From 1986 to 1997, the BEC was home to former National Basketball League Australia (NBL) team the Brisbane Bullets.

In 2007, the Brisbane Bullets won their third and last NBL championship when they defeated the Melbourne Tigers 3–1 in their best of five-game series.

In 2019, the club moved all of their home matches to the newly constructed venue dedicated to netball, Brisbane Arena.

The opening event for the centre was on 20 February 1986, featuring world champion British ice skaters Torvill and Dean.

Ticket prices were adults $22.90 and juniors $15.90[9] In 1987, Michael Jackson performed during his Bad Tour for two sold-out shows on 27 and 28 November.

[10] The 9 October 2000 edition of WCW Nitro, the flagship programme of World Championship Wrestling, was filmed at the venue during a tour of Australia by the promotion.

[11] Lady Gaga performed for more than 31,000 fans over a series of three sold-out shows in June 2012 as part of the Oceanic leg of her Born This Way Ball Tour (2012-2013).

[14] American singer and dancer JoJo Siwa performed at the centre as part of the opening nights of the 2020 leg of her D.R.E.A.M.