The Japanese prefecture of Kyoto is set to gain a 10,000-capacity arena that will host concerts and sporting events.

The new venue is designed to address the Prefecture’s shortage of indoor facilities that can host both national and international events.

Planned for the city of Mukō, on a site that also houses the Mukomachi Keirin Velodrome, the arena is proposed to seat 8,925 fans for sporting events, rising to 9,328 for concerts.

With an expected price tag of ¥34.8bn (€215m/$234.6m), Kyoto Prefecture has signed an agreement with a consortium to develop the new venue.

A major change in Japan’s men’s basketball leagues will see a whole host of new venues opening over the coming years

The consortium includes Itochu Corporation, Obayashi Corporation, Harima B.Stem Corporation, Itochu Urban Community, NTT TC Leasing, Azusa Sekkei, Dentsu, Kyoei Build Kanri Corporation, Shinko Sports and Kyogin Lease.

In addition to hosting concerts, the arena is intended to be the future home of B.League basketball team Kyoto Hannaryz and is expected to collaborate with the Velodrome, which is due for renovation. A delivery date for the arena is yet to be announced.

A major change in Japan’s men’s basketball leagues will see a whole host of new venues opening over the coming years. New rules for B League top category (B1) teams mean they must attract an average audience of 4,000 per game and build a home venue of at least 5,000-capacity. This means nine likely new venues will be built in time for 2027, and with basketball games taking up only 30 days per year, this leaves live entertainment with a huge opportunity.

At least four new arenas will open to the public this year: The IG Arena in Nagoya (17,000), The Tokyo A-Arena (10,000), the Kobe Arena (10,000), and the Kagawa Prefectural Arena (cap. 10,000). Read more here.

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Australia’s Gold Coast has revealed plans for a new $480 million (€295m) indoor arena for live music performances, sports, comedy, esports and family entertainment.

The proposed 12,000-capacity venue, put forward by the city council, would be built in Carey Park in the coastal town of Southport, Queensland.

The “city-shaping” arena is expected to host up to 80 major events per year and inject $700 million in value into the local economy over the next decade.

Construction is slated to begin around 2026-27, with the venue completed by 2028-29 – in time for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. The move is also part of the city’s masterplan for Southport announced earlier this year to revitalise the Gold Coast’s official CBD.

The council has described the arena as a “city-shaping” project that is expected to host up to 80 major events per year

While the arena has yet to secure a commercial backer, the city council says a community consultation process is the first step towards shaping up plans for the site before opening a broader conversation with the investment community.

“We know the city is missing out on opportunities for elite sport and international gigs by not having a venue like this,” says Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

“And this site makes sense to me. It is located close to accommodation, public transport, food and beverage services and recreational activities which makes it a natural fit.”

The public consultation process is currently open for submissions until Monday 9 December 2024.

The City of Gold Coast is hosting a series of Brisbane 2032 Olympic events, including judo and wrestling at Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre. Gold Coast Stadium will host the football preliminaries, while Coomera Indoor Sports Centre will host the Olympic volleyball and the Paralympic wheelchair rugby.

Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre will host the Olympic volleyball preliminaries and weightlifting.

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Warsaw’s authorities have outlined plans for a new 22,000-capacity arena for sports and entertainment events.

Poland’s capital city, currently, does not have a large indoor venue and is now looking to progress plans for a €350m project.

The arena is slated to be built on a site next to the National Stadium, PGE Narodowy, on the east bank of the River Vistula. The plot must first be transferred from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage to the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, which is set to happen in July.

It is estimated that all the relevant permits can be obtained within the next two years with construction taking another three years.

Renata Kaznowska, the City of Warsaw’s vice-president, told local reporters that the project is essential for Warsaw, claiming it is the only capital city in Europe to not have a large indoor venue.

“I am aware that Warsaw, and also Poland, miss many events; many international entities would like to organise events in our capital but have nowhere to do so,” said Kaznowska. “That is why Warsaw simply needs this hall.”

