Emirates Arena/The Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome (Glasgow)

The Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, known for sponsorship reasons as the Emirates Arena, is an indoor arena and velodrome in Dalmarnock, Glasgow, Scotland. Built for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, these venues hosted the badminton and track cycling events. Situated opposite Celtic Park in the East End of Glasgow, the complex is the headquarters of Sportscotland and Scottish Cycling.

General information

Arena capacity: 8,200 spectators

Address: 1000 London Rd, Glasgow G40 3HG, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 55°50′50″N 4°12′28.95″W

Year of construction: 2012

Construction cost: £113 million

Seating plan of Emirates Arena

How to get there?

Details of local transport arrangements for Emirates Arena are set out below.

Walking to the venue

The walk from the city centre will be a great way to soak up the atmosphere and will take around 42 minutes. Games Time volunteers, called clyde-siders will be on hand to help you every step of the way.

The preferred route is:

Head south on Hanover St toward Ingram St – Continue onto Miller St – Turn left onto Argyle St – Continue onto Trongate – Slight right to stay on Trongate – Continue onto London Rd – Slight left to stay on London Rd – Continue to follow London Rd – Turn right onto Clyde Gateway – Pedestrian Screening Area Entrance on left.

The walk from the SECC Area will take less than one hour.

Cycling

The Emirates Arena is less than a 12 minute cycle from the city centre.

The recommended cycling route is as follows:

Head south on South Frederick St toward Ingram St – Turn left onto Ingram St – Turn right onto Glassford St – Turn left onto Trongate – Turn right onto Saltmarket – Turn left onto St Andrews St – Turn left onto James Morrison St – Turn right onto London Rd – Turn right onto Clyde Gateway – Dismount south of ‘loch’ south of CAV – Head east on path south of Loch – Enter cycle parking.

The venue is less than a 30 minute cycle from the west end along local routes and National Cycle Network Route 75. The venue is also less than a 25 minutes cycle from the SECC Precinct Area. Staff will be on hand to guide you to Cycle Parking.

Travelling by bus

The Emirates Arena is well served by multiple bus routes with several bus stops in close proximity. Remember use of the bus is included in the cost of your event ticket.

For travel from the city centre use First Bus services 2, 60, 60A 61, 240 and 255 which take approximately 20 minutes to Parkhead Cross, a 10 minute walk to the arena.

For travel from other areas, First Bus services 18 and 263 use stops within 12 minutes’ walk of the arena.

There will be NO city centre shuttle buses in operation to and from the venue.

Travelling by rail

City centre to nearby stations in 10 minutes Dalmarnock railway station serves Emirates Arena and is around 11 minutes’ walk from the venue.

From Glasgow City Centre:

Join services ONLY at Argyle Street- not Glasgow Central- for onward travel to Dalmarnock, heading for Lanark, Motherwell and Larkhall.

From Dunbartonshire/North Clyde area:

Direct services from Milngavie/Dalmuir – via Glasgow Central Low Level – call at Dalmarnock, heading for

Lanark, Motherwell and Larkhall.

From South Lanarkshire:

Services from Lanark, Motherwell and Larkhall call at Dalmarnock en route to Glasgow Central Low Level and on to Milngavie/Dalmuir.

From the east/Edinburgh:

Join services from Edinburgh/ Airdrie or Springburn for Bellgrove heading towards Helensburgh /Balloch / Milngavie / Dalmuir.

ScotRail will provide up to double its normal number of carriages on key routes, but remember to allow time for the queuing systems that will be in place at the busiest stations to help journeys run safely and smoothly. Travel on a specific service is not guaranteed and should be considered when planning your journey.

For full details of services, please go to scotrail.co.uk.

Leave your car behind!

You are advised not to drive to the Emirates Arena. Except limited pre-bookable facilities for Blue Badge Holders. Parking around the venue is reserved strictly for residents and local businesses only. There are no set down/pick up points. Roads will be busy and subject to closures and restrictions.

So leave your car behind and make use of the many other transport options available.

Parking

Parking at venue Parking is free for all users. The car park is at the front of the venue. The car park type is open air/surface. There are 10+ designated parking bay(s) within the car park. The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 370cm x 650cm (12ft 2in x 21ft 4in). The nearest designated bay is 65m (71yd) from the main entrance.

The furthest designated bay is 100m (109yd) from the main entrance. The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user unaided. The car park surface is block paving. Do not have to cross a road.

Please cycle, walk and use public transport or travel at less busy times.

Where to eat and sleep?

