This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
MAJOR EVENT LEGACIES


Venue operator GLL is hoping to increase the number of non- sporting events held at the venue


the park grows, we believe demand for membership and sport will continue to grow at rapid pace.”


MAKING ITS MARK Over the past 18 months, the Copper Box Arena has often hit the headlines as London’s third largest indoor arena. Sporting highlights have included international basketball matches, world class boxing fights from promoter Frank Warren and Sport Relief 2014, which included six hours of live broadcasting and performances by Kylie Minogue, Little Mix and Boyzone. More recently, Prince Harry and his team chose to host the Invictus Games at the Copper Box, attracting 30,000 spectators over three days and wall-to-wall TV coverage. The first anchor club to base itself at


the arena was the London Lions Basketball team, which signed a five-year deal, including a commitment to grassroots development of the sport, working in partnership with GLL. Year one highlights included a sell out, 6,500-seat first game when the Lions played Iowa University from the USA. In what has been described by Vince Macaulay, the London Lions’ team coach as “a sensational first year” the club finished a credible sixth in the British Basketball league.


44


Boxing promoter Frank Warren was


one of the first to recognise the potential of the Olympic legacy venue. He signed a six-fight deal which kicked off with a British Middleweight Title fight between the unbeaten champion Billy Joe Saunders from Hatfield and the undefeated challenger John Ryder from Islington. Warren comments: “This is a superb


The London Lions was the first sports team to make the Copper Box its home


According to Macaulay, relocating to


the Copper Box Arena has had numerous benefits. “The main plus for the team has been the growing fan base, nearly 70,000 people saw the Lions play in the first season. However, the sport as a whole has benefited too, with TV cameras regularly filming at the Copper Box Arena when the team plays or practices and this is creating a lot more interest, more sponsorship and more corporate opportunities.”


setting for boxing. The Copper Box Arena is what all the investment in the Olympics was about – legacy and giving London a fantastic arena.” The venue is also building a reputation among businesses and recently hosted Toni & Guy’s annual staff awards and fashion show for 3,500 people. Wallace acknowledges, however, that GLL’s reputation has been built within the sports and sports management sector, so attracting more non-sporting events will be a focus for the next 12 months. “GLL is renowned as a sports operator,”


Wallace says. “We worked on the 2012 Games and manage other high profile facilities like Crystal Palace National Sports Centre and York Hall in Bethnal Green. Although a number of our centres already host large-scale music events, most notably Rivermead in Reading, it is not what we’re primarily known for. So we’re working hard to communicate that our event


sportsmanagement.co.uk issue 4 2014 © Cybertrek 2014


PIC: ©ONESHOTIMAGES


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92