SkyCity Adelaide today announced a key pillar of its $330 million transformation, The District at SkyCity. In a historic partnership with Pirate Life, The District at SkyCity will feature Australia’s first fully functional microbrewery within a casino.

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SkyCity Adelaide General Manager, David Christian, said: 'The District at SkyCity, featuring the dynamic Pirate Life team, is the final piece of the puzzle at SkyCity Adelaide; creating a vibrant live entertainment space on Level 1 in the current heritage building.

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'During the recent closure of the Adelaide Casino, construction projects were able to continue on the expansion and hotel site, as well as within our beautiful heritage building, where The District at SkyCity will come to life on Level 1 later this year.'

Pirate Life was founded in Adelaide in 2014 by Michael Cameron, Jack Cameron and Jared Proudfoot. The immediate success of the business attracted the attention of leading brewers CUB, with Pirate Life joining the CUB family in November 2017, before expanding into a new brewhouse in Port Adelaide last year.

Pirate Life co-founder, Michael Cameron, said: 'When we arrived in Adelaide, a big part of our ambition was to create a brewery that resonated with South Australians.

'After establishing Pirate Life in Hindmarsh, followed by the move and expansion in Port Adelaide, the ability to partner with The District at SkyCity as part of their transformation is another fantastic step on the journey. We look forward to sharing the Pirate Life experience with more South Australians, as well as tourists visiting the state.'

The District at SkyCity will feature a mezzanine level, allowing increased capacity for live entertainment, where customers can enjoy Pirate Life beers tailor made for The District at SkyCity.

The District at SkyCity brings together all venues on Level 1; live entertainment, the Pirate Life microbrewery, the Sports Bar, Poker Zone and Bistro, in one unique offering.

Other significant transformation works recently undertaken in the heritage building include:

• Repainting Marble Hall for the first time since the Adelaide Casino opened in 1985
• Laying 5,000 square metres of new carpet
• Chandelier Bar restoration, including the removal of 2,000 individual baubles, sand blasting with fine dust and reinstallation
• Restoration of heritage features and installation of lighting features in Marble Hall
• Refurbishment and extension of the Baccarat Pavilion
• Construction of Central Café on Ground Floor (to open in the coming weeks)

The District at SkyCity has been designed by South Australian design firm Studio Nine Architects. The design of the broader gaming and lounge spaces on Level 1 is by Buchan Group. Construction work is being undertaken by SHAPE.

*Attached image L-R, Pirate Life Co-Founders Jack Cameron, Michael Cameron and Jared Proudfoot with SkyCity Adelaide General Manager David Christian　

Fact sheet:

The District at SkyCity

• Opening in 2020
• Fully functional Pirate Life microbrewery
• Increased Level 1 capacity for live entertainment, the Sports Bar, Poker Zone and Bistro
• Architecture and interiors designed by South Australia’s Studio Nine Architects
• Lighting design by Glowing Structures
• Construction by SHAPE

SkyCity Heritage building (including The District at SkyCity)

• The Guardsman bar and restaurant in the Railway Station opened in January 2020, including a complete restoration of the former Overland Dining Hall
• The Guardsman architecture by Studio Gram
• Ground floor gaming area (refurbishment and extension of the Baccarat Pavilion, cashier and northern gaming zone) upgrades by Webb+ architects
• Central Café on ground floor by Webb+ architects
• Level 1 gaming architecture by Buchan Group
• Level 2 office interior architecture by Walter Brooke
• Heritage consultancy by DASH Architects
• Marble Hall lighting consultation by Light in Design
• Construction by SHAPE
• Three storey glass atrium to connect the heritage and expansion buildings

SkyCity Expansion　

• Set to open in late 2020
• 12 storey building
• Eos by SkyCity, 120 room luxury hotel
• Four new restaurants and two new bars, including a rooftop bar and restaurant
• SkyCity Ballroom, a world class function and conference facility for up to 650 guests
• Southwest Suite, with a capacity of up to 80 guests for small to medium sized functions
• Three Executive Boardrooms for private events and meetings
• Construction by Hansen Yuncken
• Design by Buchan Group
• Interiors by Hecker Guthrie and Walter Brooke
• Approximately 1,000 jobs throughout construction
• Approximately 700 ongoing roles created, recruitment for some roles has already commenced and will continue through to mid 2021

Skycity Auckland (stylised as SkyCity Auckland) is a casino and event centre in the central business district of Auckland, New Zealand, between Victoria and Federal Streets. Located at the base of the Sky Tower, it was the second casino in New Zealand, and is still the only one in Auckland.

