Sheffield Arena

Coordinates: 53°23′59.54″N 1°25′7.54″W / 53.3998722°N 1.4187611°W / 53.3998722; -1.4187611

FlyDSA Arena
Exterior view of venue under former signage (c.2007)
Former names Sheffield Arena (1991–2002, 2007–10, 2015–17)
Hallam FM Arena (2002–07)
Motorpoint Arena (2010–15)
Address Broughton Ln
Sheffield S9 2DF
England
Owner Sheffield City Trust
Operator Live Nation UK
Capacity 13,600
4,520 (Steel Hall)
Construction
Opened 30 May 1991
Renovated 2013
Construction cost £34 million
Tenants
Sheffield Steelers (EIHL) (1991-present)
Website
Venue Website

FlyDSA Arena (originally known as Sheffield Arena) is an arena located in Sheffield, England. It is situated near Rotherham, Sheffield City Centre, Meadowhall and the Centertainment.

Opened in 1991, it is used for concerts and sporting events, and is also home to the Sheffield Steelers ice hockey club. Attendance for all events at the venue has totaled around 7 million since its opening. It has a maximum capacity of 13,600.[1]

History

The arena opened as Sheffield Arena in May 1991 and was renamed Hallam FM Arena in 2002, but returned to its original name from 1 November 2007.[2] On 9 August 2010, Sheffield Arena was officially renamed Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, after the Derby based car sales company invested £1 million to rename the venue.[3] In July 2013, the arena underwent a major renovation and now has a new roof, doors, seats, lighting, catering and toilet facilities. In August 2015 the arena was once again rebranded as Sheffield Arena, however in September 2017 nearby Doncaster Sheffield Airport began sponsoring the arena giving it a rebrand, FlyDSA Arena.

Opening and Labour's Sheffield rally

Constructed at a cost of £34 million, it was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 30 May 1991.[4]

The first concert took place that evening, Paul Simon playing as part of his "Born at the Right Time" tour. The arena then took on the role of Gymnastics Hall for the 1991 World Student Games which were held in the city and which prompted the investment in, and development of, both the arena and nearby Don Valley Stadium.

The arena was the location for the Labour Party's 1992 Sheffield Rally. Attended by over 10,000 party members and the entire shadow cabinet. Held just before that year's general election, which Labour was widely expected to win, the event is often seen as a factor in the party's defeat.[5] While the event was seen as a success to those within the hall, many commentators, and Labour politicians, viewing it as triumphalist in nature.[5] However, it has also been asserted that the event had negligible impact on the outcome,[6] with a fall in the party's support having already occurred.[7]

Entertainment

Other events

Sheffield Arena Interior

The arena also hosts annual events including Disney on Ice which is held every year over November/December. TV shows such as The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing on Ice visit the arena every year as part of their tours.

The arena is a regular venue for some of the worlds best known Comedians such as Russell Brand, Lee Evans, Jack Whitehall, Eddie Izzard and Peter Kay who in 2011 played the arena for 5 nights running with all shows selling out within hours of going on sale.

The arena has hosted major special high-profile events, including The International Indian Film Academy Awards, which took place on Saturday, 9 June 2007 and was broadcast live around the world. This included a season hosted by the city of Sheffield and nearby Leeds. Also, in 2009, the arena hosted the annual BBC 1Xtra concert and the 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The Sheffield Arena is used regular for sporting events and is the home to the city's Elite Ice Hockey League team, the Sheffield Steelers.

The arena has hosted major boxing events such as when Joe Calzaghe first won his WBO world title here on 11 October 1997 against former world champion Chris Eubank. On the same bill Sheffield born Naseem Hamed defended his WBO title against Jose Badillo. On 26 November 2005 Ricky Hatton extended his unbeaten record to 40–0, defending his IBF and Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight world titles and winning the WBA belt by 9th-round knockout against Carlos Maussa. Sheffield fighter Clinton Woods also defended his IBF light-heavyweight title against Mexican Julio César González on two occasions, winning on points both times. Kell Brook has had many fights here, his most notable being a fourth-round knockout victory of Vyacheslav Senchenko. The Great Britain men's national basketball team played a test match against Portugal in that arena in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.

The arena has also hosted the WWE UK Rampage event in 1992 and 1993, as well as Rebellion in 2000.

Since 2007, it has played host to the Premier League Darts.

Sheffield Steelers

The arena's resident sport team is the Sheffield Steelers ice hockey team who play in the Elite Ice Hockey League. The Steelers have recorded crowds of up to 10,000 in the building with extra seating being installed at the venue.

Management

The arena is owned by Sheffield City Trust, an independent charity, and managed under contract by the US media giant Live Nation UK.

  • Security: Showsec
  • Catering: In House
  • Stewarding: Showsec
  • Stage crew: Showsec
  • Merchandising: Pantheon Franchise Ltd
  • Medical: British Red Cross

Transport

Car

The arena has car parking available for around 2,000 cars. It is also proximate and connected to junction 34 of the M1 motorway.

Tram

The arena is connected to the Sheffield Supertram with a stop next to the arena. The main stop is 'Arena'. Across the road at the Valley Centertainment entertainment complex there is also another tram stop.

Competition with First Direct Arena

The construction of the First Direct Arena (pictured) caused controversy in Sheffield.

For nearly two decades Sheffield Arena had been the only major concert and sporting venue in the Yorkshire region, this however changed as the city of Leeds has its own arena of comparable size which directly competes with Sheffield Arena. The arena's construction caused controversy because it was partly funded by the government through Yorkshire Forward, a regional development agency, whereas the Sheffield Arena attracted all funding independently with no help from the government. The owners of Sheffield Arena as well as Clive Betts, the MP for Sheffield Attercliffe, expressed opposition over Yorkshire Forward's funding of the First Direct Arena which they claimed would cause considerable economic damage to Sheffield Arena, East Sheffield and Sheffield/South Yorkshire itself, Yorkshire Forward dismissed these claims and stated that the arena would bring economic growth not only to Leeds and West Yorkshire but to the entire region. Fears that the construction of the First Direct Arena would lead to a significant reduction in concerts at Sheffield appear to be well founded with many tours in 2014 not going to Sheffield including Miley Cyrus, Prince, Robbie Williams, The Eagles and Pearl Jam. However fears that the arena would suffer from fewer customers as residents of Leeds will no longer have to travel to Sheffield to attend concerts appear unfounded as attendance at concerts remains high.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk/arena-information/technical-specifications/#_seating-capacity
  2. ↑ Motorpoint Arena. "Welcome to the Sheffield Arena". Hallamfmarena.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  3. ↑ "£1m new name drives Motorpoint Arena Sheffield". Archived from the original on 19 February 2015.
  4. ↑ "About the Sheffield Arena". FlyDSA Arena. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Key Issues in the 1992 Campaign". BBC News, Politics '97.
  6. ↑ Westlake, Martin (2001). Kinnock: The Biography. pp. 560–564.
  7. ↑ Parish, Jim (1 January 1999). "It was tax what lost it for Labour". New Statesman.
  8. ↑ Burn, Chris (1 March 2015). "The Script wow thousands of fans in Sheffield". Sheffield Telegraph. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  9. ↑ "5 Seconds of Summer announce April 2016 arena tour - TICKETS". Key 103. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  10. ↑ Walker, Graham (28 March 2016). "WIN: Meet 5 Seconds Of Summer at Sheffield Arena". The Star. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  11. ↑ "Review: 5 Seconds of Summer at Sheffield Motorpoint Arena". Attitude. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "Don Broco to support 5 Seconds of Summer". Emily - Kerrang. 12 March 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.

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