Arena Birmingham

{{About|the indoor arena in Birmingham, England|other arenas with the same or similar names|Birmingham Arena (disambiguation){{!}}Birmingham Arena}}

{{Redirect|Barclaycard Arena|the arena in Hamburg|Barclaycard Arena (Hamburg)}}

{{Infobox venue

| name = Utilita Arena Birmingham

| logo_image = Utilita_Arena_Birmingham_logo.png

| image = Arena from Library of Birmingham 2024-07-19.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption = Arena Birmingham in July 2024

| former names = National Indoor Arena (1991–2014)
Barclaycard Arena (2014–2017)
Arena Birmingham (2017–2020)

| address = King Edwards Road
Birmingham B1 2AA England

| coordinates = {{coord|52|28|47|N|01|54|54|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| owner = NEC Group

| operator =

| opened = 4 October 1991

| renovated = 2013–14

| reopened =

| cost =

| architect =

| main_contractors =

| project_manager =

| structural engineer =

| tenants = All England Open Badminton Championships
Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix

| capacity = 15,800 (arena){{Cite web|url=https://www.necgroup.co.uk/our-brands/utilita-arena-birmingham/|title=Our Brands {{!}} Utilita Arena Birmingham|website=www.necgroup.co.uk|access-date=15 April 2020}}
6,825 (B1)

| embedded = {{Infobox building

| embed = yes

| mapframe = no

| ren_cost = £26 million

| ren_architect = Broadway Malyan

| ren_engineer =

| ren_str_engineer = Rodgers Leaske

| ren_serv_engineer = Hulley & Kirkwood

| ren_civ_engineer =

| ren_oth_designers = {{hlist|Novus|Inox Equip Ltd|Time Sec|Architainment Lighting, Ltd}}

| ren_qty_surveyor =

| ren_contractor = Royal BAM Group

}}

| website = {{URL|http://www.arenabham.co.uk/|Venue website}}|

}}

Utilita Arena Birmingham (previously known as Arena Birmingham, The Barclaycard Arena, originally as the National Indoor Arena and still commonly called The NIA) is an indoor arena and sporting venue in central Birmingham, England. It is owned by parent company the NEC Group. When it was opened in 1991, it was the largest indoor arena in the UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.necgroup.co.uk/our-brands/ |title=Our brands |publisher=NEC Group |access-date=24 January 2015}}

The arena is located alongside the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line's Old Turn Junction and opposite the National Sea Life Centre in Brindleyplace. The building straddles the main Birmingham to Wolverhampton Intercity railway line (originally the Stour Valley Line), but does not have a station of its own. There are three adjoining car parks with a total of 2,156 spaces. Close to the arena is The ICC which is also owned by the NEC Group.

It is currently the fourth-largest indoor arena in the United Kingdom by capacity. In 2019, the arena had ticket sales of 530,597, which was the 4th highest in the United Kingdom.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pollstar.com/Chart/2019/12/Top200Arenas_797.pdf|title=2019 Worldwide Ticket Sales Top 200 Arena Venues|date=16 December 2019|website=Pollstar|access-date=2 January 2020}}

Background

File:NIA, Birmingham.jpg

The arena was officially opened, as the National Indoor Arena, on 4 October 1991 by the athlete Linford Christie.{{cite web|url=http://www.activbirmingham.com/info/birminghamnia-3553.html|title=Birmingham NIA|publisher=ActivBirmingham|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018184050/http://www.activbirmingham.com/info/birminghamnia-3553.html|archive-date=18 October 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=24 January 2015}} When it was opened, the arena was intended to be an indoor sporting venue.{{Cite web|url=http://www.necgroup.co.uk/news/birmingham-celebrates-25-years-of-arena/|title=Birmingham celebrates 25 years of city centre arena {{!}} News {{!}}NEC Group|website=www.necgroup.co.uk|access-date=14 June 2019}} However, the venue began to host entertainment events shortly after opening.{{Cite web|url=https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/directory_record/138082/arena_birmingham|title=Arena Birmingham|last=Council|first=Birmingham City|website=www.birmingham.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=14 June 2019}}

