Hull Arena
{{Short description|Ice hockey arena in Kingston upon Hull, England}}
{{For|the Canadian ice arena|Robert Guertin Centre}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Hull Arena
| logo_image =
| image = Ice Arena, Kingston St, Hull - geograph.org.uk - 258656.jpg
| caption =
| location = Kingston Park
Kingston Street
Hull
HU1 2DZ
England
| owner = Hull City Council
| operator = Hull Leisure
| former_names = Humberside Ice Arena
| seating_capacity = 2,000 (seated)
3,750 (including floor)
| dimensions = 60 × 30 metre
| website = [http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/hullarena www.hullcc.gov.uk/hullarena]
|}}
Hull Arena (originally Humberside Ice Arena and known locally as the Hull Ice Arena) is an ice rink, in the city of Kingston upon Hull, England. It offers an Olympic-sized pad of {{convert|60|by|30|m|ft}}.{{cite web |url = http://www.iceskating.org.uk/node/1084 |title = Hull Ice Arena |publisher = National Ice Skating Association |access-date = 18 October 2008}} It is also used for other sports, trade fairs and as a concert venue, for which it has a maximum capacity of 3,750.{{cite magazine |author= |date=February–March 2022 |title=Hull Ice Arena (Hull, England) |url=https://issuu.com/mondiale/docs/mdst22_digitallr |magazine=Mondo Stadia |location=Stockport |issue=22 |pages=36–39}}
History
The building had a protracted development. Three sites were considered during planning phase: Ferensway, the Marina and the Kingston Clinic site on Beverley Road. Budgeted at £2.5 million, it was originally set to be a joint venture between Humberside County and the city of Hull, and the city received a £1 million grant to that effect. In June 1986 however, Humberside asked the city to return to grant in order to finalize the project on its own, with a tentative completion date of November 1987.{{cite news |author= |date=30 June 1986 |title=County set to go at it alone over ice rink |newspaper=The Daily Mail |location=London |page=3}}
The building's ceremonial cornerstone was laid by Queen Elizabeth II.{{cite web | url =https://www.oldhymerians.com/news/life-after-hymers/294/294-Platinum-Jubilee-Stories-Opening-of-Hull-Ice-Arena | title =Platinum Jubilee Stories: Opening of Hull Ice Arena |author= | date =1 June 2022 | website =oldhymerians.com | access-date =31 December 2022}}{{cite web | url =https://houlton.co.uk/about-us/timeline/83/1987-hull-ice-arena-indoor-bowls | title =1987 – Hull Ice Arena & Indoor Bowls |author= | website =houlton.co.uk | access-date =31 December 2022}} It was inaugurated on 14 September 1988 by former Olympic figure skating champion John Curry.{{cite web | url =https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/other-sport/hull-pirates-celebrate-30-years-1951815 | title =Hull Pirates to celebrate 30 years of ice hockey in Hull with special night at opening game | last1 =Wigham | first1 =Catherine | date =30 August 2018 | website =hulldailymail.co.uk | access-date =31 December 2022}}
The venue closed in March 2020 for renovations worth £1.5 million, which ended up lasting one year and a half.{{cite web | url =https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-humber-59087142 | title =Hull Ice Arena to reopen after £1.5m refurbishment |author= | date =29 October 2021 | website =bbc.com | access-date =31 December 2022}} The ice sheet was redone, while the locker rooms and lavatories were renovated. A new lighting rig consisting of eighty spotlights and a clearer sound system were also installed.
The building is nonetheless viewed as outdated, and a new ice rink is being considered as part of a future real estate development on Albion Street.{{cite web | url =https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/hull-ice-arena-shut-coronavirus-4600127 | title ='Forgotten' Hull Arena left in sorry state as doors remain shut | last1 =Kemp | first1 =Dan | date =13 October 2020 | website =hulldailymail.co.uk | access-date =31 December 2022}}
A 2021 publication pegged the Arena's yearly attendance, which has varied depending on the caliber of resident ice hockey teams, at 147,000.
