Metro Radio Arena
| Metro Radio Arena | |
|---|---|
 The main entrance | |
| Location | Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7NA England |
| Opened | 18 November 1995 |
| Owner | SMG Europe |
| Operator | SMG Europe |
| Construction cost | £10m |
| Former names | Newcastle Arena (1995–1997) Telewest Arena (1997–2004) |
| Tenants | |
| Capacity | Ice hockey: 5,500 |
Metro Radio Arena (formerly the Newcastle Arena and Telewest Arena) is a sports and entertainment arena in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England, United Kingdom. Owned and operated by the SMG Europe and sponsored by Metro Radio, it hosts music, entertainment, sports & business events. Having also had various professional basketball and ice hockey teams as tenants for much of its history, since 2009 it has had no ice hockey team after the departure of the Newcastle Vipers to the Whitley Bay Ice Rink.
The first ice-hockey team to take residence at the arena was the Whitley Warriors, but they left after just a few months.[1]
The Arena was used by the Newcastle Cobras ice hockey team from August 1996. The Cobras were the former Durham Wasps, who had been bought by Newcastle businessman John Hall, owner of Newcastle United football club. Hall's intention was to move the team to a new venue in Newcastle near the football team's ground St James' Park, as part of his wider Sporting Club vision for the city. After failing to get planning permission, after a season spent in Sunderland still as the Wasps, the team instead moved into the newly built Arena, and began the 1996/97 season as the Cobras. Due to changes of ownership, after two years the team was renamed the Newcastle Riverkings, before again being renamed as the Newcastle Jesters. The Jesters played for a single season in 2000/01 before being shut down.[2]
After a year without ice hockey, a new franchise named the Newcastle Vipers was formed for the start of the 2002/03 season, and used the arena as their home rink. After suffering financial difficulties and being unable to attract enough spectators to afford the rent, the Vipers moved home mid-season in November 2009, leaving the arena to move to Whitley Bay Ice Rink, as tenants of the Warriors.[1][1] While the club were hopeful of a return to the arena, a permanent home in Gateshead was also mooted, with redevelopment proposals tabled during early 2010.[3] A hoped for return to the arena for the 2010/11 season did not occur, as it could not guarantee sufficient dates due to problems with the ageing ice making equipment, seeing the club commit to staying at Whitley Bay.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Vipers aim to go out in style at Arena; ICE HOCKEY. – Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. 22 October 2009. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Vipers+aim+to+go+out+in+style+at+Arena%3B+ICE+HOCKEY.-a0210200825. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
- ↑ "Durham Memories: Ice rink that was built of surplus coffins (From The Northern Echo)". Thenorthernecho.co.uk. http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2003/08/15/The+North+East+Archive/7019277.Durham_Memories__Ice_rink_that_was_built_of_surplus_coffins/. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
- ↑ Neil Farrington. "Sport – Ice Hockey – Newcastle Vipers – Vipers’ Gateshead switch moves a step closer". ChronicleLive. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/ice-hockey-news/newcastle-vipers/2010/02/09/vipers-gateshead-switch-moves-a-step-closer-72703-25793679/. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
- ↑ "Newcastle Vipers, Back to the Bay for Vipers". Vipershockey.co.uk. http://www.vipershockey.co.uk/news-563-back-to-the-bay-for-vipers.html. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
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