The Emirates Arena has an award winning café that is open throughout the week offering a wide range of culinary delights, perfect for quick impromptu meetings or fuelling up after your tough training session.

​Additional concession stands are available during events offering a range of hot and cold snacks and drinks.
Food service will finish 1 hour before closing.<

Facilities

The Emirates Arena incorporating the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in the East End of Glasgow provides one of the most versatile and innovative structures of its type in Europe.

In terms of sheer engineering innovation the Emirates Arena is unparalleled in Scotland and is one of the largest facilities of its kind in Europe. This is a fantastic, flexible community facility with its 12 Badminton Court Sports Hall complex that comprises three sports halls with 5,000 spectator seats, dance and fitness studios, external multi-court areas, media, event control and hospitality suites and offices for Governing Bodies of sport and SportsScotland.

Sports Arena

The Arena has a 200 metre, 6 lane athletics track which is hydraulically operated to allow for other types of sporting events to be held.

The athletics track is used for annual events such as the Glasgow International Athletics Match, World Cup Gymnastics and the Scottish Badminton Grand Prix, as well as having hosted major competitions in sports as diverse as netball, karate, cheerleading and judo.

The arena also provides Glasgow’s athletes with a perfect training venue throughout the year.

With throwing cages, long jump pits, a 137m warm up/sprint straight and pole vault mats this really will be a world-class facility for training.

Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome

The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome is named in honour of Scotland’s most successful gold medal winning Olympian and Commonwealth Games champion. Its 250-metre track has been designed by Ralph Schuermann, one of the world’s foremost track designers. With its permanent viewing capacity of 2,500 and an additional 2,000 temporary seats, it can attract some of the world’s top cycling events to Glasgow.

Scotland has an outstanding record in international track cycling competition, winning six medals in the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. The ambitious design and quality of the Velodrome celebrates this success.

Sports Hall

The Arena Sports Hall is perfect for a whole range of indoor sports and provides the perfect backdrop for Glasgow’s own basketball team, The Glasgow Rocks, who have been a permanent fixture within the arena since its opening in 2012.

The Glasgow Rocks professional basketball team have made Emirates Arena home since the arena opened in 2012.

Tickets for all Glasgow Rocks Home fixtures can be purchased via Glasgow Rocks.

With capacity for a full size basketball or netball court and over 1000 spectators, the sports hall has become a renowned venue up and down the country. The hall also has space for 12 badminton courts ideal for Glasgow Club members to ​perfect their smash and work on their serve.

Conference Facilities

As the city’s epicentre of sporting prowess and one of the host venues during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the Emirates Arena provides a unique space to host your event. Not only is the Emirates Arena an International sporting venue, but it also has first class conference facilities with various sized meeting rooms. The jewel in the crown is the Function Suite, which overlooks both the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and the Sports Arena.

The venue offers free car parking and complementary Wi-Fi. The in-house caterers can provide mouth-watering bespoke packages for every occasion. For a truly unique dining experience they can host corporate hospitality in the function spaces overlooking the Velodrome and the Arena.

For a unique experience why not impress your clients, customers or employees by booking a corporate taster session on the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. Follow in the wheel tracks of the Olympic Champion and afterwards entertain your guests in the Function Suite.

Or why not choose from their many other sporting facilities for teambuilding activities. These include an indoor sports arena, three sports halls with 12 badminton courts, four outdoor 5-a-side football pitches, an outdoor 1km cycle circuit, one of the largest Glasgow Club health and fitness centres, and the luxury Refresh Spa.

If you want your event immersed in all things sporting, there really is no better place.

There are ​10 areas available for hire at the Emirates Arena:

• Function Room full area (max 250);
• Function Room arena view (max 170);
• Function Room velodrome view (max 50);
• Room 2 (max 6);
• Room 3 (max 6);
• Room 4 (max 20);
• Room 5 (max 12);
• Media Suite Room A and B (max 50);
• Media Suite Room A (max 30);
• Media Suite Room B (max 25).

The venue is suitable for:

• Awards Ceremonies;
• Community Events;
• Conferences;
• Standing Receptions;
• Banquets;
• Meetings.

Accessibility

Emirates Arena has good facilities for people with disabilities.

Tickets

Accessible seating is available at the Emirates Arena, including aisle seats and seats with few or no steps. These seats need to be booked in advance to ensure that your requirements can be accommodated.

Wheelchair tickets are available around the arena at Red and Light Blue pricing and include a free companion ticket.