The arena currently hosts a variety of events including concerts, sporting events and conferences.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arenabham.co.uk/destination/about-us/|title=About us {{!}} Arena Birmingham|website=www.arenabham.co.uk|language=en|access-date=14 June 2019}} It has a capacity of up to 15,800 using both permanent seating and temporary seating configurations.{{cite web|url=http://www.barclaycardarena.co.uk/venue-info/ |title=Venue Information |publisher=Barclaycard Arena |access-date=24 January 2015}}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bam.eu/en/press/press-releases/michael-buble-officially-launches-birminghams-barclaycard-arena|title=Michael Bublé officially launches Birmingham's 'Barclaycard Arena' {{!}} Koninklijke BAM Groep / Royal BAM Group|website=www.bam.eu|access-date=11 December 2016}}

In 2018 the arena had ticket sales of 497,443, which was the 4th highest in the United Kingdom.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pollstar.com/Chart/2018/12/2018YearEndWorldwideTicketSalesTop200ArenaVenues_702.pdf|title=2018 YEAR END Worldwide Ticket Sales TOP 200 ARENA VENUES|website=Pollstar|access-date=21 May 2019}}

=Naming history=

National Indoor Arena {{small|(4 October 1991 – 1 December 2014)}}{{cite web |url=http://www.psam.uk.com/birminghams-revamped-national-indoor-arena-nia-to-become-the-barclaycard-arena |title=Birmingham's revamped National Indoor Arena (NIA) to become the 'Barclaycard Arena' |author= |date=3 October 2014 |website=PanStadia & Arena Management Magazine |access-date=28 November 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191128074511/http://www.psam.uk.com/birminghams-revamped-national-indoor-arena-nia-to-become-the-barclaycard-arena |archive-date=28 November 2019}}
Barclaycard Arena {{small|(2 December 2014 – 31 August 2017)}}{{cite web |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/birmingham-entertainment/2017/08/14/birminghams-barcalycard-arena-to-be-renamed/ |title=Birmingham's Barclaycard Arena to be renamed |last1=Rawlins |first1=Kristen |date=14 April 2017 |website=Express & Star |publisher=MNA Media |access-date=28 November 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191128074031/https://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/birmingham-entertainment/2017/08/14/birminghams-barcalycard-arena-to-be-renamed/ |archive-date=28 November 2019}}
Arena Birmingham {{small|(1 September 2017 – 14 April 2020)}}
Utilita Arena Birmingham {{Small|(15 April 2020 - Present)}}

=Renovation=

File:NIA Barclaycard Birmingham.jpg

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 a projected finishing date of Winter 2014.{{cite news|title=International firm awarded £24m contract to refurbish Birmingham NIA|url=http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/business/international-firm-awarded-24m-contract-3906332|date=16 May 2013|work=Birmingham Post|access-date=14 March 2014|location=Birmingham}}

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.{{cite web|last=Brown |first=Graeme |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/michael-bubl-perform-nia-renamed-7853146 |title=Michael Bublé to perform as NIA renamed the Barclaycard Arena |publisher=Birmingham Mail |date=29 September 2014 |access-date=24 January 2015}} It was renamed the "Barclaycard Arena" in November 2014 after Barclaycard won the naming rights for five years,[http://www.newsroom.barclays.com/Press-releases/Barclaycard-partners-with-NEC-Group-899.aspx] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330164554/http://www.newsroom.barclays.com/Press-releases/Barclaycard-partners-with-NEC-Group-899.aspx|date=30 March 2012}} but in May 2016 it was announced that the naming deal would end early,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-36215788|title=Barclaycard scraps sponsorship of Birmingham Arena|work=BBC News|date=5 May 2016|access-date=12 July 2016}} and from September 2017 it would be named Arena Birmingham.{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/barclaycard-arena-birmingham-change-name-13473285|title=Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham changes its name again|work=Birmingham Mail|date=11 September 2017|access-date=20 September 2017}}

On 16 January 2020, it was announced that the arena will be renamed Utilita Arena Birmingham from 15 April 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/arena-birmingham-change-name-again-17581938|title = Arena Birmingham to change name again - and everyone says same thing|date = 16 January 2020}}

Notable events

File:National Indoor Arena logo.svg

The arena has been used for several major events in the past, including counting no fewer than eight constituencies in the hall for the 1992 general election.Election 92, BBC, 9 April 1992

