Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome#Velodrome

{{redirect|Emirates Arena|the home of Arsenal F.C.|Emirates Stadium}}

{{Infobox venue

| name = Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome

| nickname = Emirates Arena

| logo_image =

| logo_caption =

| image = Emirates Arena - Glasgow.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption = Emirates Arena during the 2018 European Championships

| fullname =

| former_names = National Indoor Sports Arena (NISA)

| location = Dalmarnock, Glasgow, Scotland

| coordinates = {{coord|55|50|50|N|4|12|28.95|W|region:GB|display=inline,title}}

| broke_ground = 2009

| built =

| opened = 6 October 2012

| renovated =

| expanded =

| closed =

| demolished =

| owner = Glasgow City Council

| operator =

| surface =

| scoreboard =

| cost = £113m

| architect = Sport Concepts, 3D Reid; Ralph Schürmann, Germany (track)

| project_manager =

| structural engineer =

| services engineer =

| general_contractor = Sir Robert McAlpine

| main_contractors =

| capacity = 8,200 (tennis)
6,500 (basketball)
5,000 (arena)
2,000 (velodrome)
1,650 (sports hall)

| suites =

| record_attendance =

| dimensions =

| acreage =

| tenants = 2014 Commonwealth Games
Glasgow Rocks (2012-2022)
Caledonia Gladiators (2022-2023)

| website =

}}

The Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, known for sponsorship reasons as the Emirates Arena, is an indoor arena and velodrome in Dalmarnock, Glasgow, Scotland.{{cite web |url=http://www.sir-robert-mcalpine.com/projects/?id=18682 |title=National Indoor Sports Arena |year=2011 |publisher=Robert McAlpine |access-date=22 June 2011}} Built for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, these venues hosted the badminton and track cycling events. Situated opposite Celtic Park in the East End of Glasgow, the complex is also the headquarters of Scottish Cycling.

History

It was built on a {{convert|12.5|hectare|acre|adj=on}} site at a cost of £113 million.{{cite web|title=Glasgow unveils naming rights deal for Emirates Arena|url=http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/news/pages/Glasgow-unveils-naming-rights-deal-for-Emirates-Arena.aspx|publisher=Glasgow Life|access-date=29 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727092603/http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/news/pages/Glasgow-unveils-naming-rights-deal-for-Emirates-Arena.aspx|archive-date=27 July 2014|url-status=dead}} The construction work took place between 2009 and 2012. The venue opened in October 2012.

In September 2017, neighbours Celtic F.C. had plans approved for the construction of a hotel complex within their land, situated directly across the road from the arena and velodrome.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-41428428|title=Celtic get go-ahead for hotel and museum project|work=BBC News|date=28 September 2017|access-date=30 September 2017}}

Indoor arena

File:Emirates Arena on Glasgow Rocks Opening Night (cropped).jpg

The Indoor Arena has a capacity of 6,500{{cite web|url=http://www.sir-robert-mcalpine.com/projects/index-id=18682.html |work=Sir Robert McAlpine |title=Emirates Arena & Velodrome |access-date=30 March 2018}} and during the Commonwealth Games it had twelve badminton courts in three indoor sports halls.{{cite web |url=http://www.glasgow2014.com/the_games/athletes_village_and_venues/venues/nisa__sir_chris_hoy_velodrome.aspx |title=National Indoor Sports Arena (NISA) & Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome Precinct |publisher=2014 Commonwealth Games website |access-date=10 August 2011 |archive-date=28 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028090929/http://www.glasgow2014.com/the_games/athletes_village_and_venues/venues/nisa__sir_chris_hoy_velodrome.aspx |url-status=usurped }} The arena has a hydraulically lifted 200m indoor running track that hosted the Aviva International Match, which will move from Kelvin Hall.

At the start of the 2012–13 British Basketball League season the Glasgow Rocks moved from the Kelvin Hall to the new arena, with their opening game against traditional arch-rivals Newcastle Eagles selling out. With 1,500 extra floor seats around the arena's running track, it became the largest arena of any club in the British Basketball League at the time, and on 8 November 2012 it was announced by the League that the arena would become the venue for the final of the BBL Trophy.

In 2015 the Great Britain Davis Cup team played the United States in the first round and Australia in the semi-final stage at the 2015 Davis Cup, featuring top British player and world number three Andy Murray. The arena capacity was expanded to 8,200 for the semi-final to comply with requirements for the Davis Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/tennis/davis-cup-glasgows-emirates-arena-6238580|title=Emirates Arena expanded to Host Davis Cup semi final}} Great Britain played again at the arena for the 2016 Davis Cup semifinals.

The arena was the main venue for the 2019 European Athletics Indoor Championships and the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships.

Velodrome

File:Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome 26.jpg

The Velodrome has a 250-metre indoor track with a capacity of 2,500 (2,000 seated), expanding to 4,500 (4,000 seated) with temporary seating during the Games. The Velodrome is named after Olympic and Commonwealth gold-medal winning Scottish cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, who was, at the time, Britain's most successful Olympic athlete.

It opened in October 2012, and hosted a round of the 2012–13 UCI Track Cycling World Cup series[https://www.uksport.gov.uk/news/Glasgows-Sir-Chris-Hoy-Velodrome-to-host-round-of-2012-13-UCI-Track-World-Cup-080612/ UK Sport – Glasgow's Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome to host round of 2012/13 UCI Track World Cup] In August 2013, it hosted the 2013 UCI Juniors Track World Championships. It was the venue for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The velodrome hosted the European Track Cycling Championships, which was part of the first European Sports Championships.{{cite web |url=http://www.european-athletics.org/news/article=leading-sports-bring-together-their-european-championships-2018/index.html |title=Leading sports bring together their European championships in 2018 |publisher=European Athletics |date=26 March 2015 |access-date=7 November 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sports-championships-idUSL3N0WS4DK20150326 |title=New kid on the block as European sports championships launched for 2018 |first=Karolos |last=Grohmann |work=Reuters |date=26 March 2015 |access-date=7 November 2015}}

The arena has parking for 416 cars and 26 disabled bays. Overflow parking is available at Celtic Park.

{{Wide image|Panorama Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome Glasgow.jpg|750px|The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome during the World Cup Cycling Event in November 2012|alt=The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome during the World Cup Cycling Event in November 2012}}

References

External links

[http://www.emiratesarena.co.uk Official website]
{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20121028090929/http://www.glasgow2014.com/the_games/athletes_village_and_venues/venues/nisa__sir_chris_hoy_velodrome.aspx Commonwealth Games page]}}
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryZ_GM90rPk Fly-through video]

Category:Cycle racing in Scotland

Category:Sports venues in Glasgow

Category:Velodromes in Scotland

Category:Indoor arenas in Scotland

Category:Parkhead

Category:Bridgeton–Calton–Dalmarnock

Category:2014 Commonwealth Games venues

Category:Sports venues completed in 2012

Category:2012 establishments in Scotland

Category:Basketball venues in Scotland

Category:Badminton venues

Category:Badminton in Scotland