The iconic Copper Box Arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has won the New Event Space award at the national Event Awards 2015.
As the third largest arena in London, the Copper Box collected the prestigious accolade for quickly establishing itself as London’s most versatile entertainment and events space.
Since opening its doors to the public in 2013, the Arena has hosted major international sporting competitions in front of capacity crowds and is utilised for a variety of events, including award ceremonies, conferences, trade shows, car launches, exhibitions and television spectaculars.
In addition, the venue continues to deliver its London 2012 Legacy commitments through running a diverse and plentiful grassroots sports programme for the local community.
In its first full year in operation, the Copper Box Arena successfully delivered 423,000 visits and 224 events of which 106 were community and non-sporting events, 94 sporting events and 24 British Basketball League games.
The New Event Space award is a huge boost to the Copper Box Arena which leisure charitable social enterprise GLL has been managing since 2012 on behalf of the London Legacy Development Corporation, creating 50 jobs, under the consumer facing brand Better.
Peter Bundey, Deputy Managing Director, GLL said:
“10 years ago, GLL were instrumental in backing the bid that brought the 2012 Games to London. Three years ago we were proud to be entrusted with the management of the Copper Box Arena – one of London’s premier sports venues – in legacy mode.
“Today, this award confirms we have met our commitment to deliver not only a successful sport and leisure community programme for the residents of East London but establish the venue as a home for major sporting events – such as the Invictus Games, England Netball International and World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge 2015 – and as a top class corporate event and entertainment venue.”
Peter Tudor, Director of Visitor Services, London Legacy Development Corporation, said:
“We are delighted that all of the hard work that has gone into delivering a lasting legacy for the Copper Box Arena after the Games is delivering such resounding results. This award is great recognition of the versatility of the venue and its success in the years since the summer of 2012.”
The good news follows the shortlisting of GLL under its consumer facing Better brand as National Facility Operator of the Year for swimming venues including the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre and the London Aquatics Centre at the ASA National Awards (14 November).
The Copper Box Arena is available for private hire for community and corporate events, which have recently included the Gfinity European Gaming Championship, the launch of the Fiat 500X and the Toni & Guy Fashion Awards.
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Notes to Editor:
London’s newest visitor destination, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, is a place unlike any other. Visitors to the Park are able to enjoy beautiful parklands and waterways, world-famous sporting venues, arts and events and spectacular views from the ArcelorMittal Orbit. As a new heart for east London, the Park will also provide new homes, jobs and a cultural and education quarter.
The London Legacy Development Corporation promotes and delivers physical, social, economic and environmental regeneration in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the surrounding area, in particular by maximising the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
For more information visit QueenElizabethOlympicPark.co.uk, follow us on Twitter @noordinarypark and like us on Facebook facebook.com/QueenElizabethOlympicPark
About GLL
Better is the consumer facing brand operated by GLL. Established in 1993, GLL is the largest UK-based charitable social enterprise delivering leisure, health and community services. We operate over 170 public sport and leisure centres and 28 libraries (including three prison libraries) in partnership with over 30 local councils, public agencies and sporting organisations. Our leisure facilities enjoy more than 40 million visitors a year with over 490,000 members.
Alongside our core leisure and library divisions, we operate in sport and legacy development, health intervention and education – as well as offering the GLL Sports Foundation, one of the largest independent support programmes for talented young athletes in the UK.
For more information contact:
Charles Dean
Corporate Communications Manager, GLL
Telephone: 07531 748359
Email: charles.dean@gll.org