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YTL Bristol development gets £2bn injection

Malaysian conglomerate YTL has announced plans to invest around £2 billion in the long-delayed Brabazon Bristol development, which includes a 19,500-capacity carbon-neutral arena.

The Filton Airfield site will be transformed into the UK’s largest brownfield development, including 6,500 homes, three new schools and a 15-acre park.

Plans for the arena, which would be the fourth-largest indoor arena in the UK and the only arena in South West England, have faced several setbacks over several years. Earlier this month it was reported that the venue is facing up to a likely opening date of 2028.

The Brabazon Bristol development was formally announced last week by the Malaysian prime minister, who also revealed that YTL will invest a further £2bn in its UK businesses over the next five years.

Earlier this month it was reported that the venue is facing up to a likely opening date of 2028

The Copenhagen-inspired project, which will deliver more than 30,000 jobs, is being designed to allow people to access essential services within a 15-minute radius of their home. Developers hope the new town will be the most sustainable in the UK.

Bristol is the biggest city in the UK without an arena, with plans for such a venue first drawn up more than 20 years ago. A previous plan for a city centre arena near Temple Meads was scrapped in 2018 because of risk to the taxpayer.

Its current largest indoor venues are the 2,100-cap Bristol Beacon and 1,600-cap O2 Academy Bristol, although its 32,000-cap Ashton Gate Stadium has hosted concerts by acts including the Spice Girls, Take That, The Killers, the Rolling Stones, Arctic Monkeys, Muse and Elton John.

 


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14 for 2025: New venues coming on stream worldwide

A slate of new arenas and large-scale venues are due to come online in 2025, giving support to expanding touring markets around the world.

Africa
In a new year straw poll conducted by IQ, several agents nodded to Africa as the emerging market to watch in 2025.

“The influence that this market has on global recorded music and culture is already profound, so think of the impact it could have on live music!” said Jon Ollier, One Fiinix Live founder.

Lagos Arena – Nigeria
Scheduled opening date: Late 2025
Projected capacity: 12,000

The most populous nation in Africa is set to get its first purpose-built arena, Lagos Arena. Last February, ground was broken on the $100m venue, which is projected to host 200 events each year, including concerts, family entertainment, basketball games, UFC fights, boxing matches, WWE shows, and more.

The consortium delivering the project includes Live Nation, Oak View Group, Tayo Amusan (chairman of real estate company The Persianas Group), the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Yinka Folawiyo (chairman of the Yinka Folawiyo Group), Nigerian investment fund Adino Capital, and MBO Capital.

John Reid, president of Live Nation EMEA, said at the ground-breaking ceremony: “Nigeria and Africa more broadly present massive opportunities to touring artists when it comes to connecting with their global audiences.

“This brand-new, 12,000-capacity venue will open up Nigeria to international stars, and Nigerian artists will benefit hugely from having an arena to showcase their talents in front of a home audience.”

“The Dome fills a critical gap in South Africa’s live entertainment scene”

The Dome – South Africa
Scheduled opening date: January 2025
Projected capacity: 10,500

In November, Live Nation announced the launch of South Africa’s largest dedicated live entertainment space, The Dome, which is set to open in Johannesburg this month.

Live Nation’s first permanent venue in Africa, The Dome is adjacent to the FNB Stadium and will serve as a “hub for local and pan-African talent”. It will highlight genres such as Afrobeats, Amapiano, dance, pop, hip-hop, and R&B – with a solo headline show by Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems confirmed for 20 March.

“The Dome fills a critical gap in South Africa’s live entertainment scene, creating a unique space that will support pan-African talent,” says Justin Van Wyk, CEO at Live Nation South Africa, which will promote and produce the venue’s events. “The venue will provide new opportunities to connect emerging and established artists with a new demographic of South African fans.”

The company is partnering with Stadium Management South Africa and Gearhouse South Africa on the state-of-the-art venue in the suburb of Nasrec.

 


Asia
New venues are popping up all across the continent, with at least four expected to crop up in Japan this year alone. With the global rise of Asian pop driving demand and new basketball rules in Japan causing a rush for new venues, there’s no shortage of projects in this part of the world.

