AEG Europe secures planning permission for Edinburgh Park Arena

AEG Europe, a global leader in live sport and entertainment, has received approved planning permission for a new state-of-the-art 8,500-capacity arena in Edinburgh Park. The decision, reached by the City of Edinburgh Council, signifies a further milestone in the development of Scotland’s newest live entertainment venue.

The Council announced the decision after the application was put forward with a recommendation for approval following an extensive initial planning consultation period during which the submission was met with a wide range of support. The owners of London’s iconic The O2 Arena and Uber Arena in Berlin are working with award-winning developers and site owners Parabola, on the new arena, which will span 18,500 square metres of regeneration project area of Edinburgh Park to the West of the Scottish capital.

AEG Europe’s latest venue investment is expected to bring an estimated £520 million per annum in gross value to the Edinburgh economy. It is also estimated that the arena would inject a further £83 million per annum back into the local economy, through the 700,000+ visitors the arena is expected to attract each year, based on external assessment. It will also create 1000+ operational jobs in and around the Arena.

Alex Hill, President and CEO of AEG Europe, said:

We are delighted to have been granted planning consent for a cutting-edge new venue for Edinburgh. Having worked closely with City of Edinburgh Council, we strongly believe the arena will deliver huge benefits to the city throughout every stage of the building’s life cycle – from development to completion, for years to come when we’re bringing the world’s  best artists to the Scottish stage.

Alistair Wood, Executive Vice President, Real Estate and Development, AEG Europe, added:

We thank the City of Edinburgh Council for their forward-thinking and proactive approach and for their shared vision of a new best-in-class arena for Edinburgh. We now turn our attention to expanding on these plans through the appointment of an external contractor, as well as seeking naming rights partners and finalising  funding partners.

As part of the planning phase, AEG Europe Guest Experience and Sustainability experts have been integral in ensuring the venue design and future construction reflects unprecedented fan-first and sustainability measures, with further ambitions of ensuring Edinburgh Park will be the UK’s most sustainable arena.

Edinburgh Park Arena will be privately funded and AEG Europe are finalising funding  partners to bring their vision for a new home for life music in Edinburgh to life. Once an external contractor has been appointed and financed raised, construction is proposed to begin in 2025 and will continue over the course of two years, with the aim of delivering the first event in 2027.

About AEG Europe

Headquartered in London, AEG Europe is a subsidiary of AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company. AEG Europe’s extensive portfolio of live entertainment and sports assets across the region includes: an array of best-in-class venues, such as The O2 and Eventim Apollo in London; Barclays Arena in Hamburg; Uber Arena, Uber Platz and Uber Eats Music Hall in Berlin; and Accor Arena in Paris; as well as renowned music festivals, including American Express presents BST Hyde Park in London and Rock en Seine in Paris. Its venues host some of the world’s best sports events and are home to prestigious sports franchises, including AEG’s own Berlin Eisbären ice hockey team at the Uber Arena.

Colleagues across Europe work together to create world-class live entertainment and sports experiences. AEG’s venue teams develop and operate best-in-class arenas and districts; AEG Presents promotes and manages concerts and tours, oversees renowned venues and produces some of the world’s leading music festivals; AXS Ticketing connects fans to events through specialist technology solutions; and AEG Global Partnerships links corporate brands into the company’s world-leading network of assets.

Source & imagery, courtesy: AEG Europe

Sports Venue Business has launched a raft of new offerings under the SVB LIVE banner, including Networking Events and a Webinar Series, the pinnacle of which is the SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition, being held at Croke Park, October 9th and 10th, with an Opening Night Icebreaker on October 8th. The next sold-out Networking Event is taking place at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, on June 25th.