Category: News

After an outstanding 33-year career in the entertainment industry, Tim Worton, Group Director of Arenas for ASM Global (APAC), is changing pace.

Worton will step away from the industry after 25 years as part of the ASM Global family to pursue a different role, initially as a full-time student in 2025 at Moore Theological College in Sydney for 12 months, with the goal of then working in a pastoral, chaplaincy or ministry role.

A lover of music and live concerts, the veteran of thousands of stage acts and superstars insists the music will not stop when he departs at the end of 2024.

Highly regarded in the venue management and live entertainment world, he has been at the forefront of ASM Global’s live performance venues as Director of the Group’s arenas for the past 19 years.

The announcement of Worton’s career change was made during the 31st Asia Pacific Venue Industry Congress held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC).

ASM Global (APAC) Chairman and Chief Executive, Harvey Lister AM said Tim Worton would be greatly missed as Director of ASM Global’s portfolio of arenas throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

“Tim has been a great ambassador for our organisation. He has made an admirable and life changing decision to follow his faith and we applaud his decision and wish him well.

“Tim’s leadership and executive management of the arena portfolio is demonstrated by the continued growth of the Group’s arenas through innovation and ongoing development of entertainment content for audiences.”

Tim Worton thanked the company and in particular Harvey Lister and Rod Pilbeam for their ongoing support during his time at ASM Global (APAC) and for his decision of a career change.

“The company has given me amazing opportunities that I will always cherish. Harvey has been incredibly supportive of my decision to go in this vastly different direction, allowing flexibility in my role and I am very grateful for his support and encouragement. Rod has been a great mentor to me over my 25 years with ASM Global and I am indebted to him for the important role he has played in my life.”

Reflecting on the highlights during his custodianship of the ASM Global arena portfolio, Worton says they are two-fold. “Helping to ensure there is plenty of live content and the company’s arena network is operationally and financially successful is a key part of my role. What I have loved most about my career is supporting and mentoring colleagues, helping to create opportunities for future development.”

The veteran of thousands of concerts is hard pressed to choose a favourite. “An almost impossible task, if I’m forced to choose, I’d go with Bruce Springsteen.”

Tim Worton says he is incredibly excited to embark on this new journey and hopes that he is able to make a difference in his pastoral role.

Enquiries: Gail Sawyer, Group Communications Manager – ASM Global (Asia Pacific)
M: +61 439 733 509
E: gsawyer@asmglobal.com

Date published: 20 May 2024

ABOUT ASM GLOBAL

ASM Global is the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences. It is the global leader in venue and event strategy and management – delivering locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to achieve maximum results for venue owners. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 350 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X. Visit asmglobal.com

ASM GLOBAL (ASIA PACIFIC)

From its Asia Pacific regional headquarters in Brisbane, Australia, ASM Global operates a network of venues that includes:

• Entertainment and Indoor Sports Arenas – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney; RAC Arena, Perth; Brisbane Entertainment Centre; Newcastle Entertainment Centre; ICC Sydney Theatre; Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Great Hall; Cairns Arena; Bangkok Arena (under construction) and UOB Live, Bangkok; Coca Cola Arena, Dubai; Kai Tak Sports Park Indoor Arena (under construction), Hong Kong; and Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur;
• Live Performance Theatres – Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur and Bahrain;
• Convention & Exhibition Centres – Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Newcastle, Sydney, Christchurch, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Bahrain and Riyadh;
• Stadiums – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane; National Stadium at Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur; Kai Tak Sports Park Main Stadium, Hong Kong (under construction); and a part ownership of VenuesLive, the operator of Optus Stadium, Perth
• King Abdullah Financial District Conference Center, Riyadh
• Boutique Meeting Facilities in Expo City, Dubai.

For more information, visit asmglobal.com

ABOUT TEG
TEG is a global leader in Live Entertainment, Ticketing and Technology. Every day TEG connects fans to experiences and customers with brands. We are proud partners of some of the world’s largest and most iconic venues as well as leading event promoters globally. TEG operates worldwide out of seven country offices and includes Ticketek, Ticketek Marketplace, Ticketek UK, Ticketek New Zealand, Ticketek Malaysia, Ticketek Philippines, Eventopia, Softix, TEG Live, TEG Dainty, TEG Sport, TEG Van Egmond, Laneway Festival, Handsome Tours, SXSW Sydney, TEG Theatrical, MJR Presents, TEG Lifelike Touring, TEG TES Live, Brickman, TEG Rockefeller, Rugby Live, TEG Europe, Propaganda, TEG USA, Qudos Bank Arena, FAN+, VIP NOW and Ovation.

