ICC Sydney gets the green light to expand capacity

International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has  received clearance from the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Health to host up to 2,400 patrons for seated ticketed events in its Aware Super Theatre. ICC Sydney will immediately increase the theatre’s seated capacity to welcome back larger events, the first of which will be Carols in the Domain. In line with current NSW Government regulations, all ticketed events will be subject to one person per four square metres of space. In order to maintain physical distancing within the theatre, which can accommodate 8,000 seats at full capacity, tickets to events will be sold in a checkerboard seat pattern with a minimum of a two-seat gap between groups. ICC Sydney CEO, Geoff Donaghy, said: “First and foremost, this is an acknowledgement of the thorough, best practice health and safety standards we have in place here at ICC Sydney. “While the majority of our events are traditionally held in larger numbers, this announcement coupled with recent news that ICC Sydney can host uncapped exhibitions and the reopening of the NSW border to Victoria set for 23 November, provides yet more positive steps toward our path to recovery. “Our industry and the performing arts sector were two of the first and hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic and these announcements provide the critical signs we need to build confidence for our clients, their guests and other event attendees.” All events held at ICC Sydney including the Aware Super Theatre, will continue to be delivered in line with the venue’s EventSafe Operating Guide which integrates parent group ASM Global’s Venue Shield program, while meeting NSW Government regulations. To ensure the safe running of events, ICC Sydney has made operational changes to events held in the Aware Super Theatre including: patron check-in and contact information collection; reduced venue capacities and physically-distanced theatre seating; regular cleaning of high-traffic and high-touch areas with hospital-grade disinfectant; hand sanitiser stations in all paths of travel, frequently accessed areas and near bathroom facilities; and Covid-19 safety training for all operational, frontline and contract staff, as well as on-site Covid-19 Safe Hygiene Marshals. Aware Super CEO, Deanne Stewart said: “This year has been a challenging one for so many in our community, in particular the events sector. Opening the Aware Super Theatre to 2,400 people is wonderful news for the sector and the NSW community, allowing more people to enjoy live entertainment while remaining Covid safe. Welcoming back larger events to the facility with Carols in the Domain will help to lay the foundation for the Theatre to host an increased range of live events in 2021. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with ICC Sydney and to supporting the critical events and tourism sector to recover and emerge stronger from a difficult 2020. “We are certainly looking forward to staging an expanded line-up of live events to continue connecting artists with their audiences, and supporting Sydney and wider Australia’s cultural and performance community, who have had an incredibly challenging year.”