Facilities[edit]

In addition to the Sky Tower, the complex includes a 700-seat theatre, a convention center, bars and restaurants, and two hotels. The complex also has a casino that was last refurbished in 2006, with over 1,600 gambling machines, and over 100 gambling tables. The casino also has special rooms for VIP / high-stakes gamblers.^[1]

In September 2013, it was announced that Skycity Auckland had purchased a 21m motor yacht 'Horizon II' for corporate entertainment.^[2]

In February 2018, Skycity Auckland opened New Zealand's first purpose-built e-sports broadcasting studio, located on Level 2 of the Sky Tower, formerly known as XO Bar.^[3]

By 2019 it will also house a convention centre catering for up to 3500 guests, costing over $700 million, after cutting a deal with the Government that will allow it to install extra poker machines and gambling tables.^[4]

History[edit]

The Sky Tower,^[5] convention centre and hotel^[6] were all built by Fletcher Construction and completed by 1997.

Skycity was the second casino in the country. At the time of its construction, it was controversial, just like the Sky Tower itself. Unlike the city's icon towering above it, major figures like former Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard have remained critical of the casino, though he acknowledged that the complex itself has been positive for the city. However, there is criticism from various sources that the casino creates problem gambling and does not ban problem gamblers proactively enough.^[7]

The casino provides almost 2000 jobs (as of January 2006), and has returned NZ$670 million in dividends to mainly Australian shareholders, from more than eight million visitors that have passed through, 15% from overseas. NZ$18.6 million were also paid to community organisations and trusts in the same time. 1.5% of the operating profit has to be paid out to charity according to law.^[7]

With profits at its parent, the Skycity Entertainment Group, falling, it was announced in May 2007 that around 230 staff of Sky City would be let go within the following 12–18 months, though it was thought likely to be mostly through turnover attrition, and would be focused on management staff.^[8][9]

On 11 May, Sky City announced that it will be slashing 700 jobs as a result of the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. A month earlier, Sky City had slashed 200 jobs.^[10][11]

Hotels[edit]

Skycity Hotel, Auckland is a casino hotel and was opened in February 1996. It is one of New Zealands busiest hotels and is located inside the main Auckland complex and serves mainly families, business travellers and gamblers who play at the casino. It offers 323 rooms refurbished in 2013.^[12] Hotel guests may use all the facilities in the complex. It is a Qualmark rated 4 star hotel.^[13]

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Skycity Grand Hotel is a luxury 5 star hotel and was officially opened by Prime Minister Helen Clark in April 2005 after costing $85 million. It is not located inside the main complex but is adjacent and is connected by a skybridge. It serves mainly older guests, VIPs and high stake gamblers who play at the casino. Many celebrities have stayed at the hotel including Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Linkin Park. The Grand features 21 levels and 316 rooms. The rooms include The Grand Suite, 8 Premier Self Contained Suites, 11 Executive King Suites and 296 Luxury King rooms. The room interiors were designed by Chhada Siembieda (specialists in luxury hotel interiors and responsible for the W Hotel chain as well as the Hayman Island Resort, Sydney Hilton and the Hotel Intercontinental in both Sydney and in Hong Kong). Facilities and services include 24-hour room service and reception, a heated lap pool, fitness center, sauna, health spa, personal trainers, baby sitting and a hotel doctor.^[14]

Events[edit]

In 2019, the Skycity Convention Centre played host to two World boxing title events, promoted by Bruce Glozier and Steve Deane of Rival Sports Promotions. The first event took place on March 30 Geovana Peres took on Lani Daniels for the WBO World women's light heavyweight title dubbed History in the making.^[15] The event Sold out with 680 table tickets and was prerecored to broadcast on Sky Sports tv later in the week.^[16] On 30 July, Bruce Glozier of Rival Sports Promotion announced the second World title event, Geovana Peres vs Claire Hafner.^[17] As part of promoting the event, Geovana Peres did a world first by doing boxing pad work outside on top of the Sky Tower, 193 metres in the air.^[18] The event sold out with over 1000 tickets and was broadcast live on Sky Sports 3 TV.^[19]

New convention centre[edit]