Mother’s Day is approaching, and while it’d be all-too easy to gift our mums the obvious bouquet of flowers or hundredth pair of pyjamas, the best presents are experience-based. Attending the concert of your mother’s favourite artist or sitting alongside them during a stand-up comedy set is infinitely more memorable than a new pair of socks, which is why Qudos Bank Arena has your Mother’s Day wish list sorted come the 12 of May. 

From the long-awaited return of 90s boy band favourites to the killer sets from the world’s starriest comedians, here’s all the Qudos Bank Arena events that would make perfect gifts this Mother’s Day. Earn ultimate brownie points with ticket’s to an upcoming event in the list below. 

Jerry Seinfeld

Parents the world over look back fondly on Seinfeld, the global juggernaut of a show that defined the 90s and made a star out of the eponymous comic. Now, Jerry Seinfeld will return to audiences following his sold-out Australian shows in 2017, bringing the laughs with a show at Qudos Bank Arena on 16 June 2024. Seinfeld’s brand of observational comedy, spanning the quirks of married life to the hilarity of parenthood, is sure to win over parents this Mother’s Day. Find event and ticketing details here.

Sooshi Mango

Calling all La Familia! Australia’s comedy kings, Sooshi Mango, return with their side-splitting new show ‘Home Made.’ This trio is touring 25 cities across Australia (August-November) with side-splitting family humour and iconic characters. Prepare for laugh-out-loud skits, catchy music, and the return of fan favourites like Johnny and Vince. Get ready for a night of pure comedic joy Saturday 5 October 2024! Find event and ticketing details here.

Ne-Yo

Ne-Yo’s 90s smash hits like ‘Closer’ and ‘Miss Independent’ have filled mums’ playlists for decades, but they’ll get a taste of his trademark croons in the flesh when the iconic musician hits Qudos Bank Arena on 3 October 2024. Dubbed the “Champagne and Roses” tour, the highly-anticipated show is the perfect Mother’s Day date night idea for mum and dad, who’ll no-doubt revel in the tunes from R&b’s shining figurehead. Find event and ticketing details here.

Take That

While he has since exited the band, the lustre of Robbie Williams — every mum’s celebrity crush — lives on in Take That, the beloved 90s boy band who’ll take to the Qudos Bank Arena stage on 7 November 2024. Now comprised of a trio of icons in their own right, namely Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald, Take That’s This Life On Tour show will include tracks from their namesake 2023 album, with assist from ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’ hitmaker and fellow aughties icon Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Find more event and ticketing details here.

Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah has won over audiences of all ages as the host of the Emmy-winning The Daily Show and best-selling author of Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood. Blending his intelligent wit with sharp observations, Noah has found equal success with his stand-up comedy tour, which hits Aussie shores at Qudos Bank Arena on 20 November 2024. This show is sure to sell out, so be quick to grab mum’s tickets for Trevor Noah’s “Off The Record” tour. Find event and ticketing details here.

José Carreras and Plácido Domingo

Two of the most revered legends of opera will join forces at Qudos Bank Arena on 23 November 2024, when icons José Carreras and Plácido Domingo reunite for the “The Legends Together Again, Live in Concert” show. Sitting back and enjoying the classical finesse of opera’s leading men — alongside a 55‐piece orchestra and beloved conductor David Giménez Carreras — is all-but certain to score brownie points for mom. After yet another year of busy parenting, she could use the blissful ambience! Find ticketing and event details here. 

School holidays are inching ever closer, which no-doubt instils some pressure for those of us who haven’t yet planned any activities for our little ones. There’s only so many colouring books to fill out and trips to the park to take before kids get restless, but thankfully Qudos Bank Arena has a hot-ticket item that’ll earn you some well-deserved brownie points. 

Among an already bustling calendar of kid-friendly events like Monster Truck Mania and Disney On Ice, perhaps the buzziest event on Qudos Bank Arena’s itinerary this holiday season is Marvel Universe LIVE!. 

