Nottingham Ice Arena: When Did It Open?

First opened on April 1 2000, Nottingham Motorpoint Arena in Bolero Square has become one of the main staples of the live entertainment scene in the East Midlands. Built on the former Nottingham Ice Centre, and opened by Olympic skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, the arena has continued to host some of the biggest names in sport and music to this day. With 10,000+ capacity, families and friends have been passing through its doors for almost 25 years, coming together to bare witness to some of the largest and most impressive tours to sweep the country.

The construction of the Nottingham Arena began in 1998, with the vision of creating a state-of-the-art venue that could accommodate a wide range of events, from sporting events to music concerts, theatrical performances, and more. The arena was designed by internationally acclaimed architects FaulknerBrowns who drew inspiration from the rich industrial heritage of the city to create a striking, contemporary building that would serve as a focal point for the city’s cultural scene. The arena was completed on schedule, and we opened our doors to the public in April 2000. As an Olympic gold medallist who learned to skate in the old ice rink on the site, Jayne Torvill opened the arena at an official ceremony on 1 April 2000.