Barclaycard Arena
Coordinates: 52°28′47″N 01°54′54″W / 52.47972°N 1.91500°W
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| Former names | National Indoor Arena (1991–2014) |
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| Location |
King Edwards Road Birmingham B1 2AA England |
| Owner |
NEC Group (Lloyds Banking Group) |
| Capacity | 15,800[1] |
| Opened |
4 October 1991 (as National Indoor Arena) 2 December 2014 (as Barclaycard Arena) |
| Tenants | |
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All England Open Badminton Championships Sainsbury's Indoor Grand Prix | |
| Website | |
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www | |
The Barclaycard Arena (previously the National Indoor Arena) is an indoor sporting and entertainment venue in Birmingham, UK. The Arena, which is owned by parent company, the NEC Group, is situated in central Birmingham. When it was opened in 1991, it was the largest indoor arena in the UK.[2] The arena hosts a variety of events including concerts, business conferences and exhibitions. It has a capacity of up to 15,800 using both permanent seating and temporary seating configurations.[3] The NIA was officially opened on 4 October 1991 by the athlete Linford Christie.[4]
The arena was renamed after it underwent an extensive renovation which was completed at the end of 2014. Michael Bublé opened the renovated arena on 2 December 2014.[5]
The Barclaycard Arena is located alongside the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line's Old Turn Junction and opposite the National Sea Life Centre in Brindleyplace. Close to the arena is The ICC which is also owned by the NEC Group.
Renovation
In 2012 plans to refurbish and renovate the NIA were approved by Birmingham City Council. The plans included creating a showpiece entrance from the canal-side, three "sky needle" light sculptures, a new glazed facade fronting the canal and new pre-show hospitality elements. The design was by the architecture firm Broadway Malyan and the building contract was awarded to Royal BAM Group in 2013 with an projected finishing date of Winter 2014.[6]
The £26 million redevelopment began in June 2013. The redeveloped arena was officially opened with a performance by singer Michael Bublé on 2 December 2014.[7] It was renamed the Barclaycard Arena after Barclaycard won the naming rights for five years.[8]
References
- ↑ "Venue Information | Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham". Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ↑ "Our brands". NEC Group. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ↑ "Venue Information". Barclaycard Arena. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ↑ "Birmingham NIA". ActivBirmingham. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ↑ http://www.bam.eu/en/press/press-releases/michael-buble-officially-launches-birminghams-barclaycard-arena
- ↑ "International firm awarded £24m contract to refurbish Birmingham NIA". Birmingham Post (Birmingham). 16 May 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
- ↑ Brown, Graeme (29 September 2014). "Michael Bublé to perform as NIA renamed the Barclaycard Arena". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ↑ Archived 30 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
External links
| Preceded by Pavilhão Atlântico Lisbon |
IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics Venue 2003 |
Succeeded by Budapest Sports Arena Budapest |
| Preceded by Palacio de Deportes de la CAM Madrid |
European Indoor Championships in Athletics Venue 2007 |
Succeeded by Oval Lingotto Turin |
| Preceded by Point Theatre Dublin |
Eurovision Song Contest Venue 1998 |
Succeeded by International Convention Center Jerusalem |
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