The SSE Arena Belfast is a large indoor arena located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It hosts a variety of events throughout the year including concerts, sporting events, family shows, and exhibitions. Some of the main features and facilities at the SSE Arena Belfast are:
Concert Venue
The SSE Arena is one of Northern Ireland’s premier concert and entertainment venues. It has a capacity of over 11,000 for concerts making it one of the largest indoor arenas on the island of Ireland. Many top artists have performed at the arena over the years including U2, Taylor Swift, Pink, Ed Sheeran, Elton John, and Rod Stewart. The arena offers an intimate atmosphere despite its large size with excellent acoustics and views of the stage.
Layout
The arena floor has removable seating so it can be set up for a fully standing general admission concert or with reserved seating for big productions. There is also seating in the permanent stands around the arena. The farthest seat is only 155 feet from the stage so even larger concerts have an intimate feel. State of the art lighting, sound, and pyrotechnics can also be rigged to create stunning concert productions.
Sporting Events
In addition to concerts, the SSE Arena hosts major sporting events during the year. It is sometimes configured as an ice rink for ice hockey games. The arena is home to the Belfast Giants ice hockey team who play regular season games and postseason playoffs there with capacity up to 10,000 for ice hockey.
The SSE Arena also hosts indoor football, darts competitions such as the World Darts Championship, boxing matches, wrestling events, gymnastics meets, and more. The arena floor provides over 40,000 square feet for basketball, volleyball, and other indoor sports. The center hung video scoreboard ensures great views of the action from all seats.
Notable Sporting Events
Some major sporting events that have taken place in the SSE Arena include:
- 2019 World Darts Championship
- 2016 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries (basketball)
- 2015 Boxing match between Carl Frampton and Chris Avalos
- 2014 Champions Cup (ice hockey)
Family Entertainment
In addition to music and sports, the SSE Arena hosts a wide variety of family oriented events and shows. These include children’s theatre productions, circus shows, ice skating spectaculars, motor shows, and more. Some notable family events include:
- Disney on Ice
- Walking with Dinosaurs
- Marvel Universe Live
- World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) events
The arena’s large capacity and flexible floor plan allow it to accommodate massive productions with special effects and stunts to wow audiences.
Holiday Shows
The Arena is particularly popular around the holidays for special productions geared towards families. These often include:
- Pantomimes – British comedic musical theatre productions geared toward children.
- Christmas ice skating shows with holiday music and elaborate costumes and sets.
- New Year’s concerts and parties to ring in the new year.
These shows provide entertainment for family and friends over school holidays.
Exhibitions and Conferences
With over 30,000 square feet of floor space plus meeting rooms, the SSE Arena can accommodate large exhibitions, trade shows, and conferences. The main arena floor allows for spacious booths and displays. Some notable exhibitions and conferences held here include:
Facilities
The SSE Arena offers the following facilities and amenities for its various events:
- 11,000 person capacity for concerts
- Up to 10,000 capacity for ice hockey
- 40,000+ square foot main arena floor
- Removable seating
- Permanent tiered seating in stands
- 31 hospitality suites
- 6 dressing rooms
- 10 concession stands
- Multiple bars
- VIP lounges
- Parking for 2,500 vehicles
Location and Transportation
The SSE Arena Belfast is centrally located within walking distance of Belfast city centre. It is adjacent to Belfast’s main railway station making it easily accessible by train from all over Northern Ireland. The area is also well served by public transportation including buses and taxis. Key access points include:
- Belfast Central Rail Station – adjacent to arena
- M2/M3 Motorways – approximately 1 mile away
- Belfast International Airport – 30 minutes drive
- Belfast City Airport – 5 miles away
- Metro bus station – 0.2 miles away
- Numerous NI Rail stations with trains to Belfast Central
There are also over 2,500 parking spaces available in lots around the arena.
Public Transportation
Some of the main public transportation options for getting to events at the SSE Arena include:
- Train – Arrive at Belfast Central station and walk 3 minutes to arena
- Bus – Metro buses serve a stop 0.2 miles from arena
- Taxi – Able to drop off directly in front of arena
- Bike – Bike racks available outside arena
- On foot – Situated near shops and restaurants in city centre
Detailed schedules and maps are available on the Translink website.
History
The SSE Arena has been one of Belfast’s top event venues for over 20 years. Here’s an overview of its history:
- 1997 – Opened on May 14th costing approximately £30 million to build
- 1997 – Hosted its first concert with Neil Diamond on May 31st
- Early 2000s – Became home ice for Belfast Giants hockey team
- 2007 – Hosted Belfast Festival at Queen’s
- 2015 – Renamed The SSE Arena
- 2016 – Expansion renovations increased capacity
- 2019 – Hosted key events for Belfast’s Open House Festival
- 2022 – 25th anniversary celebrations held
Throughout its history, the SSE Arena Belfast has hosted the biggest names in music and entertainment and major sporting events.
Notable Concerts
Some of the top musicians and bands who have performed at the SSE Arena over the years include:
- U2 – 1997, 2001, 2005
- The Rolling Stones – 1999
- Tina Turner – 2000
- Andrea Bocelli – 2000
- Prince – 2007
- Rihanna – 2016
- Drake – 2017
- Ed Sheeran – 2019
It continues to attract the best musical acts on global concert tours.
Future Developments
The SSE Arena has plans for future renovations and developments to enhance the facilities. Some upcoming projects include:
- VIP lounge expansions
- New video and LED screens
- Enhanced corporate hospitality areas
- Upgrades to bars, restrooms, and concession areas
- Installation of new ice making technology
- Investments in the latest sound, lighting and AV equipment
These upgrades will allow the SSE Arena to continue attracting top events and providing excellent service to patrons.
Sustainable Initiatives
As part of future plans, the SSE Arena aims to increase its sustainability initiatives. Some of the goals in this area include:
- Reducing energy consumption and waste
- Improving recycling and composting programs
- Offering more plant-based food options
- Promoting travel to venue via public transit
- Hosting green consumer exhibitions
This will allow the arena to reduce its environmental impact while setting an example for sustainable large event venues.
Conclusion
In summary, the SSE Arena Belfast is one of Northern Ireland’s top venues for major concerts, sporting events, family shows, conferences and more. Its central location, excellent facilities, and dynamic history help make it a premier event destination capable of hosting over 11,000 people. While already being a world-class arena, plans for future upgrades and sustainable initiatives will ensure the SSE Arena continues offering top-notch entertainment experiences to patrons for years to come.