“I am aware that Warsaw, and also Poland, miss many events… Warsaw simply needs this hall”

The project is most likely to be funded by either a public-private partnership or a special purpose vehicle (SPV) created by the State Treasury, said Minister Nitras, adding that a draft bill concerning finance has already been prepared.

Nitras told newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza: “The hall, similar to the National Stadium, would have a ‘national character’ and become an arena for the most important events in the country. Its construction is, therefore, important not just for the city but for the entire country.

“In Poland, only the Tauron Arena in Kraków is close to the standard [that we want]… The organisation [of the most important events] in the capital would also have an impact on the popularisation of Poland as a tourist destination, attracting fans from all over the world to Warsaw.”

Although work is underway on building a 6,000-seater sports hall in the city’s SKRA complex, currently the only viable indoor venue in Warsaw is the outdated 4,800-capacity Torwar.

The country’s existing arenas that host live music include Arena Gliwice, TAURON Arena Kraków, Ergo Arena in Gdańsk, Spodek Arena in Kraków and Atlas Arena in Łódź.

Read more about Poland’s arena market in the recently published Global Arena Guide 2024.

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AEG Europe has secured planning permission for a new 8,500-capacity arena in Edinburgh Park, Scotland.

The City of Edinburgh Council announced the decision at midday today after the application was put forward with a recommendation for approval.

Construction on the privately funded arena is proposed to begin in 2025 and will continue over the course of two years, with the aim of delivering the first event in 2027.

AEG Europe, which owns London’s The O2 Arena and Berlin’s Uber Arena, are working with award-winning developers and site owners Parabola on the new arena, which will span 18,500 square metres and attract an estimated 700,000 visitors per year.

“We are delighted to have been granted planning consent for a cutting-edge new venue for Edinburgh”

AEG Europe Guest Experience and Sustainability experts have also been involved in the planning process in a bid to make Edinburgh Park the UK’s most sustainable arena.

“We are delighted to have been granted planning consent for a cutting-edge new venue for Edinburgh,” says Alex Hill, president and CEO of AEG Europe. “Having worked closely with City of Edinburgh Council, we strongly believe the arena will deliver huge benefits to the city throughout every stage of the building’s life cycle – from development to completion, for years to come when we’re bringing the world’s best artists to the Scottish stage.”

Alistair Wood, executive vice president, real estate and development, AEG Europe, adds: “We thank the City of Edinburgh Council for their forward-thinking and proactive approach and for their shared vision of a new best-in-class arena for Edinburgh. We now turn our attention to expanding on these plans through the appointment of an external contractor, as well as seeking naming rights partners and finalising funding partners.”

Edinburgh’s current largest indoor venue is the 3,000-cap O2 Academy Edinburgh.

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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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A new 20,000-capacity arena is due to open in Guadalajara next year, becoming Mexico’s second-largest arena.

Touted as the city’s first modern arena, Arena Guadalajara will host sports, live music, cultural and social events.

After pandemic-related delays, the arena is scheduled to open in September 2024 on the intersection between major roads, Av. Periférico and Calzada Independencia.

Designed by KMD Architects, the arena’s facade is “designed and imagined for the City of Guadalajara, inspired by its colourful landscape and local materials, such as the Huentitán Golden Quarry and the Tequilero Blue Agave”.

Zignia Live’s venue portfolio also includes Arena Ciudad de México and Arena Monterrey

The company behind the arena is Avalanz Zignia Live, a tour promoter and venue operator that is one of two major players in the Mexican live music business, according to the Global Arena Guide 2023.

Zignia Live’s venue portfolio also includes Arena Ciudad de México (cap. 22,300) and Arena Monterrey (17,599) – the country’s two busiest areas, according to the Global Arenas Guide 2023.

The former venue – Zignia Live’s flagship – last year celebrated its 10th anniversary, while the latter turned 20 this year.

Guadalajara, in the western state of Jalisco, home of mariachi and ranchera music, is Mexico’s largest conurbation after Mexico City and Monterrey.