Kai Tak Sports Park – Hong Kong
Scheduled opening date: Early 2025
Projected capacity: 50,000 + 10,000

Originally due to come online last year, Kai Tak Sports Park – which features a 50,000-capacity stadium and 10,000-capacity indoor arena with retractable seating — is preparing to open its doors.

The venue, designed by Populous architecture firm, will be operated by ASM Global and predominantly host sporting events. Coldplay will bring its record-shattering Music of the Spheres world tour for four sold-out nights in April.

The venue will be one of the largest entertainment facilities in Japan

IG Arena – Nagoya, Japan
Scheduled opening date: July 2025
Projected capacity: 17,000

Situated near the beautiful Nagoya Castle in Aichi Prefecture, IG Arena is set to become one of the landmark arenas in Japan when it opens in July. The venue, strategically located between Tokyo and Osaka, will also boast a 30m height, making it one of the largest entertainment facilities in Japan.

It is projected to host 200 events a year, says CEO Edwin Omura, of AEG, which will operate the arena.

“The ‘hybrid oval bowl’ design which combines both an oval and horseshoe bowl will allow promoters to bring in multiple types of music, sports and family-type events,” he told IQ.

It will be the site of the 2026 Asian Games and Asian Para Games, which will be co-hosted by the Aichi Prefecture and the City of Nagoya.

Seoul Arena – South Korea
Scheduled opening date: October 2025
Projected capacity: 28,000

A further new arena is being built in South Korea, including state-of-the-art sound equipment, a seating capacity of around 19,000, and a maximum capacity of 28,000 for standing events. The arena will also feature a separate 7,000-capacity concert venue, as well as a cinema and commercial facilities. Seoul Arena is expected to attract some 1.8m visitors per year.

The arena is designed to depict “spreading its wings to the world”

Glion Kobe Arena – Japan
Scheduled opening: Spring 2025
Projected capacity: 10,000

The Kobe Arena is a waterside venue expected to be capable of hosting 10,000 people. The aim of the arena’s exterior design is to depict “excitement” and “spreading its wings to the world,” according to the arena website. It will be the home of the Kobe Storks and plans to host concerts, sporting events, e-sports, and exhibitions. As well as the arena and a new hotel, the venue plans to develop an open space around the arena.

The venue also includes a permanent LED screen on one side, which it claims is the largest in Asia, and it will have a restaurant with an open terrace and a VIP floor.

Tokyo A-Arena – Japan
Scheduled opening: 2025
Projected capacity: 10,000

Architects are planning a highly accessible venue with facilities for disabled people at the heart of the design, plus a high-speed Wi-Fi and 5G signal. With a VIP lounge, an enormous centre screen, Sky Lounge with views over the sea, and more.

Kagawa Prefectural Arena – Japan
Scheduled opening: February 2025
Projected capacity: 10,000

Designed by SANAA, the Kagawa Prefectural Arena will be the largest arena in the Chugoku and Shikoku region, and will also include a 1,000-capacity space.

 


Latin America
The region shows no signs of slowing, with demand for regional and international live music stretching across the vast and populous territory. Venue operators are responding by building new arenas or undertaking major updates to existing infrastructure.

The new venue boasts a façade inspired by the area’s “colourful landscape and local materials”

Arena Guadalajara – Mexico
Scheduled opening date: February 2025
Projected capacity: 20,000

Mexico’s newest venue boasts a façade inspired by Guadalajara’s “colourful landscape and local materials, such as the Huentitán Golden Quarry and the Tequilero Blue Agave”. It will be run by Mexican live entertainment firm Zignia Live, which as well as promoting international concerts, owns ticketing company Superboletos and operates the super-busy 17,599-capacity Arena Monterrey and 22,300-cap CDMX Arena in Mexico City.

Originally slated to open in September 2024, the arena looks to be launching with a February performance from singer Carlos Rivera. Katy Perry will also stop by later this year.

Bolivar Stadium – Bolivia
Scheduled opening date: 2025
Projected capacity: 20,000

Touring venues can be hard to come by in a country with no modern indoor arena. Yet, a new stadium in the administrative capital La Paz could be part of a solution.

