By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 17: The Borneo Kuching Convention Centre Two (BCCK 2), currently under construction with a capacity of up to nearly 10,000 people, could serve as a new indoor venue for large-scale sporting events, concerts and other major programmes in Sarawak.
Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said BCCK 2 should not be viewed solely as a convention centre for seminars and conferences, as its large capacity could allow it to host a wider range of events.
He said the suitability of the venue would, however, depend on the scale of an event and expected audience turnout.
“BCCK 2 has a capacity of nearly 10,000 people. We need to look at and respond to the current situation. Even if an event is large-scale, if there is no audience turnout, it will not be beneficial,” he said during a press conference after a briefing on the progress of the Sarawak Stadium upgrading and refurbishment project here today.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news, Abdul Karim, who is also Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, said sporting events such as tennis, basketball, boxing, Muay Thai and taekwondo could potentially be held at BCCK 2, alongside concerts and other large-scale events.
He said there had also been interest from artistes in holding concerts and other events in Sarawak, presenting an opportunity for BCCK 2 to be utilised as an indoor venue to meet growing demand.
He added that spectator capacity and crowd management would also need to be carefully considered, particularly for events expected to attract large numbers of people.
“We can consider ticket sales not just to generate revenue, but also to control the number of spectators in a more organised manner,” he said.
He said supporting facilities would also be important in meeting the requirements and standards for hosting international events.
These include medical rooms, media facilities, VIP areas, press conference rooms and anti-doping facilities.
Abdul Karim said a more comprehensive approach to venue development would be crucial in ensuring Sarawak has adequate facilities and capacity to meet future demand for sporting, entertainment and international events. — DayakDaily
