Big names for Manchester Arena

BAM Group (BAM) have been chosen by Oak View Group (OVG) as their preferred construction partner, along with global architecture firm, Populous to lead a world-class team who are to construct the new 23,5000-capacity arena in Manchester.

The venue will be the largest arena in the UK, and, will bring around £350M in private direct investment into Manchester, a significant economic benefit.

This follows on from an announcement last week that OVG – a global sports and entertainment company founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff – had submitted plans for the new arena to be built in the Eastlands area of the city.

Best known for their people centric approach, BAM has built many stadiums throughout the world, and has been active in the North West of England since 1993, where they have built the City Football Academy, the National Graphene Institute and the Co-Operative Group HQ. OVG are also pleased to have Populous on board as principal architect and designer of this new venue. The firm have also helped OVG place inclusivity, safety and sustainability at the centre of its plans.

Ian Fleming, Regional Director of BAM in the North West said: “Manchester has become a vast and vastly impressive city. Nevertheless, this visionary development will stand out for a long time to come.

“Having built some of this incredible city’s most important and recognisable structures. BAM is a perfect fit for the scale and quality of the scheme. We bring a highly sophisticated and sustainable construction approach coupled with out well-know collaborative ethos.

“What this means for Manchester is not only a world-class arena, but out commitment to the city as good partners will see us use this fantastic opportunity to help develop skill and peoples life chances, as well as generating exciting local economic benefits.”

Along with BAM and Populous, a host of other well-known names including BuroHappold, ME Engineers, Vanguardia, Turner & Townsend and Deloitte will help form the project team, and, will create this new world class entertainment venue.

Co-Founder and Chief Executive at Oak View Group, Tim Leiweke said: “I’m thrilled that we have put together a project team of such caliber, and with such strong links to the beating heart of the North West.

“While we are living in uncertain times, we know that Manchester and its people are resilient. And we look forward to being intrinsic to the redevelopment of the East of the City, working in close partnership with local people who are the most important part of this project.

“Manchester is a thriving and vibrant city – and along with BAM, Populous and our other incredible partners, we are excited about a new addition to its entertainment scene in the coming months.”

As well as creating a talented project team to design and build this new venue, OVG are ensuing that jobs and employment opportunities will be available to Manchester residents, with 3,350 jobs being available during construction and over 1,000 available once the venue is open.

If you would like to read more articles like this then please click here.