The football-focussed venue, which broke ground in 2022, is also intended for wider use, including concerts. It is scheduled for completion this year, and according to architects L35, is intended to stand out in the local landscape while also blending in with its surroundings.

This new arena is being built as part of a huge development project

 


Europe
As is true with the rest of the world, Europe is due for a few new contenders to come onto the scene.

MSG Arena – Italy
Scheduled opening date: 2025
Projected capacity: 16,000

Work has started on the Milano Santa Giulia Arena (MSG Arena), which will be one of the largest in Italy and will be run by CTS Eventim. Initially, the arena (part of the Milano Santa Giulia urban development project) will be used for the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, after which, CTS will continue to operate it.

As well as the striking indoor arena, the design includes a piazza with more than 10,000m2 of space for festivals and open-air events.

The project, designed by Sir David Chipperfield and the international design firm Arup, is being positioned to “strengthen Milan’s standing as a global centre of culture, entertainment, and sporting excellence,” while raising “the bar for live entertainment venues.”

“We are completely changing the mentality”

Roig Arena – Spain
Scheduled opening date: 2025
Projected capacity: 18,600

The venue will be the home of Valencia Basket Club as well as hosting concerts and other entertainment. It is being funded by and named after Spanish entrepreneur Juan Roig, the billionaire owner of the Spanish Mercadona supermarket chain. Costing €280m, it will be the largest capacity arena in the country.

Víctor Sendra, MD of Roig Arena, tells IQ: “There is no venue like it in Spain. We are completely changing the mentality.”

It will boast a state-of-the-art design, including flexible facilities for crew to ensure load-in and load-out are as swift as possible. It will also have pioneering acoustic capabilities that are adaptable to different use cases.

Becketwell Live – UK
Scheduled opening date: Spring 2025
Capacity: 3,500

Located in the Midlands between Sheffield and Birmingham, Derby will welcome a 3,500-capacity venue this year, set to host concerts, family events, sports and conferencing. It is set to open in the spring, with tribute acts for Fleetwood Mac and ABBA on the upcoming lineup.

Becketwell Live will be managed by the ASM Global family, which also runs Manchester’s AO Arena, Leeds’ first direct arena, London’s OVO Arena Wembley, and more.


Middle East
Saudia Arabia is projected to go through a venue-building boom in the coming years. And with a population of 35 million, with a third of them aged 15-34, the market for live music has huge potential.

Jeddah Arena – Saudi Arabia
Scheduled opening date: December 2025
Projected capacity: 20,000

A state-of-the-art venue in Jeddah, set to be managed by ASM Global, will be one of the first to come on stream. It is being built as part of the Jeddah Airport City complex, which will include shops, homes, a financial district, an artisan district, and a green food yard.

“There are some very aggressive plans for new arenas in Saudi Arabia. The desire for people to see live events in Saudi Arabia is wonderful to see. When all the venues are completed, there could be potential for a touring circuit of the country itself,” says Iain Campbell, ASM Global’s EVP for the MENA region.

 


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New 10,000-capacity arena planned for Finland

A new 9,800-capacity multi-purpose arena is slated to open in the Finnish town of Hyvinkää by the end of 2026.

The new venue will be built less than 30 miles from Helsinki, where the Russian-owned Helsinki Halli (cap. 15,500) has been mothballed since early 2022.

The estimated cost of the project is €45.6m, which will be shared by the City of Hyvinkää and Laurea University of Applied Sciences. The latter will benefit from a new campus hosted on the 13,000-square-metre site.

Finnish construction company SRV has been awarded a contract to build the Hyvinkää venue, with construction scheduled to start in spring 2025.

“The project has strategic significance for Hyvinkää as a whole”

The firm, which built Tampere’s Nokia Hall, is also developing a new 10,000-capacity arena in the southwestern city of Turku that will replace the Gatorade Center. The €100m Ratapiha Arena, operated by Turku Live, is scheduled to open in 2027.

Antti Nikkanen, property manager for Hyvinkää, says: “The arena project is an important vitality and urban development project that, when realised, will significantly increase the attractiveness of the city centre and the whole of Hyvinkää as the northern centre of the metropolitan area.

