SOPBiz # 10 - November 2007

LA Galaxy officials come to town

Superstar David Beckham will be fit and close to top form when he makes his first ever Australian appearance in the glamorous LA Galaxy v Sydney FC friendly at Telstra Stadium on Tuesday 27 November. LA Galaxy assistant general manager Tom Payne touched down at Telstra Stadium recently to check out the facilities and meet with Football Federation Australia (FFA) officials. "We expect him (Beckham) to be close to 100 per cent, if not 100 per cent. He's really looking forward to these matches, it's a great way for him to test himself and be seen on a national stage, so we expect him to take full part,' said Payne. As well as Becks, the 27 November match will feature Brazil's World Cup winner Juninho, the new marquee signing for Sydney FC. American stars Landon Donovan and Cobi Jones will also feature in the full-strength LA Galaxy lineup. Telstra Stadium has a three-year agreement with the FFA to host at least one Socceroos international each year until 2009.

Olympic Boulevard McDonald's goes modern for Sydney Olympic Park locals

McDonald's Olympic Boulevard is about to undergo a modern makeover - both inside and out. The local community will soon be able to enjoy a new and modern look restaurant.

The store is revamping both the interior and exterior of the restaurant, replacing fixed plastic chairs with more comfortable seating plus a range of table sizes and styles.

The kitchen will also be replaced with new appliances and a preparation space designed for maximum efficiency. All orders are now being specially prepared to meet customer's individual tastes and requirements under the 'Made For You' system where food is prepared when customers order it.

The store is expected to undergo renovations from 18 November through until 3 December 2007. McDonald's Auburn will still be open during this time and is located at 116 Parramatta Rd, Auburn.

McDonald's is the largest employer of youth in Australia, employing 65,000 people across the country and 27 people in the Homebush Bay area. McDonald's offers great career opportunities for young people and anyone interested in applying for a position at McDonald's Olympic Boulevard should visit www.mcdonalds.com.au/careers or drop into the restaurant.

Telstra Stadium sponsors 2008 Western Sydney Industry Awards (WSIA)

In an exciting partnership with the Office of the Minister for Western Sydney, Telstra Stadium has been named as a silver sponsor of the 2008 Western Sydney Industry Awards (WSIA).

As part of the sponsorship, Telstra Stadium in conjunction with AFL will provide exclusive business networking events for the winners of the WSIA Platinum Global Excellence Awards.

The awards, now in their 10th year, provide a unique opportunity for innovative businesses to showcase their successes and secure new contacts.

"The Western Sydney Industry Awards recognise the innovative companies who are responsible for generating millions of dollars worth of investment in the region,"said Minister for Western Sydney, Barbara Perry.

Over the past nine years, the prestigious awards have been presented to 290 companies from more than 1200 entries.

Closing date for entries is Friday 30 November 2007.

Contact the Office of the Minister for Western Sydney on 02 8836 4973 for an information kit or log onto www.westernsydney.nsw.gov.au to download an application form.

New hotel developments in the Park

Welcome to Marcus Hanna

Accor Hospitality have appointed Marcus Hanna to the position of General Manager in the new 5-star Sofitel currently under construction in Sydney Olympic Park. Marcus brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked up through the ranks to then hold executive positions in Sydney, London, Malta, San Francisco and Melbourne. He is passionate about sport, first working in hotels as a way to support himself while attending the AIS in Canberra for Rowing.

Accor's Hotel Developments - Formule 1 and Sofitel

The new 150 room Formule 1 Sydney Olympic Park is currently under construction opposite the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre .

The Formule 1 will have 150 rooms to cater to the budget market . The building is not only modern and progressive in design ,but also environmentally friendly and in keeping with the avant garde profile of Sydney Olympic Park.

The Sofitel Sydney Olympic Park is on schedule to open mid 2008. It will be the first 5-star hotel in the Greater Sydney Region.

Construction is progressing well with the re-instatement of the Herb Elliott Ave in early November. The Hotel will have 212 elegant guest rooms and suites, a state of the art Club Lounge Floor, a stylish 90 seat restaurant, three sophisticated and well-equipped conference rooms catering up to 300 guests, all packaged in a striking and environmentally friendly 16 storey tower.

Accor's commitment to the Sydney Olympic Park Precinct is evident by providing the market with the largest choice of hotel rooms in Greater Sydney for the entire customer gamut.

Lorraine Mercuri, Area General Manager, Greater Sydney for Accor adds, "We are very proud to be a part of this project and to be aligned with the Sydney Olympic Park Authority and our Park Partners in continuing to make Sydney Olympic Park the economic hub and residential playground of Greater Sydney."

(See some great offers courtesy of Accor later in this newsletter.)

Biggest & best in 2008

The 2008 Event Schedule at Telstra Stadium is shaping up as the biggest and best line up of national and international sport ever seen at a single Australian venue.

