HULL, UK (VIP NEWS) — Plans have been unveiled for a new £36 million, 3,500-capacity concert and conference center in Hull in the UK.
The venue, to be funded by council borrowing and earmarked for a largely derelict city center site, is scheduled to open in early 2018. The scheme will also feature a new 150-bed hotel, reports the Hull Daily Mail.
"A high-quality, purpose-built events and conference center is absolutely essential to making Hull a top visitor destination and to secure a long-term legacy from our year as the UK City of Culture,” said councilor Steven Bayes, portfolio holder for visitor destination.”
The city is currently home to the 25,400-capacity KC Stadium, which has welcomed acts including Elton John Bon Jovi and The Who, and the 1,800-capacity Hull City Hall. Its 3,750-capacity Hull Ice Arena hosted the likes of Oasis, Blur and Ed Sheeran, but the number of shows held at the venue has dwindled in recent years.
"Put simply, a city of Hull`s size needs a facility such as this,” added Bayes. “We will formally hand over the UK City of Culture title to another city in 2020, but this development will allow us to continue to attract events capable of delivering a big economic impact beyond that.”
The venue`s suggested capacity is aimed at attracting acts and events likely to book two days or nights in Hull, reports the newspaper. The city council expects it to attract 240,000 visitors a year.