Gladiators was recorded at the arena from 1992 to 1999.
1993 IBF World Championships
1995 Netball World Championships
Eurovision Song Contest 1998{{cite web|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1998|url=https://eurovision.tv/event/birmingham-1998|website=eurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=21 October 2014|date=9 May 1998}}
1999 World Judo Championships
1999 WWF Rebellion.
The 2001 Robot Wars Live Tour.
2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships.
Great Britain Davis Cup tennis matches (vs. United States in 1999, vs. Sweden and Thailand in 2002, and vs. Japan in 2016)
BBL Cup and BBL Finals Weekend matches
2003 IBF World Championships
2007 European Athletics Indoor Championships.
The Premier League Darts every year since 2007
2010 European Men's Artistic Gymnastics Championships
2010 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships
2010 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship
2011 Trampoline World Championships
Lee Evans performed here from 17 to 21 September 2014 to record his final stand-up show tour Monsters before his retirement.
Linkin Park performed here as part of the One More Light Tour on 6 July 2017. This was the band's last performance of the European leg, as the remaining show in Manchester were cancelled due to a bombing at the Manchester Arena, where the band was supposed to perform. It was also the final performance of lead singer Chester Bennington before his death on 20 July 2017.[http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7873814/chester-bennington-rip-linkin-park-final-concert-video "Watch Linkin Park Perform With Chester Bennington for the Last Time"]. Billboard. Retrieved 21 July 2017
2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships
2022 Commonwealth Games
Monster Jam Ramped Up made its worldwide debut on 29-31 March 2024, featuring the all new Monstergon.

Ticket sales

class="wikitable sortable"

!Year

!Name

!Ticket sales

!Gross sales (USD)

!Worldwide rank

!UK rank

2019

| rowspan="3" |Arena Birmingham

|530,597

|40,489,480

|36

2018

|497,443{{Cite web|url=https://www.pollstar.com/Chart/2018/12/2018YearEndWorldwideTicketSalesTop200ArenaVenues_702.pdf|title=2018 YEAR END Worldwide Ticket Sales TOP 200 ARENA VENUES|website=Pollstar|access-date=2 January 2020}}

|29

2017

|642,922{{Cite web|url=https://www.pollstar.com/Chart/2018/01/2017YearEndWorldwideTicketSalesTop200ArenaVenues_628.pdf|title=2017 YEAR END Worldwide Ticket Sales TOP 200 ARENA VENUES|website=Pollstar|access-date=2 January 2020}}

|17

2016

| rowspan="2" |Barclaycard Arena

|422,619{{Cite web|url=https://www.pollstar.com/Chart/2017/01/2016YearEndWorldwideTicketSalesTop200ArenaVenues_350.pdf|title=2016 YEAR END Worldwide Ticket Sales TOP 200 ARENA VENUES|website=Pollstar|access-date=2 January 2020}}

|31

2015

|425,241{{Cite web|url=https://www.pollstar.com/Chart/2015YearEndWorldwideTicketSalesTop200ArenaVenues_chartItem_30.pdf|title=2015 YEAR END Worldwide Ticket Sales TOP 200 ARENA VENUES|website=Pollstar|access-date=2 January 2020}}

|36

NEC Group

Parent company The NEC Group also owns and operates the ICC Birmingham in central Birmingham, and the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and bp pulse LIVE (previously Resorts World Arena, Genting Arena and LG Arena), based on The NEC site in nearby Solihull.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-45863974 |title=NEC Group sold 'for £800m' |work=BBC News |date=2018-10-15 |language=en-GB |access-date=2019-09-23}}

References

External links

{{Official website|https://www.arenabham.co.uk/}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070207095346/http://www.merouk.co.uk/structures/1990nia.htm Construction of the arena's roof]

{{Navboxes

|title=Events

|list1=

{{Succession box|

title=IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics
Venue|

before=Pavilhão Atlântico
Lisbon|

after=Budapest Sports Arena
Budapest|

years=2003

}}

{{Succession box

| title=European Indoor Championships in Athletics
Venue

| before=Palacio de Deportes de la CAM
Madrid