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The Pavilion | |
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 Interactive map of Plymouth Arena | |
| Location | Plymouth, England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°22′8″N4°9′0″W / 50.36889°N 4.15000°W /50.36889; -4.15000 |
| Owner | Plymouth Pavilions Ltd |
| Capacity | Concerts: 4,000 Seated: 2,500 Conferences: 2,200 Basketball: 1,480 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1991 |
| Tenants | |
| Plymouth Raiders (BBL) (1996–2021) Plymouth City Patriots (BBL) (2021-present) | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Plymouth Arena (formerly known as Plymouth Pavilions[1]) is an entertainment and sports complex inPlymouth, Devon, England. It is used as an entertainment venue and also for corporate hire.[2]
The venue is built on the site of the formerMillbay railway station that is directly opposite theDuke of Cornwall Hotel. The granite pillars which can be seen outside the main entrance were once the gate posts to the station.[3]
Plymouth Pavilions was one of the only indoor centres with an ice rink in Devon, but in 2022 due to the cost of living crisis, the company declared the ice rink would close for good[4] with the final skate taking place on 31 December 2022.[5]
The venue was also the home of a family fun indoor swimming pool - including an underwater-themed extension which closed in 2003; however on 18 March 2012, in response to the opening of the state-of-the-artPlymouth Life Centre, the swimming pool was shut down. The area once used by the pool has been vacated and abandoned, as of 2018.[6]
The Plymouth Pavilions Arena has a standing capacity of 4,000 and a seated capacity of 2,500.[2] The Arena frequently hosts and promotes large scale concerts, previous artists to have played at The Pavilions include:Ed Sheeran,Oasis,Dermot Kennedy andPink. The fastest selling show at Pavilions, was theArctic Monkeys, selling out in one hour in 2006.[7]In 2012 that record was matched byGary Barlow, selling out in just under one hour.[8]
The Plymouth Pavilions has its own box office and ticketing platform for Ticketing purchases, this is called The Ticket Store.
As of 2018 Plymouth Pavilions launched 'Pavilions Introduces', an intimate academy sized gig night for established and upcoming south west talent. The first night featured the South Wests Land of the Giants with support from London-based band Tankus The Henge. Since then the platform has also had bands such as Mad Dog McRea, The Busketeers, The Native and many more local acts.
The arena was home to thePlymouth Raiders professional basketball team, who competed in the eliteBritish Basketball League. The Raiders had one of the biggest fan bases in British basketball, and games were often played in front of sell-out crowds of up to 1,480 people. The arena had been home to the Raiders since 1996, when the team moved in from the nearbyMayflower Centre looking for a bigger venue to play at.
On 8 July 2021, Plymouth Raiders withdrew from the British Basketball League for the2021-22 season due to an increase in the cost of renting the Plymouth Pavilions. Later in the month, it was announced by the BBL that the city of Plymouth would have a franchise in the league for the 2021–22 season, led by local businessman Carl Heslop.[10]
On 9 August 2021, Plymouth announced that the new franchise will be called thePlymouth City Patriots for the 2021–22 season. The naming and branding rights of the Plymouth Raiders were retained by the previous owners because the Patriots couldn't afford the naming rights of 'Plymouth Raiders 1983 Ltd'. The Patriots will play their home games at Plymouth Pavilions for only one season due to high rental costs.[11]
The venue is one of the most unusual looking basketball arenas in the country, with one large two-tiered stand and a smaller temporary stand situated on the events stage. It is known for its off-court entertainment including spectacular in-house sound & light shows withpyrotechnics.
From 2005 to 2008, the arena was part of thePremier League Darts event for thePDC.
| Year | Week | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Week 6 | Thursday 21 April |
| 2006 | Play-Offs | Monday 29 May |
| 2007 | Week 1 | Thursday 1 February |
| 2008 | Week 2 | Thursday 7 February |
On 1 April 2016, it was announced byWWE that the arena would host a date for the upcomingNXT UK tour in June, which was later followed up by UK company5 Star Wrestling hosting an event in the Pavilions. TheWWE announced in 2018 that they would be returning to the Pavilions for anNXT UK TV taping taking place in October 2018.
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