact our Business Development team today.

Peter King

Chief Executive, Royal Agricultural Society NSW

COME AND SEE US AT THE AUSTRALIAN EVENTS EXPO

The Australian Events Expo is an exciting expo for the business, corporate, association, incentive and festival events industry.

You’re invited to come along and meet the team on the Sydney Showground stand during the expo.

We’d be delighted to provide you with a quote on your upcoming event, to arrange a site tour of our unique venues, or simply to chat about Sydney Showground’s facilities and upcoming developments.

And if we quote on your upcoming event, you’ll receive a free Sydney Showground USB flash drive.

For more information on the Australian Events Expo, and to register to attend, click here.

Where: Stand E15, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, enter via Hall 1
When:  Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 May

HIS HOLNESS THE DALAI LAMA - STAGES OF MEDITATION

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama returns to Australia to deliver teachings in Sydney Showground's iconic venue, the Dome, from 11 - 15 June.

Over the course of five days, 7,000 ticket-holders are expected to fill the Dome for the rare opportunity to hear why meditation is so important to Buddhism and to learn the art and practice of meditation from the Dalai Lama himself. 

For further information, please click here.

WIN $1500 HARVEY WORLD TRAVEL CREDIT!

Congratulations to Julie McGraw from GEMS Pty Ltd. Julie is the lucky winner of Sydney Showground's February promotion, receiving a $1500 Harvey World Travel voucher.

To go into the draw for our May promotion simply visit our website from 1 May to register you interest in receiving information from Sydney Showground, letting us know the dates of your upcoming events.

If you're our next winner you'll have $1500 to spend with Harvey World Travel, choosing when and where you travel, where you stay and more.

VOLKSWAGEN LAUNCH NEW CADDY MAXI VAN

In April, the Howie Pavilion at Sydney Showground was the venue for the launch of the new Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Van.

Over two days, media and car dealers were brought to the venue to hear seminars on individual vehicles and to get behind the wheels for a drive program.

The event, which was organised by George P. Johnson, made the most of the scale of Sydney Showground and the scope of our outdoor space. One of the main roads in and around the Showground was closed whilst the guests took the new cars for a spin.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE MAIN ARENA

Located at the centre of Sydney Showground, the Main Arena is an excellent open area which can be used for an array of impressive events. From corporate team building activities to outdoor concerts, sporting events and corporate hosting events... this venue is only limited by your imagination.

The Arena has three seating levels in the grandstand and tiered grass banks which can seat up to 15,000 for sporting events.

For an open-air concert the Arena can cater for up to 30,000 ticket-holders.

Create a day to remember for staff at your corporate team building event. Our special features include the ability to display your company logo and alternating messages on the electronic scoreboard.

On a smaller scale the Main Arena's breathtaking function rooms are situated on the corporate level of the Main Arena Grandstand. The rooms are ideal for corporate breakfasts, lunches or dinners, cocktail parties and small seminars.

For further information on the many uses for this impressive venue, contact our Business Development team today on 02 9704 1263 or sales@sydneyshowground.com.au.

BLUE PALM TREE MARKETS

The all new Pacific Island style Market for Sydney will take place at Sydney Showground - filled with fun, colour, music, dance, island treats and plenty of market bargains every weekend.

The Markets start on Saturday 3 May and will take place every Saturday through to September from 9am to 4pm.

Come along and celebrate the cultures of Maori, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Australia (Aboriginals), Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Hawaii, and all the Pacific Island countries.

Highlights will include colourful market stalls, live music and cultural performances.

THE DOME DEBUTS AS THE GLADIATOR ARENA

Sydney Showground’s signature venue, The Dome, was drilled, rigged and transformed from a 7,200 square metre, pillar-less space, into an impressive ‘Gladiator Dome’ for Channel 7’s series of Gladiator.

A six month long project from initial business development plans to final bump-out, Gladiators – a dual live production and television program – was an all encompassing assignment for the Sydney Showground team. The project required finite planning and preparation to ensure an aesthetically-appealing production, whilst maintaining the safety of all personnel and meeting structural guidelines.

“The sheer size of the Gladiator project was quite amazing, but the results – as you can see on your TV – were well worth it.

"Everything from logistical preparation to catering requirements had to be carefully planned, implemented and reviewed to ensure we were using the best possible procedures for each filming session,” said Kim Seccombe, Manager, Event Planning and Delivery, Sydney Showground.

SUPANOVA 2008 POP CULTURE EXPO

The Supanova 2008 pop culture expo blasts into Sydney Showground's Dome on June 21 and 22 with a great line-up of stars from films, TV shows, gaming, animation, comic-books, sci-fi, fantasy, wrestling and more.

Featuring one of the world’s hottest celebrities, Hayden Panettiere, the “Cheerleader” from Heroes, she joins Morena Baccarin (Serenity & Stargate SG-1), Mark Sheppard (Bionic Woman & Battlestar Galactica), Daniel Logan (“Boba Fett” from Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones) and the iconic Nichelle Nichols (“Uhura” from Star Trek) who has joined the cast of Heroes.

To celebrate, Supanova are giving away photos and posters signed by the stars. To enter the draw simply email sydney2008comp@supanova.com.au with 'Sydney Showground competition' as the subject line.