“The project has strategic significance for Hyvinkää as a whole. The arena has been in preparation for years and now we are happy when we move together with SRV and Laurea University of Applied Sciences to develop and implement the whole of the arena, which includes sports, event and college campus facilities of the future.”

Read more about Finland’s arena landscape, which also includes Lappi Areena in Rovaniemi (5,500), Espoo Metro Areena (8,582), and the Helsinki Ice Hall (7,000), in the Global Arena Guide 2024.

 


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2025 tours stack up: Coldplay, Kylie Minogue, Oasis

An abundance of tours have been announced over recent days, including a venture down under for Oasis, new North American dates from Coldplay, and Kylie Minogue’s biggest outing in over a decade.

Oasis has announced that their 2025 reunion world tour will head to Australia next year for stops in Melbourne and Sydney. The Gallagher brothers will play Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium (cap. 56,347) on 31 October and Sydney’s Accor Stadium on 7 November (83,500).

The dates follow previously announced legs across the UK, including seven nights at London’s Wembley Stadium, and North America. Produced by Live Nation and SJM Concerts, the venture will bring the pair to stadiums in Manchester, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and more next year.

The two shows are promoted by Live Nation Australia, with a private ballot giving fans presale access before the 15 October general sale.

“The number of stadium-level acts touring today is unprecedented”

Coldplay is set to return to North America on their Music of the Spheres world tour with a new batch of dates. The record-shattering run will return the British hitmakers to stadiums across the US and Canada next summer, including Las Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium (65,000), Nashville’s Nissan Stadium (69,143), Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium (65,326), and more.

Both Coldplay and Oasis are due to perform at Toronto’s newest venue, the 50,000-capacity, Rogers Stadium. The Live Nation-backed purpose-built venue will operate seasonally and is designed to capitalise on the influx of tours from A-list artists.

“The number of stadium-level acts touring today is unprecedented, with more acts than available nights at existing venues. That’s why we’re making this investment—to ensure Toronto fans don’t miss out on world-class artists,” said Erik Hoffman, president, music at Live Nation Canada, during the September stadium announcement.

Coldplay’s Live Nation-promoted tour will also bring the group to Abu Dhabi for four nights, Mumbai for three, Hong Kong for three, and Seoul for six shows early next year, followed by the new North American dates. The tour is currently slated to end with a second UK leg, including two nights in Hull and 10 in London next autumn.

Ticket sales for the global trek have already surpassed 10 million, with the band performing across five continents since launching the tour in March 2022. It became the first tour by a band to gross over $1 billion from a single tour, joining Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour in the billionaires club.

During the UK dates announcement, Coldplay pledged 10% of proceeds from their 2025 UK dates to Music Venue Trust to support upcoming artists and grassroots music venues, some of which they played on their rise to global stardom.

Kylie Minogue is due to embark on her biggest tour in over a decade

Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue has unveiled North American and European legs for her Tension Tour, expanding the venture to four continents. The Padam Padam singer will play across 16 arenas across the US and Canada, including NYC’s Madison Square Garden (19,500) and LA’s Crypto.com Arena (20,000), next spring.

Joining 14 previously announced UK dates, the European leg will bring Minogue to 13 arenas — like Berlin’s Uber Arena (17,000), France’s Accor Arena (20,300), and The Netherlands’s Ziggo Dome (17,000) around Europe — in summer 2025. The star, repped by UTA in North America and CAA for the rest of the world, will also perform in Lithuania and Estonia on the Live Nation-promoted run.

Welsh rockers Stereophonics have announced its Stadium Anthems tour for next summer. The band will play across stadiums and fields, including Dublin’s St Anne’s Park (20,000), Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park for Summer Sessions, London’s Finsbury Park (45,000), and finishing at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium (74,500). Promoted by Live Nation, the X-ray Touring-represented group’s biggest-ever tour will also see them headline the Isle of Wight Festival next June.

American singer Tinashe has also expanded her Match My Freak world tour by adding dates in Europe, the UK, and Japan, joining previously announced NA dates. The Nasty singer will play theatres in Osaka and Tokyo before venturing to play theatres across Copenhagen, Paris, London, Dublin, and more next February.

