A two-hour package of the show was screened in the US on Fox Networks, Sky in the UK and TVNZ in New Zealand, while Channel 7 replayed the show in Australia a week later. Venues NSW - the government agency that owns ANZ Stadium on behalf of the NSW Government - provided Sydney’s Olympic stadium free of charge for the event, and the Stadium itself offered up proceeds from food and beverage sales on the day to the bushfire relief funds. Stadium staff, along with concert and TV broadcast production crews, worked through the night to clean, re-stock and reconfigure ANZ Stadium so that it was ready to host the 10hour Fire Fight extravaganza just hours after 70,000 fans had witnessed Queen & Adam Lambert in concert the night before. Transport for NSW, on behalf of the NSW Government, provided free public transport for all ticketholders, with more than 50,000 patrons using public transport to attend the concert. Given the focus on climate change and its role in the recent bushfire crisis, ANZ Stadium staff worked with key stakeholders on a range of environmental and sustainability initiatives. A high percentage of the 2 tonnes of rubbish collected post event was recycled. The Stadium ANZ Stadium, known generically as Stadium Australia, has hosted some of the nation’s biggest live concerts in its 21-year history, along with many of Australia’s greatest sporting events. The Fire Fight Australia concert will be the last major live concert at the venue before it undergoes a much-anticipated redevelopment from July this year, and many people recognised the significance of this magnificent concert in terms of it being an event to remember. Stadium Australia was built as the main venue for the 2000 Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games and the investment by the NSW Government is to ensure it remains the iconic venue it was built to be, capable of hosting stunning events such as Fire Fight well into the future. Before then there is still a State of Origin rugby league game, the Football for Fires charity match and other events to come
at ANZ Stadium in 2020, but there’s no doubt the Fire Fight concert will live long in the memories of everyone who was there to experience it or watched it on TV around the world. The Legacy ANZ Stadium Chief Executive, Daryl Kerry said the way the Fire Fight concert had come together in such a short time frame was a credit to the entertainment industry and the NSW Government, along with the broadcasters and his Stadium team. Kerry advised “everyone embraced the opportunity we had to do something significant to help those in need. “When we set out to help other people, our goal is to make a difference … raising $10 million will make a difference to those in need, and the Fire Fight concert also showcased the wonderful community spirit we have here in Australia and clearly also made a lot of people happy.” Noting how the agency had been incredibly proud to play a role in bringing this historic event to the community, Venues NSW Chair, Christine McLoughlin concluded “this was a truly global event, featuring international stars and beamed to a worldwide TV audience, but it was closer to home where the involvement of the Australian people really made it memorable. “At the Stadium, the community united to create an atmosphere in the precinct reminiscent of the 2000 Olympics bringing together friends, families, artists and emergency staff to show their support for each other as millions more tuned in to be a part of the action from home. “In having such a positive and unifying effect, the Fire Fight concert demonstrated the unrivalled ability of major event venues to bring people together and create a vibrancy that extends into the community, well beyond those who attend the event. “A heartfelt thank you to all who donated their talent, time and energy to this spectacular event.” Arthur Stanley is General Manager Media & Communications at VenuesLive, operator of ANZ Stadium, Sydney. Images courtesy of Emma Rothfield/ANZ Stadium.
Firefighters welcomed to the stage at the end of the concert. Courtesy of Emma Rothfield/ANZ Stadium.
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