Consider these wonderful ingredients for a feast of sporting entertainment:

-The Bledisloe Cup and a Test match against France
-The NRL Grand Final & two State of Origin games
-A major Socceroo international
-Four Swans blockbusters
-NRL matches featuring four home clubs - Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Wests Tigers & St George Illawarra Dragons, plus two 'home' matches Eels matches against the Dragons and the Bulldogs
-Two Twenty20 Big Bash matches

How about that? Five different sports presenting more than 40 magical international and national events!

Dates & confirmed fixtures for the 2008 Event Schedule at Telstra Stadium will be announced prior to Christmas. In the meantime, here is what's new for the year ahead.

Bledisloe Cup- Saturday 26 July 2008

Under a long-term partnership between the ARU and Telstra Stadium, the Bledisloe Cup will be played at the Stadium in 2008, 2009 and 2010 as one of two Test matches each year.

St George Illawarra Dragons

The St George Illawarra Dragons will head to Telstra Stadium for six home games next year while the club's Oki Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah undergoes redevelopment for the duration of the season.

The Dragons ' traditional Anzac Day clash with the Roosters will be among the marquee fixtures relocated to Telstra Stadium.

In addition to the six home games, the St George Illawarra Dragons will play in the annual Charity Shield against the Rabbitohs at Telstra Stadium and, depending on the NRL draw, another two or three NRL games at the venue as the away team.

Four Swans blockbusters

The Sydney Swans will play a fourth AFL home game at Telstra Stadium in 2008 after bumper crowds this year triggered a "success clause".

Under a long-term agreement between the club, the AFL and Telstra Stadium, the Swans have played their three best home games at the Stadium since 2002, with the provision of a fourth game in the subsequent season if crowds reached a trigger point.

This season the average attendance of 63,392 exceeded a trigger point in the long-term agreement.

Twenty20

It's fun, it's fast and it's furious and next year's KFC Twenty20 Big Bash will be bigger than ever.

In 2008, the SpeedBlitz Blues play two home matches on January 8 (v Queensland) and January 10 (v Western Australia).

The two top Aussie sides will compete for a first prize of US$2 million and progress to the lucrative Champions Twenty20 tournament.

The final of the Twenty20 tournament on Sunday 13 January will also be played at Telstra Stadium should NSW win the right to host the match.

Cuboree at Amoury

Over 2000 Cub Scouts and their Leaders converged on Newington Armoury, Sydney Olympic Park for a 4-day camp in October .

The Cuboree, for Cub Scouts aged between 8-11 years from across NSW was the biggest many cubs had experience . This year's camp theme was "Taking off to Adventure."

The Cuboree took two years to plan and was entirely run by volunteer Scout Leaders, who donated their skills, time and energy into developing youth. This event is one of thousands being held state wide during the Centenary of Scouting.

New retail outlets open

Three new retail outlets recently opened under the Commonwealth Bank Building in Dawn Fraser Avenue. They are Food Alert , Stadium Newsagent and a City Convenience store.

All three businesses are participating in the Lifestyle program by providing Members with discounts and special offers. Check out the Lifestyle website to see what they are offering.

Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre Hosts 'Pink' Morning Tea

Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre hosted a Pink Ribbon Morning morning tea on 22 October in the NSW Hall of Champions. Jaki Sanchez and her team of contributors are to be commended for their efforts in supporting this worthy cause and showcasing their culinary prowess .The event raised $600.

SOPBA'S NEW FACES

Sydney 2000 World Masters Games Organising Committee

The Sydney 2009 World Masters Games was officially launched recently with many of the events to be played at Sydney Olympic Park, but did you know:

-The World Masters Games is the world's largest multi sport event.
-The 2009 World Masters Games will be the next major sporting event
to be held in Sydney.
-The Sydney World Masters Games will take place over nine days in
October 2009 at many of the venues used by the 2000 Olympic
Games.
-The event is expected to attract 30,000 competitors - three times the
number of athletes that completed at the Sydney 2000 Games.-
-The Department of State and Regional Development estimates the
event will inject $100 million into the Sydney and NSW economy.
-Research shows that masters competitors stay in the host country
for a period both before and after the games and have higher
disposable incomes to spend on travel.
-The World Masters Games were first held in Toronto - Canada in
1985 then followed by Denmark 1989, Brisbane-Australia 1994,
Portland - USA 1998, Melbourne - Australia 2002 and Edmonton -
Canada, 2005.
-Masters refers to the minimum age requirement for the event which
is generally 30 or 35 depending upon the sport.
-The Games will require in excess of 6,000 volunteers.
www.2009worldmasters.com

Parklands Foundation

The Parklands Foundation is a community-based not for profit organisation committed to enhancing the Parklands at Sydney Olympic Park. It commenced operations in 2006.

