Big events set to inject $100 million into WA with Coldplay and WWE heading to Perth

WA is gearing up for a $100 million windfall from the Coldplay and WWE wrestling extravaganzas, with the tourism operators licking their lips at what could be a new era for the industry.

Tourism Council WA boss Evan Hall said World Wrestling Entertainment’s Elimination Chamber event in Perth in February, expected to bring some of the world’s best wrestlers to Optus Stadium, would provide a $33 million boost to the WA economy.

This would be in addition to the $68 million injection expected when Coldplay and its energetic frontman Chris Martin hit Perth for two shows in November.

“This is game-changing territory,” Mr Hall said.

“The size and scale of the events that we are bringing in: the fact that they are Australian exclusive events, we are becoming a major events destination.

“The WWE, only in Perth can you see that. There is nowhere else you can see it in 2024, in the Asia-Pacific region.”

The $100 million windfall comes on the back of a $180 million tourism bonanza last financial year.

State Government figures released to The Sunday Times this week show major events injected more than $180 million into the state’s economy in 2022-23.

Major events included the UFC 288 event in February this year which attracted close to 8500 interstate and international visitors to WA and became the highest-grossing single event held in an indoor arena in Australia, with a total revenue of almost $6 million, breaking the previous record for the Rolling Stones concert at Qudos Bank Arena in 2014.

Another 12 events in Perth generated $96 million in economic impact.

Amongst the mass-participation events that helped generate the economic injection were the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships and the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships — which attracted a combined nearly 15,000 visitors to Western Australia between them.

The Government’s push to make WA the sporting and entertainment capital of Australia comes as Formula 1 superstar and West Australian Daniel Ricciardo has this week been revealed as the face of a new campaign promoting WA to the world.

The Drive the Dream campaign invites travellers to explore Western Australia as the ultimate destination for a self-drive holiday and follows Ricciardo and his best mate Blake on their road trip from Perth to Exmouth along the Coral Coast Highway.

The pair enjoy a number of iconic Western Australian tourism experiences, including swimming with whale sharks, catching and cooking fish as part of an Aboriginal cultural experience and camping out at Bullara Station.

The campaign will be rolled out over the next 12 months across Australia and the State’s key international markets, including Europe, the UK, South East Asia and Japan, aiming to attract visitors to WA and inspire them to take their own road trip.

“These results highlight why major events are so important – they drive significant investment into our economy and support our hospitality, tourism, and entertainment industries,” Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said.

“We continue to show Western Australia’s ability to host high-calibre major events and attract globally recognised events and artists.”

Coldplay will play two exclusive concerts at Optus Stadium on November 18 and 19.

The tourism council estimates at least 40,000 people will come from other States to see the band.

The WWE show will hit Perth on February 24 and will be broadcast live to up to a billion homes around the globe.

As revealed last week in The Sunday Times, one of wrestling’s all-time greats, Mark Calaway, who fought under the name The Undertaker, is also heading for Perth in the lead-up to Elimination Chamber in February for a one-man-show.

Australian wrestling sensation Rhea Ripley will also be among the stable of wrestling stars fighting at Optus.