Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre

Last updated

Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre
Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre.jpg
Entrance to main building (December 2005)
Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre
Address Bridge of Don
Aberdeen AB23 8BL
Scotland
Coordinates 57°11′11″N2°5′14″W / 57.18639°N 2.08722°W / 57.18639; -2.08722
Owner Aberdeen City Council
Opened1985
Renovated2003
Expanded2003
ClosedJune 2019
Demolished2020 (arena)
Classroom-style seating
440 (Fleming Auditorium)
Banquet/ballroom685 (Gordon Suite)
533 (Crombie Suite)
244 (Forbes Suite)
Theatre seating
8,500 (BHGE Arena)
2,000 (Boyd Orr Hall)
Enclosed space
  Total space9,849 square metres (110,000 sq ft)
  Exhibit hall floor7,300 square metres (79,000 sq ft)
  Breakout/meeting1,033 square metres (11,000 sq ft)

The Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (also known as the General Electric Exhibition Centre and often shortened to the AECC) was a large exhibition and conference complex, in the suburb of Bridge of Don, in Aberdeen, Scotland. The complex is home to a Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotel, conference facilities and multi-purpose arena which hosted concerts and local sporting events, including the Aberdeen Cup tennis event.

Contents

The BHGE Arena [1] (formerly the AECC Arena (1985–2002), Press & Journal Arena (2002–2012), and the GE Oil and Gas Arena (2012–2017)) was an indoor arena with a standing capacity of 8,500 and 4,750 seated for concerts and up to 8,000 for other events. The sponsorship lasted until 2019 when the arena was closed and replaced with a new arena at TECA.

History

The observation tower (December 2005) Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre (and Tower).jpg
The observation tower (December 2005)

In 2003, the AECC underwent a major refurbishment, [2] with the conference facilities being completely re-built. As part of the redevelopment, a large viewing tower was constructed and is one of the tallest structures in Aberdeen.

Events

West entrance to arena (July 2010) The Aberdeen Arena (geograph 1958885).jpg
West entrance to arena (July 2010)
The main entrance in July 2011 The AECC (geograph 2516257).jpg
The main entrance in July 2011

Oasis have played several times over the years – their first being two performances on the 19–20 September 1997. [3] They returned for another two gigs on the 9–10 September 2002 [4] and once more on 12 December 2005. [5] They performed their most recent, and probably last concerts at the venue on the 1–2 November 2008. [6] All these gigs were sold out in a matter of minutes. Noel Gallagher returned to the venue on 14 February 2012 [7] as part of his High Flying Birds Tour. The concert was a sell-out.

Iron Maiden, Neil Young and AC/DC are some the biggest acts in its history when AC/DC played in 1996, Young in 2009 and Iron Maiden in 2011, 2017 and 2018

On the start of the national 8-city UK tour in 1998, the first UK performance of Barney's Big Surprise featuring Barney, Baby Bop, and BJ was held here.

On 15 June 2014, American country star Dolly Parton performed a sold-out concert at the venue. [8] The concert sold out in less than 10 minutes from going on sale. [9]

Within the last decade it has hosted major international acts including the likes of Westlife, Steps, Kylie Minogue, blink-182, Rihanna, The Prodigy, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Foo Fighters, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, The Killers, Hey Ocean, Katy Perry and Paramore, as well as comedians such as Frankie Boyle, Ricky Tomlinson, Peter Kay, Michael McIntyre and Russell Howard.

One Direction have also played the AECC as part of The X Factor Live Tour 2011.

Since 2006, it has played host to the Premier League Darts.

The arena has also played host to WWE wrestling events, Torville and Dean, Disney on Ice, World Snooker's Grand Prix Championship, The X Factor Live Tour and The Britain's Got Talent Live Tour.

The AECC also hosted many trade conference and exhibitions the largest of which is the biennial SPE Offshore Europe the oil and gas exhibition and conference that which place on alternate years in September.

The final event ever held at the AECC was an outdoor performance by Rod Stewart on July 15, 2019. The performance was originally scheduled for June 12, 2019, but this was cancelled due to dangerous weather conditions.

Replacement centre

The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA) opened in August 2019, replacing the AECC.

Post-closure

Demolition of the arena began in March 2020. [10] Part of the centre, facing on to Ellon Road, was purchased by a church in September for £1.8 million. [11] In October 2021, it was reported that the land where the arena once stood would be redeveloped for housing. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wembley Arena</span> Indoor arena in Wembley, London

Wembley Arena (originally the Empire Pool, now known as OVO Arena Wembley for sponsorship reasons) is an indoor arena next to Wembley Stadium in Wembley, London, England. The 12,500-seat facility is London's second-largest indoor arena after the O2 Arena, and the ninth-largest in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manchester Central Convention Complex</span> Exhibition and conference centre in Manchester, England

Manchester Central Convention Complex is an exhibition and conference centre converted from the former Manchester Central railway station in Manchester, England. The building has a distinctive arched roof with a span of 64 metres (210 ft) – the second-largest railway station roof span in the United Kingdom, and was granted Grade II* listed building status in 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hammersmith Apollo</span> Live entertainment venue in Hammersmith, London

The Hammersmith Apollo, currently called the Eventim Apollo for sponsorship reasons, and formerly known as the Hammersmith Odeon, is a live entertainment performance venue, originally built as a cinema called the Gaumont Palace. Located in Hammersmith, London, it is an art deco Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle Arena</span> Multi-purpose indoor arena in England

The Newcastle Arena is an indoor arena in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Owned and operated by ASM Global the naming rights are currently held by Utilita Energy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earls Court Exhibition Centre</span> Venue in London, England

