NSW government pulled plug on SXSW Sydney
SXSW Sydney
The NSW Government pulled its landmark investment in SXSW Sydney before the organisers cancelled the event, cutting the festival short just three years into a five-year deal.
Mumbrella understands that Destination NSW, which signed a $12 million agreement in 2022 to host five events between 2023 and 2027, invoked its break-fee clause to exit the contract early.
The Texas-founded SXSW had been intended as a major drawcard for international visitors, and was intended to inject millions into the NSW visitor economy.
Let’s see the accounts ..it was a shambles ..a Newtown weekend festival cooked up as an event for all Sydneysiders . It was for a niche demographic only.
Woohoo!
That frees up some cash to deal with the bin chicken issue 🙂
Geography was flawed. Not enough incremental audience and spend vs current Austin and current Sydney.
Be more Disney.
Tokyo?
Hats off Destination NSW! Good call
I heard around the watercooler at another industry conf that when NSW Gov signed on, it was an agreement to fund for five years?
Having a family member inside NSW Gov where Gov is cutting people and budgets, the SXSW call doesn’t surprise me.
It’s just a pitty as if it’d been what they hope, the upside for Sydney and Australia would’ve been decent.