Sheffield Arena

Sheffield Arena (originally Sheffield Arena and formerly Hallam FM Arena and Motorpoint Arena Sheffield) is an arena located in Sheffield, England. It is situated near Rotherham, Sheffield City Centre, Attercliffe, Meadowhall and the Centertainment.

The arena opened as Sheffield Arena and was renamed Hallam FM Arena, but returned to its original name as of 1 November 2007.^[1] On 9 August 2010, Sheffield Arena was officially renamed Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, after the Derby based car sales company invested £1 million to rename the venue.^[2] It is used for big name concerts and sporting events. It is home to the Sheffield Steelers Ice Hockey Club. In August 2015 the arena was once again rebranded as Sheffield Arena.

Opening and Labour's Sheffield rally

Constructed at a cost of £34 million, it was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 30 May 1991.^[3]

The first concert took place that evening, Paul Simon playing as part of his "Born at the Right Time" tour. The Arena then took on the role of Gymnastics Hall for the 1991 World Student Games which were held in the city and which prompted the investment in, and development of, both the arena and nearby Don Valley Stadium.

The arena was the location for the Labour Party's 1992 Sheffield Rally. Attended by over 10,000 party members and the entire shadow cabinet. Held just before that year's general election, which Labour was widely expected to win, the event is often seen as a factor in the party's defeat.^[4] While the event was seen as a success to those within the hall, many commentators, and Labour politicians, viewing it as triumphalist in nature.^[4] However, it has also been asserted that the event had negligible impact on the outcome,^[5] with a fall in the party's support having already occurred.^[6]

Attendance for all events at the venue has totalled around 7 million since its opening. It has a maximum capacity of 13,500.^[7]

Events

Sheffield Arena Interior

Ticket for a Kiss show in May 2010

Music

The arena has played host over the years to the biggest music artists in the world including The Beach Boys, Kelly Clarkson, a-ha, Avril Lavigne, Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, Rihanna, Leona Lewis, Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, Bruno Mars, Queen + Paul Rodgers, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Mark Knopfler, Meat Loaf, Peter Andre, Bryan Adams, Depeche Mode, Katy Perry, Joss Stone, Whitney Houston, Justin Bieber, Janet Jackson, Tina Turner, Cher, Bon Jovi, Nicki Minaj, P!nk, Rod Stewart, Gloria Estefan, David Bowie, Drake, Simply Red, Jessie J, Michael Buble, Sting, Prince Kylie Minogue and Britney Spears. Also some of the worlds biggest bands/groups have played the arena including Sheffield bands Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and Def Leppard. As well as Foo Fighters, Kasabian, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Westlife, Take That, Scissor Sisters, Oasis, Status Quo, Girls Aloud, S Club 7, Elbow, Kiss, Van Halen, Faith No More, Bee Gees, Muse, Green Day, Paramore, Jay-Z and Kanye West performed during their Watch the Throne Tour, blink-182, JLS, The Wanted, Black Grape, Slipknot, The Saturdays, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and One Direction.

On 8 December 2012, Pulp made their long-awaited return to Sheffield after eleven years. It was the first gig they have played at the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, with them previously playing The Leadmill, another venue in Sheffield, seven times in their career. Girls Aloud also returned to performing on their Ten: The Hits Tour 2013 after having a 3-year hiatus from the music industry as a group.

Other events

The arena also hosts annual events including Disney On Ice which is held every year over November/December. TV shows such as The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing On Ice visit the arena every year as part of their tours.

The arena is a regular venue for some of the worlds best known Comedians such as Russell Brand, Lee Evans, John Bishop, Ricky Gervais and Peter Kay who in 2011 played the arena for 5 nights running with all shows selling out within hours of going on sale.

The arena has hosted major special high profile events, including The International Indian Film Academy Awards, which took place on Saturday, 9 June 2007 and was broadcast live around the world. This included a season hosted by the city of Sheffield and nearby Leeds. Also, in 2009, the arena hosted the annual BBC 1Xtra concert and the 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The Sheffield Arena is used regular for sporting events and is the home to the city's Elite Ice Hockey League team, the Sheffield Steelers.

The arena has hosted major boxing events such as when Joe Calzaghe first won his WBO world title here on 11 October 1997 against former world champion Chris Eubank. On the same bill Sheffield born Naseem Hamed defended his WBO title against Jose Badillo. On 26 November 2005 Ricky Hatton extended his unbeaten record to 40–0, defending his IBF and Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight world titles and winning the WBA belt by 9th round knockout against Carlos Maussa. Sheffield fighter Clinton Woods also defended his IBF light-heavyweight title against Mexican Julio Cesar Gonzalez on two occasions, winning on points both times. Kell Brook has had many fights here, his most notable being a fourth round knockout victory of Vyacheslav Senchenko. The Great Britain men's national basketball team played a test match against Portugal in that arena in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.

WWE visit the arena up to twice a year and have also used the arena for broadcasting their weekly TV shows RAW and Smackdown as well as the Rebellion 2000 live Pay Per View event.

Since 2007, it has played host to the Premier League Darts.

Sheffield Steelers

The arena's resident sport team is the Sheffield Steelers ice hockey team who play in the Elite Ice Hockey League.

Management

The arena is owned by Sheffield City Trust, an independent charity, and managed under contract by the US media giant Live Nation UK.

• Security: In House
• Catering: In House
• Stewarding: Showsec
• Merchandising: Pantheon Franchise Ltd
• Medical: British Red Cross

Transport

Car

The arena has carparking available for around 2000 cars and the arena is located near the M1 motorway.

Tram

The arena is connected to the Sheffield Supertram with a stop next to the arena. The main stop is 'Arena'. Across the road at the Valley Centertainment entertainment complex there is also another tram stop.

Competition with First Direct Arena

The construction of the First Direct Arena (pictured) caused controversy in Sheffield.

For nearly two decades Sheffield Arena had been the only major concert and sporting venue in the Yorkshire region, this however changed as the city of Leeds has its own arena of comparable size which directly competes with Sheffield Arena. The arena's construction caused controversy because it was partly funded by the government through Yorkshire Forward, a regional development agency, whereas the Sheffield Arena attracted all funding independently with no help from the government. The owners of Sheffield Arena as well as Clive Betts, the MP for Sheffield Attercliffe, expressed opposition over Yorkshire Forward's funding of the First Direct Arena which they claimed would cause considerable economic damage to Sheffield Arena, East Sheffield and Sheffield/South Yorkshire itself, Yorkshire Forward dismissed these claims and stated that the arena would bring economic growth not only to Leeds and West Yorkshire but to the entire region. Fears that the construction of the First Direct Arena would lead to a significant reduction in concerts at Sheffield appear to be well founded with many tours in 2014 not going to Sheffield including Miley Cyrus, Prince, Robbie Williams, The Eagles and Pearl Jam. However fears that the arena would suffer from fewer customers as residents of Leeds will no longer have to travel to Sheffield to attend concerts appear unfounded as attendance at concerts remains high.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Motorpoint Arena Sheffield.

• Official website