For Accessibility Bookings call directly into the arena. Any customers who have an Access Card can link their card to their Ticket Factory account giving them access to purchase tickets online.

Blue Badge Parking

If you require Blue Badge parking please email [email protected] with the below details:

• vehicle make & model;
• vehicle registration;
• blue badge permit number;
• blue badge expiry date;
• the council the badge was issued by;
• your home address.

Accessible Entry

Access to the arena is via a lift to the left-hand side of the arena’s main entrance, beside the steps.

Talk to a member of staff at the arena entrance if you are unable to wait in a queue for a period of time. They will organise priority entry for you as soon as the doors open.

Guide and Assistance Dogs

Guide and Assistance Dogs are very welcome at the Emirates Arena.

Accessible Toilets

All of the Emirates Arena accessible toilets are unisex and available on all levels close to the accessible seating areas. These toilets are larger than standard toilets.

Medication

Spectators are advised to bring medication in its original packaging and only enough for use during the event. All spectators are subject to bag searches and any unmarked/unpackaged medication will be confiscated.

There is no refrigeration on site so please make sure that you package your medication appropriately for the duration of your visit; we suggest bringing a small cool bag for any medication which needs to be kept cool.

Special Effects and Entertainment

Please be aware that pyrotechnics, strobe lighting and special effects may be used at this event.

Architectural Aspects

The £116 million Emirates Arena and The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome was designed by 3DReid. The building, opened to the public on 6th October 2012, will have a lasting post-Games legacy, as a centre for sporting excellence, a community sports facility, and as a catalyst to major investment and regeneration in the area.

Developed by Glasgow City Council and managed by Glasgow Life, the complex is built on a 10.3 hectare site, and provides approximately 38,000 sq m of floorspace including a 10,000 sq m Arena, an 8,500 sq m Velodrome and a 2,500 sq m Sports Hall.

The total project cost of £116 million compares favourably with other sports venues with much of the cost saving attributed to sharing of support spaces such as changing and training facilities, public concourses, concessions, catering, function suite, offices and main plant between the main event spaces.

Gordon McGhie, Director at 3DReid, explains “Flexibilty and sharing have been the key to designing this excellent facility which, in addition to its community sports and Commonwealth Games use, will provide a focus for sporting excellence for many decades to come.”

The Arena provides a 200m running track, 60m hurdles track, throwing and jumping areas, and has also been designed to be used for a variety of other sports. For indoor athletics events it has seating configured for approx 5,000 spectators, while telescopic and movable seating platforms that push the spectators’ seats as close as possible to the action can increase seating for other events up to approx 6,800 seats. The Sports Hall can accommodate three Basketball courts or a single court with approx 1,000 seat viewing capacity.

The Velodrome has a 250m indoor high banked timber cycle track (the only one in Scotland), with approx 2,000 seats, standing room for 500 spectators around the track bends, and space to erect additional temporary seating during the Commonwealth Games. The timber track itself has been designed and constructed by Schürmann Architekten and, at track bends, the track slopes at an angle of 45 degrees.

The external envelope comprises charcoal grey acid etched Precast Concrete panels by Decomo (from Belgium) at low level, with Trimo Qbiss insulated metal wall panels at high level and Alcoa Reynobond composite ‘Diamond’ panels to curved walls around the Velodrome. Main roof areas comprise Kal-zip roofing while the hub building roof has a Sika Liquid Plastics Decothane roof coating system.

During early design phases 3DReid worked with Sport Concepts, and the biggest challenge in designing the building was integration of the various sports facilities into a single sports complex and creating suitable access and appropriate security, for the various users of the building.

The development includes considerable public realm works as well as access, landscaping and parking areas, a SUDS pond and a number of pedestrian and cycle routes.

Fun Facts

• The track itself is built from Siberian pine, which is one of the fastest woods in the world. Expect world records.
• Find the best odds for sports betting.
• The wood may be sourced from permafrost forests, but the air in the velodrome is kept deliberately warm so the bikes go faster. Staying well hydrated is strongly advised for riders and spectators alike.
• The banked corners curve at a terrifying 45° angle, meaning that riders can exit them at insanely fast speeds.
• New predictions for soccer, tennis, hockey, basketball, etc. are created every hour.
• Riders only travel round the track in an anticlockwise direction. Left turns only!

History

The construction work took place between 2009 and 2012. The venue opened in October 2012. In September 2017, neighbours Celtic F.C. had plans approved for the construction of a hotel complex within their land, situated directly across the road from the arena and velodrome.