Arena Birmingham

The Barclaycard Arena (previously the National Indoor Arena) an indoor sporting and entertainment venue in Birmingham, UK. Since opening in 1991, it has welcomed visitors to over 30 different sports and a variety of entertainment and music.

The Arena, which is owned by parent company, the NEC Group, is situated in central Birmingham. When it was opened in 1991, it was the largest indoor arena in the UK. The arena is able to host a variety of evens including concerts, business conferences and exhibitions. The Arena has a capacity of up to 12,700 using both permanent seating and temporary seating configurations. The NIA was officially opened on 4 October 1991 by the athlete Linford Christie.

The Barclaycard Arena is located alongside the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line's Old Turn Junction and opposite the National Sea Life Centre in Brindleyplace. Close to the arena, is The ICC which is also owned by the NEC Group.

Renovation
In 2012 plans to refurbish and renovate the NIA were approved by Birmingham City Council. The plans included creating a showpiece entrance from the canal-side, three sky needle light sculptures, a new glazed facade fronting the canal and new pre-show hospitality elements. The design was by the architecture firm Broadway Malyan and the building contract was awarded to Royal BAM Group in 2013 with an projected finishing date of Winter 2014.

The £26 million redevelopment began work in June 2013 and completed in December 2014 and was officially opened by singer Michael Bublé on 2 December 2014. The arena will be called the Barclaycard Arena after Barclaycard won the naming rights for five years.

Also See

 * List of Wrestling Venues