The Darling Harbour Live consortium is a public private partnership between the NSW government and Lendlease, Hostplus, Capella Capital, AEG Ogden and Spotless FM. ICC Sydney will be operated by AEG Ogden.

Busy calendar

Before the first day of operation in December, the ICC Sydney team has a series of 24 test events to trial staff and systems.

The Pure Gold concert on December 23 has already been announced for ICC Sydney but a host of other concerts, exhibitions and sporting events will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

On the convention front, more than 40 are confirmed for the period 2017-2026, including one of the world's premier financial services events, Sibos.

A host of exhibitions and national association and corporate events will also be heading to ICC Sydney.

Estimates are ICC Sydney could generate at least $5 billion in economic benefit to the state over the next 25 years.

Broader benefits


A major convention can be a huge boost to a city's economy. Chief executive of ICC Sydney Geoff Donaghy says conferences, exhibitions and other business events attract visitors who can spend up to six more times than leisure tourists.

"However there is a wealth of international research that proves the value of business events goes beyond dollars to wider opportunities such as professional development," says Donaghy, including the dissemination of new ideas and networking.

"Convention centres play an important role here as the conduit for such benefits and the interface between tourism and the knowledge economies."

NSW chief scientist and engineer, Mary O'Kane, says conventions mean delegates get to hear the latest research developments from around the world.From those formal and informal meetings, discussions can develop which may lead to investment.

Visitor economy

Managing director Tourism Australia John O'Sullivan says another major attraction of conventions is that delegates often later return for personal travel.

"Sydney has long been a major gateway for business event travellers to Australia and having a venue of the calibre of the ICC Sydney will not only act as an important drawcard for winning events for the city but also for Australia as a destination," says O'Sullivan, which could then see visitors head to other Australian tourist attractions like the Great Barrier Reef.

Chief executive of the Tourism and Transport Forum Margy Osmond says ICC Sydney will be a key feature of Australia's visitor economy. There is currently a parallel expansion in high-quality accommodation in the city.

"International exhibitions and business events are a lucrative but increasingly competitive sector. The new ICC Sydney will ensure that we position Australia's global city as a reinvigorated business event destination in the Asia-Pacific, " says Osmond.

"Sydney's western harbour, including Darling Harbour, Pyrmont and Barangaroo, precincts that are being transformed before our eyes, will be major drawcards for domestic and international visitors, holiday makers and business delegates for decades."