The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has confirmed it will host next year’s parade after-party at the Hordern Pavilion despite a government proposal to shift the location to Allianz Stadium.
The NSW government has been looking at increasing the number of concerts and late-night events that can occur at Allianz Stadium, which is situated next door to the Hordern.
As part of that proposal, the government proposed to move the Mardi Gras after-party to Allianz.
This would have allowed the event to have up to 40,000 people in attendance, The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported on Tuesday. The Hordern has the capacity for about 5000 people.
However, the government’s plan would come with harsher restrictions, meaning outside noise levels would be limited to 60 decibels between 2 and 6am – typically the peak time for performers. Last year’s outdoor performance of the Sugababes occurred during that timeslot.
Venues NSW said it was “committed to a tapering down of maximum noise levels for the Mardi Gras event throughout the evening, in order to reduce the impact of noise on the surrounding community in the more sensitive early hours of the morning”.
Sydney Mardi Gras said there were no plans to move the location from the Hordern. “These plans were not drawn up by Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. We currently have no plans to relocate the Mardi Gras Party,” a spokesperson told GSN.
What is planned for 2024 is still to be confirmed. Mardi Gras organisers have teased on social media an announcement for November 10.
There is speculation there will be a return of an event similar to WorldPride’s Bondi Beach party, which was headlined by Nicole Scherzinger earlier this year.
As reported by GSN, Waverley Council has approved a 2024 Mardi Gras Beach party. Whether or not it will take place has yet to be confirmed.
The 2024 Mardi Gras season has been confirmed to run from February 16 until March 3. Tickets are expected to go on sale later this year.
March 2 will be the official date for the 46th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. The after-party will be held the same evening.
Gay Sydney News reporter