Its construction was a $550 million nightmare and its design has been likened to crushed beer can.



But the innovative Perth Arena has been named as one of the world's top entertainment venues, ahead of iconic venues including New York's Madison Square Garden and London's Wembley Arena.



Almost half a million tickets for events at the arena were sold in 2013 - a long way from the at-times farcical construction of the building which slipped $323 million after a series of blunders.

That meant that respected live music industry magazine Pollstar ranked the venue as number 22 in the world's top 200 popular venues.



The best-attended arena in the world was the O2 in London, which last year topped 2.12 million attendants.



"This venue has placed Perth on the international touring map, and is now a must-play destination," sport and recreation minister Terry Waldron said.



Artists coming to the Arena in 2014 include Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Michael Buble, Bruno Mars and Dolly Parton.



AAP