Operator NEC Group Capacity 15,800 | Renovated 2013–2014 Phone +44 121 780 4141 | |
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Former names National Indoor Arena (1991–2014) Owner NEC Group
(Lloyds Banking Group) Opened 4 October 1991 (as National Indoor Arena)
2 December 2014 (as Barclaycard Arena) Construction cost £26 million (renovation) Address King Edwards Rd, Birmingham B1 2AA, UK Similar Genting Arena, National Exhibition Centre, Manchester Arena, Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, The SSE Hydro Profiles | ||
The Barclaycard Arena (previously the National Indoor Arena) is an indoor sporting and entertainment venue in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The Arena, which is owned by parent company, the NEC Group, is situated in central Birmingham. When it was opened in 1991, it was the largest indoor arena in the UK.
Contents
The arena hosts a variety of events including concerts, business conferences and exhibitions. It has a capacity of up to 15,800 using both permanent seating and temporary seating configurations. The NIA was officially opened on 4 October 1991 by the athlete Linford Christie.
The arena was renamed after it underwent an extensive renovation which was completed at the end of 2014. Michael Bublé opened the renovated arena on 2 December 2014.
The Barclaycard Arena is located alongside the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line's Old Turn Junction and opposite the National Sea Life Centre in Brindleyplace. Close to the arena is The ICC which is also owned by the NEC Group.
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Renovation
In 2012 plans to refurbish and renovate the NIA were approved by Birmingham City Council. The plans included creating a showpiece entrance from the canal-side, three "sky needle" light sculptures, a new glazed facade fronting the canal and new pre-show hospitality elements. The design was by the architecture firm Broadway Malyan and the building contract was awarded to Royal BAM Group in 2013 with an projected finishing date of Winter 2014.
The £26 million redevelopment began in June 2013. The redeveloped arena was officially opened with a performance by singer Michael Bublé on 2 December 2014. It was renamed the "Barclaycard Arena" in November 2014 after Barclaycard won the naming rights for five years, but in May 2016 it was announced that the naming deal would end early, in 2017.
Notable events
The arena has been used for several major events in the past, including counting no less than eight constituencies in the hall for the 1992 general election.
NEC Group
Parent company The NEC Group also owns and operates the International Convention Centre (ICC) in central Birmingham, and the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and Genting Arena (previously The NEC Arena and LG Arena), based on The NEC site in nearby Solihull.