Liverpool Arena facts for kids
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Exterior of the arena (February 2019)
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| Full name | M&S Bank Arena Liverpool |
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| Former names | Echo Arena (2008–2019) |
| Address | 16 Monarchs Quay Liverpool L3 4FP England |
| Location | King's Dock |
| Coordinates | 53°23′48″N 2°59′27.45″W / 53.39667°N 2.9909583°W |
| Owner | Liverpool City Council |
| Operator | ACC Liverpool Group Ltd |
| Capacity | 7,513 to 10,600 (all seated) 11,000 (with standing) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 15 May 2005 |
| Opened | 12 January 2008 |
| Expanded |
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| Construction cost | £164 million |
| Architect |
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| Project manager |
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| Structural engineer | BuroHappold Engineering |
| Services engineer | Faber Maunsell |
| Main contractors | Bovis Lend Lease |
The M&S Bank Arena is a cool building in Liverpool, England. It's a big indoor space where lots of different events happen. You can go there to see live music, funny comedy shows, and exciting sports games. It used to be called the Echo Arena. The arena is part of a larger area called ACC Liverpool, which also has an exhibition center and a convention center. It's a really important place for entertainment in the North West of England.
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Arena Design and Features
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The M&S Bank Arena was designed by Wilkinson Eyre architects and Sport Concepts. It's a very flexible space, meaning it can be set up in many different ways. The arena has 7,513 permanent seats. These seats are arranged around three sides of a central floor. This setup is perfect for hosting indoor sports events.
For concerts, the arena can hold up to 10,600 people. This number includes seats on the floor. If people stand on the floor, the arena can fit even more, up to 11,000 visitors. There are also special private boxes around the arena for groups.
The building has six dressing rooms for performers. There are also five locker rooms for sports teams. Two offices are available for event organizers. Large vehicles, like trucks, can even drive into the basement. The arena is also designed to be environmentally friendly.
In 2015, a new building called Exhibition Centre Liverpool opened next door. This new space works with the arena. It offers more room for standing concerts and big international sports events. This area is called 'Space by M&S Bank Arena'. It can hold up to 7,000 people standing.
History of the Arena
The arena first opened on January 12, 2008. Back then, it was known as the Echo Arena Liverpool. Its opening was a big part of Liverpool's year as the European Capital of Culture. This event celebrated a decade of new developments in the city. The opening show was called 'Liverpool the Musical'. It had 700 performers and took a huge amount of time to plan.
Since it opened, over 7 million people have visited the arena. It has hosted more than 3,800 events. The arena has also brought a lot of money to the Liverpool City Region.
New Name for the Arena
In November 2018, the arena announced a new name. It became the M&S Bank Arena. This change happened because of a sponsorship deal with M&S Bank. The new name officially started on January 7, 2019. The Liverpool Echo newspaper still works with the arena as a business partner. The entire building and the surrounding area were updated with the new branding. This new look was shown to the public on January 31, 2019.
Car Park Fire in 2017
On New Year's Eve, December 31, 2017, a fire started. It was in a large car park next to the arena. Because of the fire, the Liverpool International Horse Show had to be canceled. This show was happening at the arena. About 80 horses were safely moved out of their temporary stables. These stables were on the ground floor of the car park. The horses were kept safe on the arena floor and nearby land.
The fire continued into the next day. Sadly, the car park building had to be taken down later. Almost all of the 1,400 cars inside were destroyed. Luckily, no people or horses were seriously hurt. A new car park was built in 2019.
Sad Event: Eric Bristow's Passing
On April 5, 2018, a famous darts player named Eric Bristow was at a Premier League Darts event. After the event, he collapsed outside the arena. He had a heart attack and sadly passed away.
Exciting Events at the Arena
Entertainment Shows
The M&S Bank Arena has hosted many amazing entertainment events. It was home to the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards. Famous artists like Justin Bieber, Little Mix, Paul McCartney, and Beyoncé have performed there.
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On October 7, 2022, a big announcement was made. The BBC and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said the arena would host the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Liverpool hosted on behalf of Ukraine. Ukraine could not host the event themselves due to safety concerns.
The contest had two semi-finals on May 9 and 11, 2023. The grand final was on May 13, 2023. This was the first time Liverpool hosted Eurovision. It was also the ninth time the UK hosted the contest. The last time was in Birmingham in 1998.
Sports Competitions
The arena has also hosted many important sports events. From 2008 to 2010, it was the home court for the Mersey Tigers basketball team. For many years, the Liverpool International Horse Show has taken place there at the end of the year. The 2021 show was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The arena is also a regular venue for Premier League Darts events.
In November 2021, the arena was supposed to host the final of the 2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup. However, this event was postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the delay, the arena was not available. The final game was then moved to the Manchester Central Convention Complex.
The arena has hosted the British Gymnastics Championships every year since 2012. It also hosted the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in November 2022.
Getting to the Arena
You can get to the M&S Bank Arena by bus. James Street railway station is a short walk away. This station is on the Merseyrail Wirral Line. It's only two stops from the main Liverpool Lime Street station.
The arena is located near the entrance of the old Wapping Tunnel. This tunnel runs from Edge Hill in the east of the city. Some people have suggested reopening the tunnel. They think a new train station could be built near the arena. This station would be at the site of the old Park Lane railway goods station.
See also
In Spanish: M&S Bank Arena para niños
- List of indoor arenas in the United Kingdom