Legendary rockstars Mötley Crüe will hit Las Vegas next year, for an 11-show residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM (6,400) next spring.

 


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Copenhagen’s Royal Arena up for sale

Denmark’s Royal Arena is being put up for sale by its current owners, the Municipality of Copenhagen and the private architectural association Realdania.

The €200 million arena opened in 2017 in the Ørestad South area of Copenhagen after substantial investment from both owners.

Since opening, the 17,000-capacity has been operated by Live Nation Entertainment subsidiary Danish Venue Enterprise, which has brought rafts of international artists to its stage.

Acts such as Metallica, Olivia Rodrigo and Rod Stewart have performed at the Royal Arena, while Billie Eilish, Jonas Brothers and Childish Gambino will grace its stage before the end of the year.

“Today, Royal Arena attracts world-class cultural events, sports, and music to Copenhagen with great success,” stated Copenhagen’s Mayor Lars Weiss in a press release.

“This should continue into the future, but since the arena’s success no longer depends on our ownership, we’ve decided to sell our shares. The proceeds can then benefit other important projects.”

“Since the arena’s success no longer depends on our ownership, we’ve decided to sell our shares”

Danish Venue Enterprise holds a lease for the venue until December 2046, and this agreement will remain intact following the sale.

In IQ‘s 2024 Global Arena Guide, Dan Hammer, CEO/MD at Royal Arena/Danish Venue Enterprise, said the next 12–18 months are “looking really sold for the arena, with an incredibly diverse range of artists on the books”.

“The health of the live entertainment market in Denmark is good,” he added. “Obviously, Copenhagen is an attractive city for both international artists and fans, and thankfully, we have some competent promoters doing everything in their power to present some of the world’s greatest artists in Denmark.”

Alongside high-profile concerts, the Royal Arena has also hosted major sporting competitions such as the European Swimming Championships in 2017, the Ice Hockey World Championships in 2018, and the Men’s Handball World Championships in 2019.

In other venue news, The Roig Arena, a new multi-purpose venue scheduled to open in Valencia in 2025, has joined the European Arenas Association (EAA).

The 18,600-capacity venue will be the home of Valencia Basket Club as well as hosting concerts and other entertainment. It is being funded by and named after Spanish entrepreneur Juan Roig, the billionaire owner of the Spanish Mercadona supermarket chain. Costing €280m, it will be the largest capacity arena in the country.

 


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LGBTIQ+ List 2024: Sam Booth, AEG Presents

The LGBTIQ+ List 2024 – IQ Magazine’s fourth annual celebration of queer professionals who make an immense impact in the international live music business – has been revealed.

The ever-popular list is the centrepiece of IQ’s fourth Pride edition, sponsored by Ticketmaster, which is now available to read online and in print for subscribers.

To get to know this year’s queer pioneers a little better, we interviewed each of them on the development of the industry, the challenges that are keeping them up at night and more.

Throughout the next month, IQ will publish a new interview each day. Catch up on yesterday’s interview with Ross Patel (they/them), CEO, board director, consultant, talent manager, and DJ for LIVE, Whole Entertainment, RossPatelCo, MMF, UMA Ent, and Polyamoross.

The series continues with Sam Booth (he/him), director of sustainability at AEG Europe.


Sam Booth started his career as an event producer working on wildly diverse projects, from Adidas fashion shows in New York to floating wine bars on Clapham Common. However, he’s always been concerned about the environmental impact of the work he was producing, so during the pandemic he studied at the Cambridge Institute of Sustainable Leadership to help provide more rigor to the decisions he was making. This opened his path to working first in sustainability consulting, and then at AEG, where he can happily bring together my two big passions – events and sustainability.

Tell us about the professional feat you’re most PROUD of in 2024 so far.
Developing and leading the launch of the world’s first carbon-removed arena shows at The O2 with The 1975 is definitely the highlight so far! The intention of these shows is to work with all stakeholders at an event (from catering through to the artist and fans) to raise funds which will be used to remove the equivalent amount of carbon generated by the shows from the atmosphere. These aren’t usual offsets but genuine, science-based techniques that durably store carbon out of harm’s way and are key to achieving global net zero. It could be a real game changer and we’re so excited to see how the model develops! 

