Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) is a convention centre in Brisbane, Australia. It is located in South Brisbane and occupies most of the block formed by Grey Street, Melbourne Street, Merivale Street, and Glenelg Street. The centre is owned by South Bank Corporation and managed by Legends Global.

History

alt=Exhibition Halls, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre|thumb|left|Exhibition Halls, 2012

alt=Boulevard Auditorium, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre |thumb|left|Boulevard Auditorium, 2012

Designed by COX Architecture, the BCEC was constructed by Leighton Contractors, beginning in March 1993 with the demolition of World Expo Park. Prior to Expo, the site was home to the South Brisbane Interstate Station. The building cost $170 million (equivalent to $ million in ), and was mostly funded by the Queensland Government's sale of a casino license, with the remainder funded directly by the government.

On 1 June 2021, around 150 protesters converged on the centre to protest the Land Forces convention. Fake blood was spread over the stairs and pavement outside the centre. Seven arrests were made. It was the largest hub set up in Queensland.

Expansion

The design of an expansion to BCEC on Grey Street was approved in 2007. The project was completed in early 2012, The complex roof design is based on five hyperbolic paraboloids.

The centre was selected as the hosting venue for the 2014 G-20 Australia summit.

The world’s largest and most influential HIV sciences conference was held at the centre from 23 to 26 July 2023.

Sports

{|class="wikitable" style="float:left; margin-right:1em;"

! colspan="3"|Tenants

|-

|align="left"|Brisbane Bullets

|align="center"|NBL

|align="right"|1998–2008, 2016–19

|-

|align="left"|Queensland Firebirds

|align="center"|ANZ/NNL

|align="right"|2008–17

|-

|align="left"|Gold Coast Blaze

|align="center"|NBL

|align="right"|2011–12

|-

|}

From 1998 until 2008, the BCEC Great Hall was the home of three times National Basketball League (NBL) champions the Brisbane Bullets. The Bullets moved from the previous home, the 13,500 seat Brisbane Entertainment Centre, due in part to dwindling crowds and the cost of playing out of the Boondall based stadium. During the 2011-12 NBL season the Gold Coast Blaze played two home games at the centre.

The Convention Centre was also the home to the Brisbane-based netball side the Queensland Firebirds from 2008 to 2017. The Firebirds were a foundation club of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy (CBT) in 1997 and played at the 2,700 seat Chandler Arena. When the CBT was retired in 2007 and the ANZ Championship took its place the Firebirds moved to the new championship and also moved into the larger Convention Centre, becoming the venue's second major tenant alongside the Bullets. The team moved home games to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre after the 2017 season.

Awards

The Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre was recognized as the World's Best Convention Centre by the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC) from 2016 to 2018.

See also

  • Queensland Cultural Centre

References

  • Cultural Centre Busway Station map - includes surrounding area - pdf file