Liverpool Arena facts for kids
 |
|
Exterior of the arena (c. 2019)
|
|
| Full name | M&S Bank Arena Liverpool |
|---|---|
| Former names | Liverpool Arena (planning/construction) Echo Arena (2008–19) |
| 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 | 11,000 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 15 May 2005 |
| Opened | 12 January 2008 |
| Expanded |
|
| Construction cost | £164 million |
| Architect | WilkinsonEyre |
| Project manager |
|
| Structural engineer | BuroHappold Engineering |
| Services engineer | Faber Maunsell |
| Main contractors | Bovis Lend Lease |
The M&S Bank Arena is a large indoor stadium in Liverpool, England. It's also known as the Liverpool Arena or was previously called the Echo Arena. This cool place hosts many different events. You can watch live music concerts, funny comedy shows, and exciting sports events here.
The arena is part of a bigger area called ACC Liverpool. This area includes the arena, an exhibition center, and a convention center. It's a huge place for events! The M&S Bank Arena serves millions of people in the North West of England.
Contents
Design and Features of the Arena
.jpg)
The M&S Bank Arena was designed by special architects called Wilkinson Eyre. It's a very flexible space, meaning it can change its setup for different events. It can hold anywhere from almost 4,000 people to over 11,000 people!
Inside, there are six dressing rooms for performers. There are also five locker rooms for sports teams. Big vehicles, like trucks weighing up to 38 tonnes, can even drive into the basement. The building is designed to be very eco-friendly. It has a "very good" rating for being green.
In 2015, a new building opened next door. It's called the Exhibition Centre Liverpool. This new space can hold up to 7,000 people for standing concerts. It's also used for big international sports events.
Car Park Information
The arena used to have a large car park that could hold 1,600 cars. However, a big fire happened there in 2017. Because of the fire, the car park had to close. Now, there is a temporary car park that fits 550 cars. A new, even bigger car park is planned to open soon. It will have nine floors and space for 1,650 cars.
History of the M&S Bank Arena
The arena first opened its doors on January 12, 2008. It was called the Echo Arena Liverpool back then. The opening was a huge event for Liverpool. It was part of the city's celebration as the "Capital of Culture." This special year showed off how much the city had grown and changed.
The opening show was called 'Liverpool the Musical'. It had 700 performers and took a lot of planning. Since it opened, over 7 million visitors have come to the arena. It has hosted more than 3,800 events. The arena has also brought a lot of money to the Liverpool area.
In 2018, the arena got a new name. It became the M&S Bank Arena. This happened because of a sponsorship deal with M&S Bank. The new name officially started in early 2019. The Liverpool Echo newspaper still works closely with the arena.
Naming History
- Echo Arena (January 12, 2008 – January 6, 2019)
- M&S Bank Arena (January 7, 2019 – present)
The 2017 Car Park Fire
On New Year's Eve in 2017, a fire started in the car park next to the arena. Because of the fire, a horse show happening at the arena had to be canceled. About 80 horses were safely moved out of their temporary stables. They were kept safe on the arena floor and nearby land. The fire lasted into the next day. Almost all of the 1,400 cars in the car park were destroyed. Luckily, no people or horses were seriously hurt.
Getting to the Arena
You can get to the M&S Bank Arena by bus. The closest train station is James Street railway station. It's just a short walk away. This station is on the Merseyrail Wirral Line. From James Street, you can take a train two stops to Liverpool Lime Street station. Lime Street is a big station with trains to many other cities.
Images for kids
-
Exterior of the arena (c. 2019)
-
M&S Bank Arena logo
See also
In Spanish: M&S Bank Arena para niños
