SkyDome Arena
 SkyDome Arena Car Park, Coventry | |
| Location | Croft Rd Coventry CV1 3AZ, England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 52°24′27″N 1°31′07″W / 52.40742°N 1.518677°WCoordinates: 52°24′27″N 1°31′07″W / 52.40742°N 1.518677°W |
| Capacity | 3,000 |
| Opened | 1999 |
| Tenants | |
| Coventry Blaze (EIHL) | |
The SkyDome Arena is a 3,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Coventry, England. It was built in 1999 as part of the SkyDome Multiplex.
The Arena is predominantly used as an ice rink, with a 56m x 28m ice pad suitable for all ranges of ice sports. EIHL Ice Hockey team the Coventry Blaze play out of the venue each week between September and April, regularly attracting crowds of over 2500 people for their games. Alongside ice hockey, the International School of Skating operate year round within the venue. The school is largely accepted as one of the best in the country and produces top domestic talent, including three times British Men's Figure Skating Champion Phillip Harris.
The Arena has also been the site of several large professional wrestling shows. The first wrestling show the SkyDome hosted was the UCoW Wrestling event in 2000 with stars such as Christopher Daniels and Doug Williams.[1] The Skydome next hosted a couple of Frontier Wrestling Alliance shows in 2004 and 2005, "British Uprising 3" and "International Showdown 1" featuring stars such as AJ Styles, Colt Cobana, D'lo Brown and Terry Funk.[2] Coventry next saw the likes of Mick Foley and The Sandman at Showstealer Promotions' Universal Uproar in 2005.[3] WWE hosted a date of its November 2005 United Kingdom tour here featuring John Cena, Triple H, Shawn Michaels amongst others. The venue has also worked with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling on their first UK tour in June 2008 with names such as Kurt Angle, Jeff Jarrett, Booker T, Rhino, Team 3D and more. The skydome also hosted NOAH's European Navigation in 2008 too. TNA came back to the venue in January 2010.
In recent times the SkyDome Arena has increased the level of non-ice events, taking advantage of a quick conversion time to provide a full wooden arena floor which increases seated capacity to over 3500. These events include;
- WCPW Wrestling
- World TAGB Tae Kwon Do Championships
- Brazillian Ju Jitsu British Opens
- SAMA African Music Festival (feat Winky D, Mafikizolo)
- UB40 Music Concert
- Paul Morrell Dance Events
- BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing
- Sky Sports Masters Football
- Thunderball Pop Concerts
- UK School Games (gymnastics)
The venue includes Crosbys Bar and a Papa John's franchise alongside three fixed catering outlets and several mobile bars. There are nine hospitality boxes and the Crowngate Skylounge which hosts up to 60 people with a dedicated bar.
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