Utilita Arena Birmingham / Barclaycard Arena / National Indoor Arena (Birmingham)

Arena Birmingham (known for sponsorship reasons as Utilita Arena Birmingham) is an indoor arena and sporting venue in central Birmingham, United Kingdom.

General information

Official website: utilitaarenabham.co.uk

Arena capacity: 15,800 spectators

Address: King Edwards Rd, Birmingham B1 2AA, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 52°28′47″N 01°54′54″W

Year of construction: 1991

Seating plan of Utilita Arena Birmingham

Where to buy tickets?

You can purchase your ticket through theticketfactory.com, just click on the event you want to attend.

You’ll find the Utilita Arena Birmingham box office located on the Arena Floor level to the right of Entrance E. This is accessible from both the north & south car parks.

The Utilita Arena Birmingham box office is open on event days. Opening hours are limited and subject to change at short notice. To confirm the box office opening times before traveling please call the arena for up to date information.

Ticket prices are set by the (independent) Promoters and Organisers of the concerts and events which are staged at the venues. The Promoters and Organisers distribute tickets for sale through various Ticket Agents and in effect The Ticket Factory simply acts as another one of these Agents. Please note that tickets might be a higher price when purchased on the night of the event.

How to get there?

Utilita Arena Birmingham is at the heart of the city. It is extremely accessible and gives visitors the option to travel by car, bus and train.

By Car

The arena is at the heart of the city centre and a doddle to get to. We’d always suggest you leave plenty of time for your journey.

Live traffic updates can be found at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic-information

Parking is limited.

For Sat Nav, the postcode is B1 2AA.

Visitors arriving by car will need to be aware of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone. Utilita Arena Birmingham and associated visitor car parks are located within the Clean Air Zone. Daily charges apply to vehicles entering the zone which do not comply with the zone’s criteria.

By Train

It’s slap bang in the city centre so just a short walk from Birmingham New Street, Moor Street, Snow Hill and Five Ways train stations. Alternatively, each station is only a few minutes away by Taxi.

By Bus

Buses run past the Arena all day long, in fact two often come along at once. Visit networkwestmidlands for details. If you’ve traveled by coach to Digbeth coach station, the Arena is a 30-minute walk or a short taxi ride. We’d definitely suggest the latter.

By Taxi

Why not let someone else do all the driving for a change and book a return taxi in advance to Utilita Arena Birmingham, at one of the taxi pick up/ drop off points?

Parking

Utilita Arena Birmingham has ample on-site public car park spaces across the car parks: North, South and West. Please note, West car park is for pre-booked and Hospitality customers only.

South and West car parks are serviced by lifts to each floor, with accessible parking located on Level 11, giving direct access to Utilita Arena Birmingham entrances. North car park has no lift facility, with all accessible spaces being located on level 9, close to Entrance G.

We advise booking your parking in advance for specific events, however you can pay at any time before exiting the car park via the payment kiosks, which take both cash and card, or via mobile.

The ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) system reads the registration plates of vehicles entering and exiting the car parks. In addition, there will be more onsite CCTV cameras in operation across all levels, to further increase surveillance coverage within the car parks.

If you’re just in Brum for the day to attend an event, or need a long-term parking solution in the City Centre, we’ve got you covered.

1. Pre Book Parking. For events at Utilita Arena Birmingham, the easiest way to park is by pre-booking and securing a space before you get there.
2. Season Ticket Parking. Standard Season Tickets are valid Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 19:00 making your commute easier knowing your parking is already sorted. This may be upgraded to 24hr access Monday to Friday or to an unlimited access pass.
3. Pay On The Day. We advise pre-booking your parking, however you can pay at any time before exiting the car park via the payment kiosks or via mobile. Car park payment kiosks accept all credit / debit cards including AMEX.
4. West Five. There is also an unlimited access pass to WestFive Car Park, situated off St. Vincent Street. This car park offers the additional peace of mind of a gated car park with a dedicated space and electronic key access, plus CCTV coverage. Please visit the Park Jockey website for more info.

Parking Enquiries

Park Jockey is the car park payment operator for the Utilita Arena Birmingham car parks.

If you have any parking enquiries, please speak to the Park Jockey customer support team or email [email protected]

For more information about Park Jockey, visit their website.

Where to eat and sleep?

Use the list below to find out more about the food, drink, and more that there is on offer at Utilita Arena Birmingham.

