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Cardiff International Arena
Cardiff International Arena (formerly known as Cardiff International Arena & Convention Centre and Motorpoint Arena Cardiff and currently, for sponsorship reasons, as Utilita Arena Cardiff) is an indoor exhibition centre and events arena located in Cardiff, Wales, and was opened on 9 September 1993 by singer Shirley Bassey. It is Cardiff's largest purpose-built exhibition facility and its former name was due to a sponsorship agreement from 2011 to 2022. The upstairs of the building is known as the World Trade Centre.
The arena contains a number of function areas, the largest being the main arena which has hosted many national and international events, such as concerts, sports and comedy performances.
During the construction phase, the venue was known as the Cardiff World Trade Centre and was first expected to open in January 1992. It formed part of a complex which included a new hotel built opposite that opened in 1990, the nearby Wales National Ice Rink and a number of surrounding office buildings.
The renamed arena was eventually opened on 9 September 1993, by Shirley Bassey, in front of 5,500 fans. The concert was later televised on BBC One on 30 July 1994. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 14 October 1993.
The original lease was granted to the developer Brent Walker, who subsequently assigned it to The Ambassador Theatre Group. In 1999, SFX Entertainment acquired the arena. It is now owned by the US media giant Live Nation UK, who have confirmed they would cease to operate the existing arena and terminate their leasehold interest in the council-owned site if the new proposed 15,000-seat indoor arena in Atlantic Wharf is built to replace it and are successful in securing the operator lease. The CIA is then expected to be closed by Live Nation and could be demolished, along with the adjoining surface car parks and buildings owned by Rapport, to provide space for a new commercial development that would be integrated into the Canal Quarter on Churchill Way.
On 1 March 2011, the Cardiff International Arena was renamed Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, for sponsorship reasons, after the car sales company entered into an agreement regarding the naming rights to the arena for five years in what was called "a seven-figure investment". Other names who have performed in the arena are among Westlife, Kylie Minogue, One Direction, Jessie J, Anastacia, Steps, JLS, Jason Derulo and Mariah Carey.
In March 2015, the venue's 3000th event was marked by a show headlined by singer Katherine Jenkins. In July 2016, Motorpoint extended its naming rights contract with the arena until at least 2021. This included a complete re-branding of the building including installation of outdoor LED signage on the arena's towers. Across 2017 and 2018, the arena underwent a significant 18-month upgrade and refurbishment funded by Live Nation in time for its 25th anniversary; this included installation of a new bar by Carlsberg called The Danish Quarter, refurbishment of the smaller Exit 7 space and existing L2 Restaurant & Bar, updated hospitality suites and hearing loop system, as well as new lifts, facial recognition cameras and other security related upgrades.
The arena reverted back to its original CIA name on 22 September 2022 after being named Motorpoint Arena Cardiff since March 2011.
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Cardiff International Arena
Cardiff International Arena (formerly known as Cardiff International Arena & Convention Centre and Motorpoint Arena Cardiff and currently, for sponsorship reasons, as Utilita Arena Cardiff) is an indoor exhibition centre and events arena located in Cardiff, Wales, and was opened on 9 September 1993 by singer Shirley Bassey. It is Cardiff's largest purpose-built exhibition facility and its former name was due to a sponsorship agreement from 2011 to 2022. The upstairs of the building is known as the World Trade Centre.
The arena contains a number of function areas, the largest being the main arena which has hosted many national and international events, such as concerts, sports and comedy performances.
During the construction phase, the venue was known as the Cardiff World Trade Centre and was first expected to open in January 1992. It formed part of a complex which included a new hotel built opposite that opened in 1990, the nearby Wales National Ice Rink and a number of surrounding office buildings.
The renamed arena was eventually opened on 9 September 1993, by Shirley Bassey, in front of 5,500 fans. The concert was later televised on BBC One on 30 July 1994. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 14 October 1993.
The original lease was granted to the developer Brent Walker, who subsequently assigned it to The Ambassador Theatre Group. In 1999, SFX Entertainment acquired the arena. It is now owned by the US media giant Live Nation UK, who have confirmed they would cease to operate the existing arena and terminate their leasehold interest in the council-owned site if the new proposed 15,000-seat indoor arena in Atlantic Wharf is built to replace it and are successful in securing the operator lease. The CIA is then expected to be closed by Live Nation and could be demolished, along with the adjoining surface car parks and buildings owned by Rapport, to provide space for a new commercial development that would be integrated into the Canal Quarter on Churchill Way.
On 1 March 2011, the Cardiff International Arena was renamed Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, for sponsorship reasons, after the car sales company entered into an agreement regarding the naming rights to the arena for five years in what was called "a seven-figure investment". Other names who have performed in the arena are among Westlife, Kylie Minogue, One Direction, Jessie J, Anastacia, Steps, JLS, Jason Derulo and Mariah Carey.
In March 2015, the venue's 3000th event was marked by a show headlined by singer Katherine Jenkins. In July 2016, Motorpoint extended its naming rights contract with the arena until at least 2021. This included a complete re-branding of the building including installation of outdoor LED signage on the arena's towers. Across 2017 and 2018, the arena underwent a significant 18-month upgrade and refurbishment funded by Live Nation in time for its 25th anniversary; this included installation of a new bar by Carlsberg called The Danish Quarter, refurbishment of the smaller Exit 7 space and existing L2 Restaurant & Bar, updated hospitality suites and hearing loop system, as well as new lifts, facial recognition cameras and other security related upgrades.
The arena reverted back to its original CIA name on 22 September 2022 after being named Motorpoint Arena Cardiff since March 2011.