“I’m a huge believer in the power of education to break down barriers”

What’s your next big sustainability project at AEG Europe?
This year is all about firming up our path to net zero. We need to undertake some detailed work around our gas usage, figure out our approach to dealing with fan travel and continue working with brand partners to address the emissions of the products we sell in the arena. We’re also rolling out training to all our employees to ensure they know how to make more sustainable choices in their day-to-day roles. 

You’re a member of the PRIDE group at AEG Europe, what kinds of things do you get up to?
The PRIDE group covers a lot of ground – from queer history walking tours of Soho to trips to ABBA Voyage and drag bingo. Allies are welcome to join any of our activities and we’re keen to bring more education and awareness-raising sessions into the business too. 

“Each and every member of the community continuing to live proudly and loudly makes that equitable future ever closer”

Name one thing the industry could do to be a more equitable place.
I’m a huge believer in the power of education to break down barriers. This can take many forms, from publicising the stories of industry leaders from diverse backgrounds to in-depth seminars or discussions on a particular topic like trans rights. Also, each and every member of the community continuing to live proudly and loudly makes that equitable future ever closer, every day! 

Shout out your biggest ally in the live music industry.
This has to go to my boss, the COO of AEG John Langford. He campaigned for a sustainability role at AEG, supported my onboarding and consistently champions the causes of the LGBTQI+ community and sustainability. A leader to look up to! 

Shout out any LGBTIQ+ cause(s) you support.
Although not a specific LGBTQI+ cause, I volunteer with SHOUT, a mental health text support service. We regularly get members of our community texting in during their times of need, and it’s a real pleasure to help them when they need.

 


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Final plans for Bristol Arena revealed

Final plans have been submitted for the long-awaited YTL Arena Bristol, in the southwest of England.

After a series of delays, the 19,000-capacity arena is set to be built at Fliton Airfield and could open by late 2026.

New artist impressions show the airfield’s Brabazon Hangars transformed into the UK’s fourth-largest indoor arena and flanked by new conference and exhibition halls.

An estimated 300,000 people are expected to attend events at YTL Arena Bristol each year, boosting the local economy by £60 million annually.

“The arena finds itself in an ideal position to evolve into a cultural hub”

The arena site is set to include restaurants and bars, an outdoor cinema, basketball and football courts, a pump track for cycling, a Christmas ice rink and huge public squares.

YTL, the Malaysian developer behind the arena, is also building a new neighbourhood on the airfield with thousands of homes, a park, community facilities, leisure and employment, with a new train station due to open there in mid-2026.

“The arena finds itself in an ideal position to evolve into a cultural hub,” said architects McGregor Coxall.

The venue has experienced a number of delays related to Covid and the construction industry, with site preparation finally beginning in March.

Decontamination work is underway and will be followed by the demolition of non-essential structures ahead of the main construction programme, which is said to take around two-and-a-half years once builders move in.

rival arena, operated by Live Nation and Oak View Group (OVG), is set to open in Cardiff, Wales, in spring 2025.

 


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SSE Arena Belfast adopts Amazon technology

The SSE Arena in Belfast has become the first indoor arena in Europe to integrate Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, enabling checkout-free shopping.

The technology will be used in the Pay & Away shop, located on the first floor of the 11,000-capacity arena. Once open, guests will enter the store by using their chosen contactless payment method at the entry gate, with the technology then detecting what customers take from or return to the shelves and creating a virtual shopping session.

When guests finish shopping, they can leave without waiting in line, and their chosen payment method will be charged for the items taken.

Just Walk Out technology has already been rolled out in venues including TD Garden in Boston, Lumen Field in Seattle, and Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

“This checkout-free concept is a radical next step in optimising the customer journey”

“Providing the best experience every time sits at the core of everything we do at The SSE Arena, Belfast and we’re continually looking at ways to enhance our offering,” says Dermot McGinn, group head of food and beverage at The Odyssey Trust.

“We’re incredibly proud to be working alongside Amazon to bring Just Walk Out technology to our venue, and becoming the first arena in Europe to introduce this checkout-free concept is a radical next step in optimising the customer journey. Through a blend of convenience and speed, the introduction of this innovative new technology will ensure that our visitors can get back to the heart of the action as soon as possible, both during events and at Belfast Giants home games.”

Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology is made possible by artificial intelligence like computer vision and deep learning techniques, including generative AI, to help accurately determine who took what in any retail environment, according to a press release.

The e-commerce giant built synthetic datasets to “mimic millions of realistic shopping scenarios including variations in store format, lighting conditions, and even crowds of customers to ensure accuracy in any environment”.

 


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AO Arena opens new VIP restaurant and bar

Manchester’s AO Arena has officially launched its brand new VIP bar and restaurant, as part of its £50 million redevelopment.

The Mezz sits between the brand-new concourse and the 23,000-capacity arena bowl, enabling guests to move “seamlessly” from their tables to the “best seats in the house” with panoramic views of the stage.

The bar remains open during the show and for a few hours prior, with live DJs providing post-show entertainment. The restaurant features a collaboration between chefs Simon Rogan MBE and Tom Barnes, who will make regular appearances and design seasonal dishes.

Member perks include guaranteed attendance for all shows at AO Arena, direct access to the arena bowl and more

Member perks include guaranteed attendance for all shows at AO Arena, direct access to the arena bowl, early access via dedicated VIP entrance, dedicated parking, all-inclusive food and drink, private cocktail bar, a private dedicated table in the restaurant and personalised service including a cloakroom boasting the latest in venue technology, members app and portal, and dedicated host service.

Membership prices for The Mezz Bar range from £3,500 (10 shows) to £6,250 (25 shows) and £8,500 for 50 shows.

For The Mezz Dining, prices range from £4,000 (10 shows) to £7,500 (25 shows) and £12,500 for 50 shows.

 


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Live Nation and OVG back Africa’s first arena

Africa’s first purpose-built arena is set to open in Lagos, Nigeria, at the end of next year.

The $100 million arena will have capacity for 12,000 and is projected to host 200 events each year, including concerts, family entertainment, basketball games, UFC fights, boxing matches, WWE shows and more.

The venue will be located on Victoria Island, an affluent area that serves as the main business and financial centre of Lagos.

The consortium delivering the project includes Live Nation, Oak View Group, Tayo Amusan (chairman of real estate company The Persianas Group), the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Yinka Folawiyo (chairman of the Yinka Folawiyo Group), Nigerian investment fund Adino Capital and MBO Capital. The conglomerate today held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site.

“Nigerian artists are some of the most influential in the world right now and yet they have nowhere to play in their home market,” says Oak View Group chairman and CEO, Tim Leiweke. “We want to change that. This consortium, headed by Tayo Amusan, has shown enormous tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit in getting this project off the ground and we are proud to be their partner. The arena will also give major brands – both global and local – the chance to showcase to Nigerian audiences for the first time at over 200 electrifying events per year.”

“Nigerian artists are some of the most influential in the world right now and yet they have nowhere to play in their home market”

John Reid, president of Live Nation EMEA, adds: “We are incredibly excited to be part of the consortium delivering this groundbreaking arena in Lagos. Nigeria and Africa more broadly present massive opportunities to touring artists when it comes to connecting with their global audiences. This brand new 12,000 capacity venue will open up Nigeria to international stars, and Nigerian artists will benefit hugely from having an arena to showcase their talents in front of a home audience.”

While Nigerian superstars such as Burna Boy, Davido and Wizkid continue to fill arenas and stadiums across the world, their home country lacks the venues needed to match their success.

Until now, artists have had to perform at hotel complexes such as Eko Convention Center (cap. 6,000) and Balmoral Convention Center (4,500) in Lagos, according to the Global Arena Guide 2023.

For larger concerts, temporary venues are built in outdoor spaces such as Muri Okunola Park on Victoria Island and Tafawa Balewa Square, a former horseracing track in the centre of the commercial district and the spot where Nigerians celebrated their independence in 1960.

The new Lagos arena will develop ancillary businesses around entertainment and sports and is expected to create over 1,500 direct and indirect jobs.

The first-of-its-kind venue will serve Nigeria’s young and rapidly growing population of over 220 million.

 


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