The Foundation was established by the Authority to attract financial resources and support educational, environmental, cultural, scientific and recreational activities within the Parklands. These activities include environmental learning experiences; research projects; nature tours; interpretive attractions; events and exhibitions.

For further information to see how you as an individal or a company can become involved contact the Foundation on 02 9714 7119 or email info@parklandsfoundation.org.au

Special Olympics Australia

Special Olympics is a global organisation that offers children and adults with an intellectual disability year-round sports training and competition in Olympic-type summer and winter sports. It was established by Mrs Eunice Kennedy Shriver in the USA in 1968.

It is recognised by the IOC as the international representative organisation for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics internationally has 2.4 million registered athletes.

In Australia 4500 athletes are supported by over 1000 volunteers in 46 regions throughout the country. It is the only organisation where athletes with an intellectual disability can play their sport on a national and international basis, no matter what their ability or level of impairment.

The philosophy of Special Olympics is summed up in the Athletes' Oath: Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me brave in the attempt." www.specialolympics.com.au

SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK AUTHORITY

Traffic and Transport Consultative committee

Australia Avenue / Homebush Bay roundabout

Australia Ave/ Homebush Bay Drive roundabout is a priority for SOPA in the overall intersection upgrades for the precinct. However, no funding has been identified for this particular intersection ,as yet, and there is no realistic opportunity for any works to take place in the next two years.

In the short term there will be no improvements to the 4-key connection points to Sydney Olympic Park, however improvements to intersection function within the precinct are being progressed on an ongoing basis.

Strategic Bus Corridors

The Ministry of Transport identified funding issues to build the frequency of new or improved services to Sydney Olympic Park. State Transit will provide quarterly updates to the Committee on the bus corridor progress to Sydney Olympic Park.

Proposed Holker Busway Opening

The proposal to open the Holker Street Busway to general traffic for improved traffic flow has a number of potential problems. These are associated with major event mode when it will need to be closed to general traffic.

It is expected that a final decision on whether or not to implement this project will be June 2008.

General Business

a) Proposed Homebush Bay West Pedestrian Bridge Link to Sydney Olympic Park .

There have been some discussions to build a pedestrian bridge to link Homebush Bay West to Sydney Olympic Park , but no firm decisions or plans have been made to move forward at this stage.

b) Heavy Vehicle, increasing traffic volumes and accidents on Bennelong Road.

Auburn Council confirmed that the speed limit was being reduced from 60km to 50km on this road. SOPA to also talk with Flemington Local Command regarding the possibility of police patrols to check speeding.

RTA to provide accident statistics for Bennelong Rd to next meeting.

c)Signage for Bus Services - CBA Staff.

Ministry of Transport to check on progress with signage at Park Ave for additional services. The committee will follow up with SOPA Marketing regarding progress with communications for new bus services.

With the relocation of CBA staff into the Park it will take 3-4 months for the additional bus services to be fully tested before a formal review will take place.

OFFERS

'Race' to 'Christmas' at Novotel Sydney Olympic Park

Melbourne Cup at Novotel

Join the excitement of the Melbourne Cup at Novotel Sydney Olympic Park. Choose from a sumptuous seafood buffet including 3 hour drinks package for $75 or share platters with friends in The Brewery from $38. Enjoy the races live on the giant plasma screens in both venues and have a flutter at the on-site TAB facilities in The Brewery from 10am. There will be live entertainment in The Brewery from 1pm.
Ph: 8762 1731 or email: H2732-SL06@accor.com to book your Melbourne Cup table.

Christmas

Still haven't organised your office or client Christmas parties yet, then contact the Conference & Catering team at Novotel Sydney Olympic Park.

There are three sumptuous menu packages to choose from, which all include a 4 hour beverage package, 6 hour room hire, 4 hour D.J. and decorations.

Ph: 8762 1148 or email: H2732-SB02@accor.com to book your Christmas function.

Need accommodation for your guests?

Stay at Hotel Ibis Sydney Olympic Park from $105, or stay at Novotel Sydney Olympic Park from $149.

Ph: 8762 1148 or email: H2732-SB02@accor.com to book your Christmas function accommodation. Conditions apply. Rates are for Novotel Guest Room or Ibis Guest Room. Rates are per room, per night based on twin, single or double occupancy for guests of Christmas functions held at Novotel Sydney Olympic Park. Subject to availability.

Special offer for event bookers

For any Christmas function confirmed in 2007 for 100 guests or more, you will receive overnight accommodation in a Novotel Suite including full buffet breakfast for two.*
Ph: 8762 1148 or email: H2732-SB02@accor.com to book your Christmas function.
*Subject to availability. Valid for up to six months from date of Christmas party. Excludes event days. Gift voucher can be used as a lucky door prize.