User:Dontforgetthisone/Odyssey Arena

Odyssey Arena

File:Odyssey Arena logo.png
The Odyssey Arena seen from the M2/M3
Location	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Capacity	Concerts: up to 14,000 Sports: up to 11,400
Construction
Started	1999
Opened	2000 (Arena) 2001 (Pavilion)
Tenants
Belfast Giants (EIHL) (2000–present)
Website
odysseyarena.com

The Odyssey Arena is a large sports and entertainment centre situated in Titanic Quarter, Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was jointly funded by the Millennium Commission, the Laganside Corporation, the DCAL, the Sheridan Group and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland. The Arena opened in 2000 with the Pavilion later opening in 2001. The Odyssey is quoted to have cost £120 million on completion. In 2011 The Odyssey Pavilion which was owned by The Sheridan Group went into administration, the building is now under control of KPMG until a new owner is found. Eventsec is the main security company for The Odyssey holding the contracts for The Arena & The Pavilion.

Events

Since opening, the Odyssey Arena has hosted some of the world's best known bands and artists from around the world.

It has also hosted a number of World Wrestling Entertainment live events including RAW and SmackDown!. WWE visits the Odyssey at least once a year. It hosted UFC 72: Victory on 16 June 2007.

It hosts the Premier League Darts once every year.

As well as these high-profile sporting events, the Odyssey Arena has also hosted concerts by some of the best-selling music artists in the world and it's also home of the Belfast Giants.

Janet Jackson was scheduled to perform during her All for You Tour on 14 December 2001, but the show was cancelled, due to the 11 September 2001 attacks.

On 2 October 2010, the Boston Bruins faced the Belfast Giants Selects in an NHL Challenge match.

The Odyssey was short-listed for 'International Large Venue of the Year' (Outside of North America) in the 2005 Pollstar Concert Industry Awards, making it one of the top six major concert venues in the world.

The complex features:

• The Odyssey Arena – Northern Ireland's biggest indoor arena, with a capacity of 14,000 for concerts, hosts concerts and sporting events such as Belfast Giants games.
• W5 – stands for "Who, What, Where, When, Why". W5 is an award winning science exhibition centre demonstrating the powers of science.
• The Odyssey Pavilion – contains Bars: Rockies Sports Bar, Chic Shed Bar. Restaurants: Soda Joes, Pizza Hut, Indian Ocean, The Streat, Red Panda. Nightclubs: Box Nightclub, Beach Club. The Odyssey Bowl and Odyssey Cinemas (formerly Storm cinema, Vue) 12–screen multiplex.
• A Sheridan IMAX operated in the complex from 2000 until 2007, with its former location remaining vacant as of 2012.

In October 2009, The Odyssey Trust sought planning permission for a £100 m extension plan. The plans include 800 residential units, two hotels, a promenade, shops, additional leisure facilities and a multi-storey car park. As to date no work has been carried out on the extension plan.

On 2 March 2011, MTV announced it would be hosting its annual European Music Awards in The Odyssey Arena. The event took place on Sunday 6 November. It was the first time the event had been hosted in Northern Ireland, and Belfast was the smallest host city in the EMA's history. Artists such as Lady GaGa, Queen and Selena Gomez, who also hosted the event, preformed. There were appearances by Bar Refaeli and Irina Shayk, Amy Lee, Hayden Panettiere, Katy Perry and many more. It was also named MTV'S most successful EMA awards show.

External links

• Official website

Category:Buildings and structures completed in 2001 Category:Music venues completed in 2001 Category:Sports venues completed in 2001 Category:Indoor ice hockey venues in the United Kingdom Category:Buildings and structures in Belfast Category:Indoor arenas in Northern Ireland Category:Music venues in Northern Ireland Category:Buildings and structures celebrating the third millennium Category:Concert halls in Northern Ireland Category:Event venues established in 2001