Earls Court Exhibition Centre was a major international exhibition and events venue in London, England. At its peak it is said to have generated a £2 billion turnover for the economy. It replaced exhibition and entertainment grounds, originally opened in 1887, with an art moderne structure built between 1935 and 1937 by specialist American architect C. Howard Crane. With the active support of London mayor Boris Johnson, in an attempt to create Europe's "largest regeneration scheme", its proposed heritage listing was refused after it was acquired by developers, who promptly in 2008 applied for and were granted a Certificate of Immunity from Listing by English Heritage, and its demolition was completed in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MGM Grand Garden Arena</span> Arena on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, United States

The MGM Grand Garden Arena is a 17,000-seat multi-purpose arena within the MGM Grand resort, located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The venue opened on December 31, 1993, with a concert by Barbra Streisand, and subsequent concerts by Luther Vandross, Anita Mui and Janet Jackson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardiff International Arena</span> Indoor arena in Cardiff, Wales

Cardiff International Arena 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 British Open Squash Championships is the oldest tournament in the game of squash. It is widely considered to be one of the two most prestigious tournaments in the game, alongside the World Squash Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Point Theatre</span> Venue in Dublin, Ireland

The Point Theatre (sometimes referred to as the Point Depot or simply as the Point) was a concert and events venue in Dublin, Ireland, that operated from 1988 to 2007, visited by in excess of 2 million people. It was located on the North Wall Quay of the River Liffey, amongst the Dublin Docklands. The Point was closed in the middle of 2007 for a major redevelopment and underwent a rebranding as The O2 in July 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bucksburn</span> Suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland

Bucksburn is a suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland, named after the stream that flows through it. The stream is called Bucks Burn. Bucksburn was formerly a market village before being swallowed up by the spread of the city. The area is bordered by countryside, in particular Kirkhill Forest and the land surrounding Brimmond Hill.

Westpoint Exeter is a multi-purpose indoor arena and showground, at Clyst St Mary, near Exeter, England. The capacity of the venue is 7,500 people. It hosts local concerts, fairs and exhibitions. Westpoint is the largest exhibition and entertainment venue in the South West and is located near to Exeter Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memorial Drive Park</span> Tennis venue in Adelaide, South Australia

Memorial Drive Park, more generally referred to as "Memorial Drive", is a tennis venue, located adjacent to the Adelaide Oval, in the park lands surrounding the centre of Adelaide, South Australia. Memorial Drive took its name from the winding avenue, known as War Memorial Drive, which separates the venue from the River Torrens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre</span> Australian indoor arena

Tamworth Regional Entertainment Conference Centre (TRECC) is an Australian arena, located approximately 6 km south of the Tamworth Central Business District, in the suburb of Hillvue and is within walking distance to good accommodation, retail and hospitality outlets.

The Hello, I'm Dolly Tour in 2004 was Dolly Parton's first concert tour since 2002, her first major tour in a decade, and her largest tour in two decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backwoods Barbie Tour</span> 2008 concert tour by Dolly Parton

The Backwoods Barbie Tour was the ninth headlining concert tour by American recording artist, Dolly Parton. Visiting the United States, Northern Europe and Canada, the tour supported her 42nd studio album, Backwoods Barbie. The tour was well received by critics and spectators alike, earning more than nine million dollars in 2008. The European leg of the tour was the most successful outing of Parton's touring history, performing for 170,000 spectators in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands. The tour was expected to reach Australia as well but this did not come to fruition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The New Adelphi Club</span> Music venue in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England

The New Adelphi Club is a popular local venue for alternative live music in the city of Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has achieved notability outside its local area, having hosted such bands as The Stone Roses, Radiohead, Green Day and Oasis, in its over-30 year history. The club opened in October 1984, and Kaiser Chiefs performed there as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pure & Simple Tour</span> 2016–17 concert tour by Dolly Parton

The Pure & Simple Tour is the twelfth and final headlining concert tour by American country music artist, Dolly Parton. The tour supports the singer's 43rd studio album, Pure & Simple. It is marketed as Parton's biggest tour in North America, with over sixty shows planned for 2016. The tour began on June 3, 2016 in Greensboro, North Carolina and concluded on December 10 2016 in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P&J Live</span> Multi-purpose indoor arena in Bucksburn, Aberdeen, Scotland

P&J Live is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Aberdeen, Scotland. Opened in August 2019, it offers a capacity for all types of shows and events from 5,000 to 15,000. Replacing the former Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC), the 10,000-seat arena is used for concerts and other events.

References

  1. "BDS Sponsorship is proud to announce brokering new AECC Arena title sponsorship with GE Oil & Gas – BDS Sponsorship & Commercialisation". sponsorship.co.uk.
  2. "Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre". mrtarchitects.com.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. "Oasisarchive – VIDEO: Oasis Aberdeen 1997". 30 September 2014. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  4. "Oasis Setlist at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Aberdeen". setlist.fm.
  5. "Oasis Setlist at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Aberdeen". setlist.fm.
  6. "Oasis brothers stay in separate hotels after Aberdeen gig". STV News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  7. "Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds add Aberdeen date". STV News. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  8. "Dolly Parton @ Aberdeen AECC". BIG Live Acts.
  9. "Dolly Parton's Aberdeen gig sells out in minutes - Showbiz / News / Evening Express". Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  10. Munro, Craig. "End of an era as AECC arena torn down". Evening Express. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  11. "Church buys part of former Aberdeen exhibition centre for £1.79m". BBC News. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  12. "Former AECC site launched to market with permission for 500 new homes". Scottish Construction Now. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2022.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre at Wikimedia Commons