Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool, also known as simply ACC Liverpool, is a multi-purpose event complex on the former Kings Dock, Liverpool, England. Opened in May 2008, it is part of Liverpool's event campus, consisting of an interconnected

arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

, convention and

exhibition centre A convention center (American English; or conference centre in British English) is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typica ...

, positioned on the banks of Liverpool's heritage waterfront. In 2016, the four-star Pullman Liverpool Hotel was opened within the complex, offering luxury accommodation with its 216 bedrooms.

History

ACC Liverpool was officially opened by Queen

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

and

Prince Philip Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, later Philip Mountbatten; 10 June 19219 April 2021), was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. As such, he was the consort of the British monarch from h ...

on 22 May 2008. On the evening of 31 December 2017, a fire broke out in the car park and as a consequence, the Liverpool International Horse Show, taking place at the arena, had to be cancelled. The horses were safely evacuated from temporary stabling built on the ground floor level of the car park, and held on the arena floor and the land surrounding the building. The fire continued into the small hours of 1 January 2018. The structure had to be demolished later and cars were removed. Virtually all of the 1,400 cars there were destroyed, but no serious harm to people or horses was reported.

Facilities

The building, designed by Wilkinson Eyre, Sport Concepts and

Buro Happold Buro Happold Limited (previously ''BuroHappold Engineering'') is a British professional services firm that provides engineering consultancy, design, planning, project management, and consulting services for buildings, infrastructure, and the env ...

, has a 3,725 square metre multipurpose hall on the ground floor, with a 1,500 capacity auditorium and 21 break out rooms above. The arena has capacity for 10,600 people. Large events can take advantage of the Liverpool event campus' interconnected facilities. By using the connecting lower Galleria, it is possible to extend exhibitions into the arena's 3,400m2 open floor area. This gives a total exhibition floor space of 7,125m2. Exhibition Centre Liverpool, connected by a covered bridge, gives an additional 8,100m2 of multi-purpose exhibition space. The exhibition centre is also linked internally to the onsite 4* Pullman Liverpool hotel. The John Lennon Peace Monument (''Peace & Harmony'') is a sculpture by Lauren Voiers exhibited on the waterfront adjacent to ACC Liverpool. It is also referred to as the European Peace Monument.

Events

Since 2011, ACC Liverpool has regularly hosted the Labour Party's annual conference. Alternating between venues and locations, ACC Liverpool along with its interconnecting sister venues,

Liverpool Arena Liverpool Arena, known for sponsorship reasons as the M&S Bank Arena and previously the Echo Arena, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the city centre of Liverpool, England. The venue hosts live music, comedy performances and sporting events, ...

and Exhibition Centre Liverpool, has hosted

Labour Party conference The Labour Party Conference is the annual conference of the British Labour Party (UK), Labour Party. It is formally the supreme decision-making body of the party and is traditionally held in the final week of September, during the party conferen ...

five times to 2023. In 2023, the conference was attended by 18,000 party members, businesses, and visitors drawing in an estimated £29m for the local economy.

References

External links

* {{ACC Liverpool Buildings and structures in Liverpool Exhibition and conference centres in England Redevelopment projects in Liverpool