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Dundee games festival’s anger at new arena’s Arcadia name

The games festival, which has run in the city since 2017, said Arcadia is its "brand and identity".

Biome Collective has been running the Arcadia computer games festival since 2017. Director and creative producer Malath Abbas.
Biome Collective has been running the Arcadia computer games festival since 2017. Director and creative producer Malath Abbas.

The organiser of a Dundee games festival said he has been “completely blindsided” by the developers of a city arena project using the same name.

The Courier revealed last week that new plans are being developed for an arena at Dundee waterfront.

Formerly envisioned as a 4,000-seat arena focusing on esports, the new proposal is for a 1,000-seat multi-purpose arena at Slessor Gardens.

The project is now going under the banner of Dundee Arcadia. Artwork shows the word Arcadia across the front of the glass-fronted building.

This has come as a shock to the organisers of a computer games festival, also called Arcadia, which has run in the city since 2017.

Dundee Arcadia ‘our brand and our identity’

The festival – a mixture of industry conferences and the chance for members of the public to play new games – has previously taken place at West Ward, the Vision building at Greenmarket, V&A and Discovery Point.

It is operated by the Biome Collective who are currently planning next year’s event.

The latest concept art for Dundee Arcadia waterfront arena. Image: Holmes Miller

Director and creative producer Malath Abbas said: “I have been part of the games community in the city for the past 10 years and I’d be supportive of any esports arena.

“I want to see an investment in the city like this – but for it to be done this way without consultation…it doesn’t seem like the right way to do business.

“Since the plans were announced last week, I’ve had many people ask me if I’m part of this. It’s confusing.

“For us the Arcadia brand and identity is integral.”

Public statement

Mr Abbas said he is exploring his legal options. Arcadia Festival took to X, formerly Twitter, to release a public statement.

It urges the arena developers to get in touch to “get to the bottom” of the naming issue.

The statement said: “We have no involvement in this project and have not been approached about it.

The Arcadia Festival statement on X. Image: X

“Although there are many games companies in Dundee, there are few people or organisations in the games events space.

“It’s disheartening that this decision has been made with no consultation with us.”

Arena developers respond – ‘games festival looks amazing’

The arena developers have registered the name Dundee Arcadia Limited at Companies House.

However, they said Arcadia was an internal name for the project and may not be what the arena is called.

Rob Proctor, who is one of the people developing the strategy, said he would look forward to talking to the Biome Collective.

He said: “The Arcadia games festival looks absolutely amazing and we look forward to chatting with the folks involved.

“As we’ve always said Arcadia is our internal project name for the Dundee creative arena complex, not a definitive name in any way whatsoever.

Rob Proctor, chief executive of Magic Box, who has been developing the strategy, and the new Dundee arena vision. Image: Rob Proctor/Holmes Miller

“Maybe there’s a conversation to be had where we could give the Arcadia games festival a permanent home moving forward if they are up for it.

“Our aim is to be complimentary and supportive to all of the existing creative enterprises in the city.

“I’d love to chat with the folks from the Biome Collective.”

The arena would be used for esports, music and other live events. The best streaming technology will give the potential to sell virtual tickets to concerts to thousands of fans.

As well as the arena, there will be food and drink venues and ancillary buildings which might host related businesses or be used for accommodation.

There is no definite timeline for the building and the planning process is yet to get under way.

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