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Tamdeen Group are striving to put Kuwait on the international touring circuit with the opening of the region’s biggest indoor arena.

As reported in IQ Magazine‘s Global Arena Guide 2022, the arrival of Arena Kuwait (cap. 5,000) in March 2022 addresses the previous lack of large venues.

Since its opening, the arena has held a significant number of sold-out concerts by A-list Arabic artists, including Abdul Majeed Abdullah, Mohammed Abdu, Aseel Abu Bakr, Fahad Al Kubaisi, Angham, Mutref Al-Mutref, and others.

Alongside live music, the multipurpose all-seater arena offers flexibility to host sports, corporate events, exhibitions and conferences.

“The arena has a number of unique selling points, which make it an exciting new venue in the expanding regional touring calendar,” says Arena Kuwait general manager Ken Jamieson. “Kuwait has an event-hungry population, and the response to our first events has been outstanding and very satisfying for all concerned.

“The response to our first events has been outstanding and very satisfying for all concerned”

“Our location in the 360 Mall, Kuwait’s leading retail, leisure, entertainment, and sports destination, ensures the arena can offer unique marketing advantages and exposure as well as extensive support infrastructure.”

The arena has a number of key technical and operational advantages, including a 5,000-seater retractable seating system capable of a multitude of event set-ups, a 300-tonne rigging grid, 20m floor-to-ceiling clearance, extensive back-of-house infrastructure, and considerable F&B options.

“We have also developed our own ticketing solution, which allows promoters and organisers to easily connect with our extensive and ever-growing ticket-buyer community,” says Jamieson.

Arena Kuwait is one of 600+ arenas featured in the Global Arena Guide 2022, which is available to subscribers now.

The guide features over 250 interviews from arena professionals worldwide, as well as a comprehensive global directory. Subscribe now to read the full publication.

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The largest multipurpose arena in Latin America opened earlier this month in Colombia’s capital city, Bogotá.

The 24,000-capacity Coliseo Live (Colosseum Live) was inaugurated on 12 August with a concert by salsa superstar Marc Anthony.

Other artists slated to perform at the arena in 2022 include Arctic Monkeys, Imagine Dragons, Daddy Yankee, Ana Gabriel and Ricardo Arjona.

Alongside concerts, the venue (formerly Arena Bogotá) will also host corporate, sports, gastronomic, family events and 360 events.

The previous incarnation of the arena was acquired in 2019 by Henry Cárdenas, president and executive director of US-based promoter Cárdenas Marketing Network (CNM).

Cárdenas also leads Cárdenas Entertainment and Marketing Group (CEMG), founded in 2018 to manage the Arena Bogotá/Coliseo Live project.

“I have dreamed of a scenario that would have nothing to envy of the great arenas that exist in first-world countries”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, though Colombia-born Cárdenas says he made a “multimillion-dollar investment” in the arena.

“For many years I have dreamed of a scenario that would have nothing to envy of the great arenas that exist in first-world countries, and that is what we bet on,” says Cárdenas.

“I am proud to say that Coliseo Live will surprise all its visitors, placing within their reach, among other things, more than 750 square meters of LED and circumferential screens used in games such as the NBA, a unique and safer ticketing system, suites and boxes of luxury with personalised food and beverage service, air handling units that reduce the probability of contagion of infectious diseases, among other innovations never seen before in Colombia.”

Located in the municipality of Cota, to the west of the capital city, Colieso Live occupies a million-square-foot (93,000m²) site on Calle 80 (80th Street).

The new arena is less than 15 kilometres from Colombia’s first-ever arena, the Movistar Arena (cap. 15,000), which hosts around 90 shows per year.

Read more about Bogotá, and Colombia’s burgeoning live music industry, in IQ Magazine‘s recent feature on Latin America.

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YTL Arena Bristol, a new 17,000-capacity arena in the southwest of England, has announced two senior appointments.

