MECC ready for one rocking opening
Mayor Col Meng said there could not be much more of an exciting event on Mackay’s 2009 event calendar. The Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC) opening day is next Saturday, July 11 and has been designed for the people of Mackay.
“Come Saturday, Mackay will embrace the MECC People’s Day from 10am providing residents and other interested parties with the opportunity to browse the new centre, enjoy food stall and amusements on the Civic Precinct lawn, and witness the cutting of the ribbon on the MECC front steps by The Honourable Anna Bligh at 12.30pm,” said Cr Meng.
“It’s the perfect opportunity for the public to check out the services and facilities of the new space, in an up-close and personal way,” he said.
“We encourage everyone to get along on Saturday to witness this spectacular venue – a venue that will be pivotal to business, tourism and our economy and a day that will go down in Mackay’s history books,” said Cr Meng.
The MECC will close at 4pm on the day to set up for the evening performance- the first event to be held in its space – the Jimmy Barnes spectacular!
Doubling as the 2009 Festival of Arts opening act, lucky ticket-holders will watch Barnsey rocking it out on stage from 8pm.
“Barnsey is a sell-out, but don’t worry if you miss out on purchasing a ticket, his performance will be simultaneously broadcast on the ‘Silhouette Lingerie LED Super Screen’ on the Civic Precinct Lawns for the whole of Mackay to enjoy and at no cost,” said Cr Meng.
Cr Meng said that due to the high level of interest in this performance, council has also released special tickets to an inside foyer screening, the ‘Thiess Jimmy Barnes Live Foyer Screening’, which are on sale from the MECC Box Office at a small price of $10.
“We imagine the free-screening on the Civic Lawn will fill up and be an absolutely fantastic atmosphere so we have also special ticketing to those who wish to enjoy a screening in the indoors – which may be more preferable for families with young children or for the seniors.”
“The night will conclude with Woollam Constructions Fireworks Spectacular which is set to coincide with the singing of Barney’s last song at around 10pm,” said Cr Meng.
The $29 million MECC complex was funded by a Queensland State Government grant.
Contact: Victoria Lloyd
Phone: 1300 622 529