Derby Arena

Construction

Construction was expected to be completed in November 2014 with the opening of the venue originally scheduled for January 2015. In May 2012 its development seemed uncertain due to a change of local government. It was constructed by contractors Bowmer and Kirkland and was scheduled for completion in 2014. The Arena was finally opened three months late in March 2015 by Sarah Storey and Margaret Beckett. It is Britain's fifth 250-metre indoor track, which is raised to allow easy access to the 12 badminton court size infield area. There are also a café, fitness gym, group exercise studios and a spinning studio.

Also proposed was an outdoor 1.7 km closed road circuit race track and a mountain bike skills area which would have been built on The Sanctuary bird and wildlife reserve. A coalition of 16 local wildlife conservation groups expressed concern at the proposal, but it was approved in February 2014. An injunction brought against Derby City Council by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust led to a Judicial Review being granted which could have overturned the planning approval. On 15 March 2014 Derby City Council announced it was abandoning its plans to develop the site.

In August 2014 a Derby-based company, Moda Bicycles, was appointed to provide 100 bicycles for hire at the Arena, which would be painted black-and-blue to match the Arena's branding. Accreditation to be permitted to use the track will require a four-stage training course, taking six hours to complete at a cost of £65, announced in a package of charges in August 2014.

Events

Cycling

The Arena hosted its first major track meeting in August 2015, when it hosted the opening round of the 2015-16 Revolution series, featuring a number of Olympic and World champions including Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish, Laura Trott, Joanna Rowsell Shand, Jason Kenny and Ed Clancy.

Badminton

National Badminton League franchise Team Derby played at the Arena during the league's first season in 2014–15, before relocating to the University of Derby Sports Centre.

Boxing

The venue hosted the 2024 England Boxing National Amateur Championships (formerly the ABA Championships), which is the premier amateur boxing tournament in England.

Entertainment

Derby City Council relocated their annual pantomime to the Arena from 2015 onwards, following the fire-related closure of the former Assembly Rooms venue. Other events to take place at the Arena include comedy shows by Jimmy Carr and Russell Brand. The venue's first music concert took place in October 2016, with the Happy Mondays supported by The Bluetones and Cast.

References

References

1. "Event and Space hire".
2. (11 May 2012). "Labour councillors will have a free vote on scrapping £22m arena plans". Derby Evening Telegraph.
3. Johnson, Robin. (12 September 2013). "VIDEO: Velodrome has the wow factor already". Derby Evening Telegraph.
4. [http://www.bandkleisure.co.uk/ Project website], Bowmer & Kirkland website
5. . (20 March 2015). ["Delayed Derby Arena velodrome opens for business"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-31974994). *[[BBC]]*.
6. Mallett, Chris. (20 August 2013). "Wildlife trust opposes plans for bike track at nature reserve". Derby Evening Telegraph.
7. Mallett, Chris. (7 February 2014). "Cycle track plan on Derby Sanctuary nature reserve is approved by one vote". Derby Telegraph.
8. (17 March 2014). "Council says it 'genuinely believes' cycle track would not have affected wildlife". Derby Telegraph.
9. (13 August 2014). "Derby-based Moda Bicycles wins Derby Arena contract". Derby Telegraph.
10. (15 August 2014). "Charges for using new track at Derby's velodrome are revealed". Derby Telegraph.
11. . ["Revolution Series 2015/16 - Round 1"](http://www.derbyarena.uk.com/events/whats-on/revolution-series-201516-round-1/).
12. (14 August 2015). "World's elite cyclists wow the crowds... as does Derby Arena".
13. (7 November 2015). "Uni sports centre lands nationals and Team Derby". Derby Telegraph.
14. "Live results from the England Boxing National Amateur Championships 2024 Finals Day, held at Derby Arena on Saturday 20th April".
15. (19 December 2014). "Derby Arena to host city's pantomime after 2014 show cancelled". BBC News.
16. (16 October 2016). "Happy Mondays play at Derby Arena - check out our photos from the gig!". Derby Telegraph.