In May 2013, the Government came to a deal with Skycity to build a new convention centre worth $402 million in exchange for gambling concessions. The concessions would allow Skycity to install an extra 230 poker machines, 40 gambling tables, as well as a further 12 gambling tables that could be substituted for automated table game player stations (but not poker machines). Skycity would also receive an extension to their casino licence, from its expiry in 2021 until 2048. In exchange, Skycity would be required to meet the full costs of the convention centre project.^[20]

Describing the benefit for New Zealand, Economic Development Minister, Steven Joyce said the convention centre would add an estimated $90 million a year to the local economy, create 1,000 jobs during construction and 800 jobs once the centre is running.^[20]

In 2015 it was announced that the anticipated cost of the convention centre had increased by $70–$130 million, to a total maximum of $530 million. Prime Minister John Key said he was considering making up the shortfall by giving Skycity public tax money to finish the project – as it would be an 'eyesore' if the extra funding was not made available.^[21] Two days later on 12 February, following criticism in the media and in Parliament, the Prime Minister described the use of taxpayer funds as the 'least preferred option'.^[22] Subsequently, on 15 February, it was announced that instead of seeking funding from the government for project over-runs, Skycity would instead be allowed to build a convention centre which was slightly smaller, so that total costs would remain about $400 million. The other option was that Skycity could put in funds of its own to build a large convention centre. The Labour Party claimed the move was a win for those who were opposed to public money bailing out the deal.^[23]

2019 convention centre fire[edit]

A fire in the roof and upper part of the new convention centre started on 22 October 2019 while the building was still under construction. The fire burned for about two days, partly as a result of a decision to sacrifice the roof in order to try to save the lower part of the building by improving safety and access for firefighters working under the roof. After the roof had mostly burned away the remaining fire was extinguished.

The fire caused widespread disruption to Auckland's central business district and the air pollution in the city to exceed safe levels for the first time in over ten years.^[24][25]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^VIP Gaming (from the official casino website)
2. ^'SkyCity's 'floating palace' for high rollers'. New Zealand Herald. 2013-09-01. ISSN1170-0777. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
3. ^'Social Snapshot: Sky City unveils new e-sports broadcasting centre'. Newshub. 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
4. ^'SkyCity convention centre set to create 800 jobs - Joyce'. TV NZ. May 13, 2013.
5. ^Fletcher Construction website - Sky Tower
6. ^Fletcher Construction website
7. ^ ^ab'Auckland's big gamble, 10 years on'. The New Zealand Herald. 29 January 2006. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
8. ^Marshall, Colin (22 May 2007). 'Union 'in the dark' over SkyCity job losses'. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
9. ^Orsman, Bernard (23 May 2007). 'Cards called for 230 at SkyCity in cost-cut drive'. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
10. ^Flaws, Bonnie (11 May 2020). 'Coronavirus: Sky City announces more job losses to come'. Stuff. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
11. ^'SkyCity plans 700 job cuts due to Covid-19 downturn'. Radio New Zealand. 11 May 2020. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
12. ^'SkyCity Hotel official site'.
13. ^'Qualmark official site'.
14. ^'SkyCity Grand Hotel official site'.
15. ^'THE ULTIMATE DREAM HAS COME TRUE FOR GEOVANA PERES'. Gay Express. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
16. ^'Peres-Daniels WBO World Title fight a sell out'. Newsie. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
17. ^'Boxing: Kiwi Geovana Peres to defend WBO title against Canadian Claire Hafner'. New Zealand Herald. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
18. ^'Kiwi boxing champion Geovana Peres to defend title'. Stuff NZ. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
19. ^'Geovana Peres Retains World title with the first TKO of her Career'. Women Boxing. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
20. ^ ^ab'SkyCity convention centre set to create 800 jobs - Joyce'. TVNZ. 13 May 2013.
21. ^'John Key: SkyCity will be an 'eyesore' without government money'. Stuff.co.nz. 10 February 2015.
22. ^'Public money for SkyCity convention centre 'least preferred' fix'. The New Zealand Herald. 12 February 2015.
23. ^'SkyCity drops funding bid'. Radio New Zealand News. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
24. ^'Auckland's SkyCity Convention Centre fire: Firefighter in serious condition as building goes up in flames'. Stuff.co.nz. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
25. ^'SkyCity fire live: Inferno rages, roof fears, TVNZ evacuated'. New Zealand Herald. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.

External links[edit]

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