DC Thomson Media has become the inaugural naming rights sponsor of Scotland’s new £333 million event complex.
The world-class venue’s operator SMG Europe and DC Thomson Media, which owns The Courier, Evening Telegraph and Wave FM, have agreed a deal securing the inaugural naming rights sponsor for the north-east’s brand new venue, which will be known as P&J Live – after DCT Media’s Aberdeen title The Press and Journal.
The state-of-the-art concert, exhibition, conference and banqueting venue in Aberdeen – just an hour away from Dundee — is set to attract the world’s biggest stars to the north-east, which is more easily accessible than ever for Dundee fans thanks to the completion of the new Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).
‘Thrilled’
Managing director of AECC and P&J Live Nick Waight said: “We are thrilled to welcome P&J Live as our official naming rights partner. Having a brand which has strong roots in Aberdeen is incredibly important to us and being part of DC Thomson Media is hugely positive for our business and pivotal to the success of this transformational project.
“We look forward to a strong partnership and bringing P&J Live to life, delivering on a fantastic new venue for entertainment, conferencing and exhibitions for Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland.”
Star names
Developed by Aberdeen City Council in partnership with development partner Henry Boot Developments (HBD), P&J Live boasts unrivalled transport connections right on its doorstep, with conveniently located rail links as well as 2,400 car parking spaces. Those travelling to Aberdeen for exciting up-and-coming events will also benefit from three on-site hotels and a 150-seater restaurant. A coffee shop, run by in-house catering, will add to the food and drink offering.
Events already lined up for the impressive venue include Lewis Capaldi, Elton John, Russell Howard and Game Con, with more set to be announced.
SPE Offshore Europe – which generates more than £53 million for the north-east across four days – will also be held at P&J Live in September, the complex’s first exhibition.
Hotels
One of three hotels available on-site, the 4-star Hilton hotel will offer 200 bedrooms and be adjoined to P&J Live, which was constructed by the Robertson Group. The Aloft Hotel will have 150 bedrooms and a third hotel with another 150 bedrooms is to follow.
The 48,000 sqm venue will offer a flexible and technologically advanced space, enabling P&J Live to compete nationally and internationally for exciting events and attracting an estimated 4.5 million visitors.
As well as seating more than 10,000 people (with a maximum capacity exceeding 16,000), the main arena also includes an exclusive 50 person capacity Show Deck and 16 luxurious private hospitality suites. The venue also houses a VIP lounge, The View and seven conference spaces, three 2,000 sqm exhibition halls – each with a seated capacity of 1,700 – and eleven meeting rooms.
Alan McCabe, editor-in-chief of The Press and Journal, said: “P&J Live will provide a visitor experience far beyond anything seen in the city and will attract visitors from far and wide and give us all an opportunity to shout about what a great place this is to live, work and play.”
Aberdeen City Council co-leader councillor Douglas Lumsden added: “It is great that our multi-million-pound new venue has a naming rights sponsor in the form of one of the most well-known local media companies and they will play a big part in the future of the TECA site.
“The P&J Live partnership will ensure the fantastic acts, conferences and events will be known throughout the north of Scotland and beyond which fits in with our Regional Economic Strategy with internationalisation at its heart.
“We want to attract major artists and events to the north-east to ensure the area competes on a global scale and it will be fantastic to watch how the P&J Live partnership will contribute towards that.”