Set to overtake the iconic venue for a four day run from 19 April to 22 April 2024, the superhero showcase is the perfect calendar-filler for parents in need of a must-see event these holidays. 

So as the school term winds down and our little ones start asking what’s in store, there’s only one answer that will satisfy them; and it’s Marvel Universe LIVE!. Here’s why:

All-star superhero cast

In what reads like a who’s who of the superhero genre, Marvel Universe LIVE! is set to unite a dazzling array of cape-wearers. Everyone’s favourite friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man will grace the stage as part of the show, and will be joined by The Avengers team of Iron Man, Captain America and Thor. 

As if that wasn’t enough to excite diehard comics fans, the event will also feature appearances from Black Panther, Hulk, Black Widow, the Guardians of the Galaxy and Doctor Strange. For those doing the maths, that’s dozens of Marvel’s biggest superheroes brought to life on stage, but they will find their adversaries in the form of supervillain, Loki. 

Not since Avengers: End Game have this many superheroes assembled in one place, and this starry cast of characters is sure to win over the little web-slingers in your life.   

 Immersive storytelling experience

Any Marvel fan will tell you that a superhero is only as good as the plot and storytelling that surrounds them, and thankfully Marvel Universe LIVE! delivers that in spades. Taking audiences on an adventure of epic proportions, the show will follow our favourite heroes in a race against time as they vow to recover the Wand of Watoomb before it falls into Loki’s hands.

The ancient artefact holds immeasurable mystical power, and would allow Loki to overtake Earth as an evil ruler. The gang’s quest to retrieve the Wand will reignite old feuds with challenging foes, and test friendships among mentors and students. Far beyond what you’ll find on a movie screen, this tale unfolds in real time, raising the stakes and placing fans squarely in amongst the drama. As for the fate of the superhero group… well you just have to wait and see how their story plays out.  

Dazzling production

Computer generated imagery is all well and good, but watching your favourite heroes in the flesh is an entirely different beast. Qudos Bank Arena has pulled out all the stops when it comes to the production value of Marvel Universe LIVE!, with the show promising a dazzling showcase of cutting-edge special effects, aerial stunts and video projection.  

This is a Marvel show after all, so you can rest assured that no expense was spared in delivering an action-packed adventure of cinematic proportions. With spellbinding stunt work and eye-popping light production, attendees should start preparing their buckets of popcorn. 

Unique school holiday experience

Leaps and bounds more exciting than your traditional school holiday activities, Marvel Universe LIVE! provides an unforgettable and experience-based event for children of all ages. What’s more, it’s something for the whole family to enjoy, allowing parents to make a day out of the event and create memories far more exciting than a trip to the movies. 

So what are you waiting for? Head here to find more event and ticketing information for Qudos Bank Arena’s Marvel Universe LIVE! show, and here to see the venue’s full event calendar. 

The Most Anticipated Music Event of the Year! 

In October 2022, the multi-platinum, award-winning group blink-182 made waves with the announcement of their largest tour to date. The monumental global outing saw Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and Travis Barker reuniting for the first time in nearly a decade. Adding to the excitement, the band releasing their new single “Edging,” marking their triumphant return to the studio together after a ten-year hiatus.

The buzz surrounding blink-182’s tour reached fever pitch as fans eagerly awaited their chance to witness the iconic pop-punk band in action. This all unfolded over four electrifying nights at Qudos Bank Arena on 16, 17, 23, and 24 February 2024, which was nothing short of legendary.

blink-182’s last performance at Qudos Bank Arena was in February 2013 which left an indelible mark on audiences, drawing over 15,000 enthusiastic fans and generating box office sales totalling 1.5 million dollars. This year ticket sales for their four Sydney shows surpassed their 2013 show with over 65,000 tickets sold and box office sales exceeds over 8 million dollars. 

Steve Hevern, General Manager of Qudos Bank Arena states that, “the Arena hasn’t seen four sold-out shows since pre-COVID, which was during P!nk concerts in August 2018. We’re excited to collaborate with Live Nation Australasia once more to present four memorable blink-182 performances, marking another significant milestone for the Arena”. 

Selling out four shows at Qudos Bank Arena marks a significant achievement, highlighting blink-182’s enduring popularity and appeal. Fans experienced an unforgettable experience as the band delivered their trademark mix of high-energy performances and chart-topping hits.