1. Burger Kitchen. Hard to beat a burger and fries to start off your night. Delicious beef burgers and chicken burgers available with all the trimmings in a fresh brioche bun. Try a vegetarian falafel burger and they will have vegan options available.
2. Neo Pizza. Soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a generous slice of freshly baked pizza to get you going for the show. Classic Margarita and pepperoni pizzas are available.
3. Theos Street Food. A carefully selected range of authentic middle eastern “street food”. From chicken shawarma served in a Lebanese flat bread to delicious Falafel piled into a flat bread. Ask for Vegan options.
4. Fish & Chips. Enjoy traditional fish and chips before the show begins. With hand battered, sustainably sourced fish, steak pie or Roast half chicken. All available with chunky British chips. Ask for Vegan options.
5. Bar. This bar serves up a selection of bottled beer, cider, wine, cocktails & fizz. Pints of cider, mixed berries cider, Pravha & Guinness. Soft drinks and sweets are also available from this kiosk.
6. Coca Cola Bar. The coke bar serves up bottle beer, cider, wine & spirits alongside your favourite soft drinks. Small selection of sweets and snacks are also available.

There is a vast amount of fantastic and unique Birmingham hotels that can cater to any preferences that you might have. However, these are some of the hotels that we think are the best to add a bit of luxury to your event day at Birmingham’s premier venue.

1. Hilton Garden Inn. Famous hotel chain Hilton really knows what they’re doing when it comes to providing a luxury service. Located in the esteemed Brindley Place, the Hilton Garden Inn is right in the heart of the city, and just a short walk away from bars, pubs and shopping centres.
2. Hyatt Regency. The Hyatt Regency Birmingham offers its customers a serious taste of the high life. The contemporary 4-star hotel is excellently located in the middle of the city, and boasts a location score of 9.1 out of 10.
3. Campanile Hotel. The Campanile Hotel Birmingham offers guests a taste of luxury, for a slightly cheaper price tag. The modern canal side hotel is located just outside of central Birmingham, meaning that guests can relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Facilities

Amplify, Utilita Arena Birmingham’s premium hospitality provider, are the experts at delivering bigger, better and quite often fancier live event experiences. From fine dining to amazing seats they’ll ensure you always get to live it up.

Combining top-notch food and amazing seats along with the great selection of shows and events, why not treat yourself and choose from a variety of luxurious lounges and exclusive boxes at Utilita Arena Birmingham.

Premier Lounge

Introducing Premier Lounge – the brand new, exclusive contemporary lounge bar at Utilita Arena Birmingham. Offering panoramic views across Utilita Arena Birmingham. Customers are able to enjoy this with an annual membership or show-by-show basis.

The Foundry

The moment you step inside, you’re greeted by an interior impressively decorated with stunning copper, reflecting the essential role Birmingham played in the industrial revolution. Plus it looks really glamorous, so win-win. Impeccable taste also applies to every dish that leaves the kitchen, every one prepared to order by the top chefs and served up with that famous friendliness you only get in Brum.

The Quartz

Inspired by Birmingham’s very own Jewellery Quarter, the shiny restaurant, Quartz, is the ideal choice if you’re looking to add a little more glitz and glamour to your visit.

With a wide choice of dishes and cheeky beverages to choose from, it’s the perfect way to kick off your night.

Show Cubes

Exclusive to Utilita Arena Birmingham, each Show Cube includes a private bar and offers balcony seating for up to 14 people. Not to mention uninterrupted panoramic views of the arena. If your guests are hungry, delicious pre-show dinners can also be served up in style.

Show Cubes are available for annual hire and on a show-by-show basis. To find out more call Amplify Hospitality.

Show Lounge

Screaming, shouting and singing your heart out is thirsty work. That’s why when you upgrade to the Show Lounge seating you have access to a private bar.

Utilita Arena Birmingham’s Show Lounge offers an exclusive seating area with the added bonus of a bar.

Accessibility

The stadium’s crew takes customers access need very seriously and are proud of the developments they have made to make online bookings possible for disabled people.

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs are welcome at the venue; however, it’s not recommended that they are brought to concerts or other loud events.

Customers who require an assistance dog are asked to notify of their requirements at the time of booking. Assistance dogs are only allowed within certain seating areas within the arena bowl for the welfare of the dogs, other customers and to maintain safe venue evacuation routes, should they be required.

You can contact them via The Ticket Factory’s designated disabled booking line. Alternatively, you can pre-register your requirements using The Ticket Factory’s free registration system.

