Situated in the heart of the city of Tshwane, Sun International’s brand new Sun Time
Square casino and entertainment complex is the second largest gaming complex in
South Africa, and represents the cutting edge of innovative architecture, ecologically
sustainable development and technological innovation.
The complex, which opened its doors to punters earlier this year, offers visitors an
impressive array of facilities, including a state-of-the-art digital casino, numerous
restaurants, an impressive ultra-modern hotel and a live events arena, called the Sun
Arena. The Pro-Systems News team recently attended the first technical
demonstration at the Sun Arena, prior to the venue’s official launch, scheduled for
early November.
During the event, Sun International’s head of public relations and marketing for the
venue, Henri-Basil Hearne, shared with Pro-Systems the company’s vision for the
Time Square complex, stating that: “In the past, Sun International has developed
their casinos around a particular theme – an approach which is vulnerable to
becoming outdated fairly quickly. During the conceptualisation phase of the project,
Sun International decided that the theme for Tshwane’s largest casino development
would be “time’ itself. In line with this motif, it was decided that Time Square would be
built around the latest available technology, with an emphasis on going digital in every
possible application throughout the development.’
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Sun Arena – which is billed to be the most
technologically advanced indoor arena in South Africa by Sun International. The Sun
Arena installation, project managed by Mark Ranson of QA, represents the
culmination of efforts from some of the country’s most prominent suppliers and
installers in both the live events and corporate AV integration markets.
“The Sun Arena at Time Square is designed to be the very best that the hospitality
and leisure industry has to offer in this type of venue – featuring a moving stage,
seven
retractable blocks, state of the art lighting, sound and control as well as the most
flexible design imaginable,’ Hearne states. “The venue can host a standing rock
concert with a 10 000 capacity crowd one night, and a boxing match the next. With
retractable seating and stage, the venue can host banquets, conferences and
exhibitions as required. It is the largest indoor arena venue of its kind in Pretoria and
the market is responding with great enthusiasm,’ he concludes.
The Sun Arena will host its premier show, “Unisun’ on 04 November – which Hearne
explains will be an invitation only VIP event, with 14 of South Africa’s most popular
artists performing on the brand new stage. The inaugural show will be followed by the
Johannesburg edition of 90s rock band LIVE’s reunion tour, on 11 November.
For full coverage of the Time Square and Sun Arena installation, subscribe to
receive
the November/December edition of Pro-Systems News.