Ice sports
Hull Arena has been the home of all ice hockey teams within the city, including the Humberside Seahawks, Hull Thunder, and Hull Stingrays of the BNL, and the Hull Stingrays of the Elite League, The Hull Pirates of the NIHL,{{cite web|url=http://www.hullpirates.co.uk/fixtrues-and-results/|title=Fixtures and Results – Hull Pirates|access-date=14 September 2019}} The current teams include The Hull Seahawks,{{cite web|url=https://hullseahawks.co.uk/|title=Hull Seahawks – NIHL Hockey Team|accessdate=21 November 2023}} of the NIHL and the Hull Jets.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Amateur-Sports-Team/HullJetsHockey/about/|title=Hull Jets|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=14 September 2019}} of the NIHL North 1
Other events
The Arena hosts boxing events for the Matchroom Boxing promotions stable with Hull boxers Luke Campbell and Tommy Coyle amongst those to compete.{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/696357|title=BoxRec: Event|website=boxrec.com|access-date=14 September 2019}} It was previously used to hold such events in April 1997,{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/7741|title=BoxRec: Event|website=boxrec.com|access-date=14 September 2019}} March 1998{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/8211|title=BoxRec: Event|website=boxrec.com|access-date=14 September 2019}} and June 1998{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/8318|title=BoxRec: Event|website=boxrec.com|access-date=14 September 2019}} with boxers including Paul Ingle, Clinton Woods, Howard Eastman and Scott Harrison competing.
The Arena has also hosted WWF/WWE pro wrestling on multiple occasions, such as the Hart Attack '94, {{cite web | url =https://thehistoryofwwe.com/94.htm | title =1994|author= | website =thehistoryofwwe.com | access-date =31 December 2022}} Full Metal '95 and Wrestlemania Revenge 2005 tours.{{cite web | url =https://thehistoryofwwe.com/95.htm | title =1995 |author= | website =thehistoryofwwe.com | access-date =31 December 2022}}
The 2011 edition of the World Masters darts tournament was played at the arena.{{cite web|url=https://winmau.com/news/post/100|title=Winmau – Winmau World Masters 2011 – Winmau Dartboard Company|website=winmau.com|access-date=14 September 2019}}
Among music acts who have appeared at the Arena are Arctic Monkeys,{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/10-great-things-hull-has-given-the-world-2258931|title=We heart Hull: 10 great things the city has given the world|last=Thomas|first=Helen Meriel|date=9 March 2018|website=NME|access-date=14 September 2019}} Faithless,{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/faithless-4-1317018#dEVK7Bzxv8u9dPMw.99|title=Faithless to go on UK arena tour|website=NME.com|access-date=14 September 2019}} Kings of Leon,{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kings-of-leon-275-1341445|title=Kings Of Leon announce huge UK tour|website=NME.com|access-date=14 September 2019}} Oasis,{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/whats-on/music/oasis-rock-hull-1-2086248|title=Oasis rock Hull|newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post|access-date=14 September 2019}} Robbie Williams,{{cite web|url=https://www.robbiewilliams.com/tour/ego-has-landed|title=Robbie Williams|website=www.robbiewilliams.com|access-date=14 September 2019}} Ed Sheeran{{cite web|url=https://www.edsheeran.com/tour-date/hull-arena-hull-uk-2012-11-06-190000|title=Ed Sheeran Tour Recap: Live at Hull Arena, Hull, UK: 06 November 2012|website=Ed Sheeran Official Website|access-date=14 September 2019}} and The Libertines.{{cite news|url=http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife/libertines-paddingtons-put-great-night-523279|title=Pete Doherty puts on a show-stopper as The Libertines rock out Hull Ice Arena|last=Jones|first=Craig|date=24 September 2017|newspaper=Hull Daily Mail|access-date=14 September 2019}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Hull Arena}}
- [http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/hullarena Hull Arena Website]
{{Elite Ice Hockey League Venues}}
{{Sport in Hull}}
{{Indoor arenas UK}}
{{coord|53.737300|-0.343500|type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:Ice hockey venues in England