Toilets

Arena Birmingham has five stand-alone unisex accessible toilets. These are located on:

• Concourse level 1, opposite Block 2 (next to the medical centre)
• Concourse level 2, opposite Block 12
• Arena floor level, inside Entrance C
• 2x Arena floor level, within B(eat) inside Entrance E

Within all concourse toilets there are accessible toilets for both RADAR key holders and Non-RADAR key holders.

Hospitality Areas also have accessible toilets (Quartz, Foundry & Vista Rooms)

All of the unisex toilets are controlled by a RADAR key. Speak to one of the stewards to use the RADAR key if you do not have one with you. Accessible toilets within the Male and Female toilets on the concourse level have both RADAR operated toilets and non-RADAR operated.

In addition to the unisex toilets there are dedicated ambulant cubicles within the ladies’ and gents’ loos throughout the arena, which are signposted accordingly.

Wheelchairs

If you need a wheelchair and have your own or can borrow one, it’s recommended that you bring it with you.

There is only a very limited number of manual wheelchairs available for use in the venue which are available from entrance doors on a first come, first served basis. Speak to a member of the Security staff on arrival for assistance.

Certain restrictions apply however: Please note that wheelchairs are for use inside the venue only and cannot be taken to car parks/train station/taxi rank etc. The intended use of the wheelchairs is as a shuttle service to your seat from the entrance door and back again. Unfortunately, customers are not allowed to keep the wheelchairs for the duration of the event.

Changing Places

In addition to the accessible toilet provision, Arena Birmingham can also boast a Changing Places toilet facility which can be found on the concourse opposite Block 5.

This facility meets the needs of people with multiple and complex disabilities who have one or more carers with, and assisting them, by providing extra features and more space.

Features include:

• Height adjustable, adult sized changing bench
• Ceiling hoist system to lift people between wheelchairs and the toilet/changing bench
• Automatic wash/dry, centrally located toilet
• Height adjustable washbasin
• RADAR key operated door

(Please note – for Health & Safety reasons, they do not provide support slings for the ceiling hoist system. Customers are asked to bring their own).

Medical Facilities

There is a Medical Centre at Arena Birmingham located on Concourse Level 1 opposite Block 2. Qualified medical staff are on duty when the Arena is open to the public.

In the event of a medical emergency, notify a steward who will radio for medical assistance.

Should you require a private area for personal care (eg private changing facilities) speak to the staff in the Medical Centre who should be able to assist you.

Parking

1. South Car Park. For concerts and events at the Arena, Blue Badge Parking is situated on Level 11 which gives direct access to our Arena Birmingham entrances. There is lifts servicing each floor of the South Car Park.
2. North Car Park. Accessible parking bays are located on Level 9 of the North Car Park, off King Edward’s Road, close to Entrance G.
3. Collecting tickets. If you need to collect tickets from the Arena box office, it is recommended that you park in the South Car Park, park on Level 8 and follow the pink route round to Entrance E.
4. Larger vehicles. Disabled visitors arriving in vehicles over 2m in height (Minibuses or Ambilifts), will be directed to the North Car Park. Here visitors can disembark, and traffic officers will then direct the vehicle to the nearest parking bay. Parking rates for the car parks can be found on the Arena Birmingham parking page.
5. Drop-off point. If you are arriving by car or taxi, but do not require parking, you need to be dropped at the bottom of the main steps on King Edward’s Road, then follow the boardwalk to Entrance E. To get your bearings please visit the ‘Finding your way around’ page.

Strobe Lightning

Many concerts/events at Arena Birmingham use strobe lighting. Often, they will not know about this until the day of the event. If you have any concerns then please speak to a steward who will be able to assist with further information about their use.

Dedicated Telephone Ticket Line

All visitors with disabilities wanting to purchase tickets for events at the Arena Birmingham are advised to call the Ticket Factory dedicated ticket line. It’s open from 9am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm Weekends and Bank Holidays.

Inform them at the time of booking if you need a wheelchair space or have any special requirements, so that they can arrange for everything to be ready on your arrival. They will also help you find the most convenient seating for visitors with visual and/or hearing impairments.

If you are a disabled visitor and require a carer to attend the event with you, it may be possible to claim a discounted or complimentary carer ticket. This can differ on a show-to-show basis, so check with the sales advisor when you make your booking. They may ask questions to ascertain the nature of your disability to ensure you are offered the best possible seating and eligibility for a carer ticket.

History

The arena was officially opened, as the National Indoor Arena, on 4 October 1991 by the athlete Linford Christie. When it was opened, the arena was intended to be an indoor sporting venue. However, the venue began to host entertainment events shortly after opening.