John Deane, Executive Chef at VenuesLive; Sydney’s ANZ Stadium (below right) and Bankwest Stadium (below left).
VenuesLive’s new assignment Arthur Stanley explains how VenuesLive stepped up to meet the Coronavirus challenge As Australasia’s major venues closed their doors in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, and as the majestic fields of play suddenly fell silent, out of the gloom grew opportunity. What role could our venues play for the community at this unprecedented time? It was only in February that ANZ Stadium, the largest venue in NSW, played host to 75,000 fans and millions more watching around the globe as the Fire Fight Australia concert raised upwards of $10.5 million for bushfire-ravaged communities across the nation. Here was another tragedy unfolding before the nation’s eyes, and indeed across the world. The Australian and New Zealand Governments were quick to respond, and the NSW Government in particular looked to its major venues to be part of the solution. As thousands of international travellers were isolated at Sydney hotels, there was a sudden and pressing need to prepare a large number of meals each day – a demand far outstripping the capacity of some hotel kitchens. Pointing to the large crowds that fill Sydney’s Olympic Stadium for events throughout the year, Andreas Breitfuss, General Manager of Catering at VenuesLive, explained “we regularly invite 80,000 people over for dinner.” So when the NSW Government turned to VenuesLive, the stadium team jumped at the opportunity to play a small role in the Government’s extensive game plan to protect the community from the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe. VenuesLive operates ANZ Stadium and Bankwest Stadium 48 Australasian Leisure Management Issue 138
