By Zachary Colwell and Staff Reporters
A HUGE summer of events and world-class dining is underway in the City of Parramatta, with scores of concerts, shows, community, cultural and sporting events ready to roll out.
The summer got off to a spectacular start as 450 guests joined the Western Sydney Long Lunch at CommBank Stadium on Friday, December 2 with a menu inspired by Australian food icon Matt Moran showcasing the best of NSW produce, and sensational entertainment provided by Prinnie Stevens and Human Nature.
The Long Lunch was the brainchild of Destination NSW – the State’s lead agency in support of events and tourism – and it was aimed at showcasing our amazing hospitality industry and encouraging people to get out and enjoy the summer after two years severely impacted by the global pandemic.
David Borger, Executive Director of Business Western Sydney, said: “Western Sydney is well and truly open for lunch! It’s great to see CommBank Stadium being utilised for such an amazing event as the Western Sydney Long Lunch. Let’s plan for more major events in our colosseums of culture right in the heart of Western Sydney.”
More than 20 concerts, with 30 world-class artists, will roll out this summer at Western Sydney’s sporting and entertainment super precinct, Sydney Olympic Park.
Riverside Theatres in the Parramatta CBD and West HQ’s Sydney Coliseum Theatre at Rooty Hill will also hold a series of entertainment events over summer.
Christmas entertainment events are planned across Western Sydney including Parramatta Square. For a full list of community and cultural events at City of Parramatta, check out www.atparramatta.com/whats-on
While Accor Stadium and Qudos Bank Arena will host the big music acts, the multiple businesses around Sydney Olympic Park and City of Parramatta will benefit as concert goers stream into the precinct to see the action unfold.
Among the concert highlights from December to March at Sydney Olympic Park are:
- Five artists on eight nights within 15 days at Qudos Bank Arena (5-19 December), featuring Keith Urban, Kendrick Lamar, Michael Bublé, Tyga and The Killers;
- The Juicy Festival featuring 1990s and 2000s nostalgia at Accor Stadium on Saturday, January 14;
- A historic run of concerts for Accor Stadium featuring global superstars Red Hot Chili Peppers with Post Malone (2 & 4 February), Ed Sheeran (24-25 February) and Harry Styles (3-4 March). For the full list of Accor Stadium acts, check out www.accorstadium.com.au For the list of shows at Qudos Bank Arena, check out www.qudosbankarena.com.au
Both major Olympic Park venues are offering Premium Experiences at these amazing concerts, where you can book for a group of business clients, family and friends.
There is also plenty of great summer sport ahead, headlined by the Western Sydney Wanderers A-League men’s games at CommBank Stadium and A-League women’s games at Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill.
The Wanderers will welcome the New Year with a huge Western Sydney local derby against Dwight Yorke’s Macarthur Bulls on January 1, with kick-off at the family-friendly time of 5pm.
The Sydney Thunder, with Dave Warner back in the squad, will play their home Big Bash cricket matches at Sydney Showground Stadium.
The global pandemic and ensuing economic downturn had a significant impact on the hospitality industry in Western Sydney throughout 2020 and 2021, with lingering effects.
However, the City of Parramatta businesses have been innovative in encouraging patrons to return to the City, with Eat Street and Parramatta Square businesses reporting a surge in bookings for December and January.
Employment levels in the Accommodation and Food Services industry declined significantly in 2020 and 2021 after an extended period of growth that peaked in 2019.
But slowly but surely, businesses are regaining staff to meet the demand.
