Edinburgh proposes 8,500-capacity arena project by AEG Europe

Edinburgh has proposed a 8,500-capacity arena: the city with a population of 526,000 people could get a major arena from AEG Europe’s investment, which could certainly boost the city’s entertainment scene

AEG Europe, owners of O2 Arena, announce new investment in Edinburgh, revealing plans for an 8,500-capacity arena. The event organizer and venue manager are currently pursuing planning approval for the arena located in Edinburgh Park.

AEG Europe (Anschutz Entertainment Group), the company behind the iconic 20,000-capacity O2 Arena, which opened in London in 2007, recently impressed the public with a new announcement. According to their announcement, they are planning a major investment in Edinburgh, specifically Edinburgh Park. The area that has been earmarked as the investment site has two tram stops, several bus connections, and motorway links, making the arena very accessible, even using public transport. Edinburgh Park is home to several multinational companies and banks, such as Fujitsu, Sainsbury’s Bank, and BT Group (UK telecoms).

So no doubt it could be a very good investment to support the entertainment industry in the western part of the city. The company that develops and operates the business park, Parabola, has reportedly already agreed with AEG Europe to purchase the selected site. “It’s a location with immense potential, amplified by Parabola’s transformative development and regeneration of Edinburgh Park.”, added Alex Hill, president and chief executive of AEG Europe.

“The much needed 8,500-capacity arena will bring world-class live music and entertainment to Edinburgh, further cementing its reputation as a destination for culture and global tourism.”, continued Alex Hill.

The final step in closing the deal is, of course, to get the permits accepted by the council: to this end, as stated in the announcement, in the upcoming weeks, a planning application is set to be submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council. Anticipated timelines suggest that a decision on the matter will be reached within six months. Upon approval, construction is projected to commence in early 2025, paving the way for the inaugural live events to grace the stage in 2027. Everyone will certainly be looking forward to this moment, as it will host a number of concerts and parties, such as the 30th-anniversary concert of the Ministry of Sound in the O2 Arena in 2021.

Image credit: Everything Edinburgh