Une Marija Jurkstaite joins the YTL team as head of experience, tasked with growing the arena’s fan database and ensuring each event sells to its targeted full capacity. She will drive the digital user experience across ticketing, food and drink ordering, travel and loyalty programmes.

Jurkstaite joins YTL from her previous role as chief business officer for Žalgiris Arena (cap. 20,000) in Lithuania where she developed a track record for driving fan growth and creating a ‘sell-out’ culture at the venue.

“I am very happy to be joining this world-class new venue,” says Jurkstaite. “I look forward to bringing my passion for customer experiences to ensure every touchpoint across the YTL Arena Bristol customer journey is exceptional.”

Matt Blackhouse will bring his 16+ years of experience in the live events industry to his role as senior events project manager at YTL Arena Bristol.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our operational team, welcoming two talented hires from the industry”

Blackhouse will look after the back of house facilities for all touring artists, promoters and event organisers as YTL Arena Bristol starts its countdown to construction and opening.

His previous roles include events coordinator St David’s Hall and senior events manager at Motorpoint Arena Cardiff.

Blackhouse has managed shows for artists including Elton John, Mariah Carey, Kylie Minogue, The 1975 and many more.

“I am really excited to be joining the team that will deliver the South West’s first-ever purpose-built arena,” says Blackhouse. “I grew up in the region and know how much demand there will be from huge events wanting to come to Bristol, and I can’t wait to get started in helping make this a must-play venue for acts.”

Andrew Billingham, CEO of YTL Arena Bristol, added: “We are thrilled to be expanding our operational team, welcoming two talented hires from the industry. Une and Matt bring a wealth of experience in delivering thousands of live events and will help us enormously. Whilst finalising design and construction elements, we are also looking ahead to doors opening and building our operating team to deliver one of the best arena fan and artist experiences in the UK and across Europe.”

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

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Live Nation, Oak View Group and GL events are partnering on the development of a brand new 20,000-capacity arena in São Paulo, Brazil.

The state-of-the-art Arena São Paulo, expected to open in 2024, will host live events such as concerts, sports games, family entertainment and more.

The arena will be located within São Paulo’s premier entertainment destination, the Anhembi District, which is well-known for hosting the Carnival parade, among other events.

Today’s announcement marks the beginning of the re-development of the whole Anhembi District which will also include a cultural boulevard, an exhibition centre, and São Paulo’s first next-generation, international convention centre.

Live Nation and Oak View Group will be the operators of the facility and will oversee event bookings

In addition to developing the venue, Live Nation and Oak View Group will be the operators of the facility and will oversee event bookings.

Live Nation already has a major presence in Brazil, hosting major festivals such as Lollapalooza and Rock in Rio, while also promoting local and international tours.

São Paulo is the fourth-largest city in the world and the wealthiest economy in Latin America.

“As the leader in live, we’re excited to be expanding our footprint in Latin America by creating a world-class arena in São Paulo. This new venue will add to our portfolio of 200+ venues worldwide and we are proud to contribute to the growth of São Paulo as a live music hub and international touring destination,” says Michael Rapino, president and CEO, Live Nation Entertainment.

“We are going to build the best arena in Latin America”

Tim Leiweke, CEO of OVG, commented: “We’re honoured to include São Paulo in our global portfolio of entertainment destinations and look forward to working with GL events and Live Nation Entertainment to transform Anhembi District into the largest entertainment destination in Latin America.”

Olivier Ginon, founder and chairman of GL events, says: “GL events is a leading global player and Brazil’s largest operator in the events sector.

“We are excited to partner with OVG and Live Nation Entertainment, two global entertainment leaders to invest in Arena São Paulo. Entertainment is a major component of Anhembi District. We look forward to capturing synergies between Arena São Paulo and our network of venues, including Rio de Janeiro’s Jeunesse Arena.”

Mayor of São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes, adds: “Today is a historic day for our city because we are starting the implementation of the Arena São Paulo, a project led by the three best companies in the world in their industry. We are going to build the best arena in Latin America. It will be a major achievement for the city of São Paulo and for the world.”

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