Playsport Arena
 The temporary arena in 2023 | |
 | |
| Location | East Kilbride, Scotland, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 55°46′54″N 4°10′30″W / 55.7817°N 4.1749°W |
| Capacity | Temporary: 1,800 Overall: 6,000 (on completion) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 2023[1] |
| Renovated | 2023 |
| Construction cost | £20 million |
| Tenants | |
| Caledonia Gladiators | |
Playsport Arena is a two-stage sports and entertainment arena in East Kilbride, Scotland. The main arena will have a seating capacity for 6,000 spectators. The arena's main tenants will be the Caledonia Gladiators basketball teams, who will move from their previous homes at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow (men's team) and the Lagoon Centre in Paisley (women's team) for the start of the 2023–24 season.[2]
History
[edit]The 90-acre Playsport site, location between the Nerston and Stewartfield areas on the northern edge of the town, was first opened in 2009, with a nine-hole golf course, driving range and indoor sports, leisure and retail facilities,[3][4] but remained largely underdeveloped for many years.[citation needed]
The site was purchased by Gladiators' owners Steve and Alison Timoney, and plans were officially announced in 2023 for a £20 million arena development.[5]
In the short term, a temporary arena [6] with capacity for 1,800 spectators was constructed within the original footprint to allow the Gladiators' teams to move to the site for the start of the 2023–24 season; it staged its first official fixture on 5 October 2023.[1] It is expected the full 6,000 capacity arena development will be completed by 2026.[7][8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Caledonia Gladiators win on British Basketball League debut in new East Kilbride home, BBC Sport, 6 October 2023
- ^ Mitchell, Jenness (14 March 2023). "Caledonia Gladiators set out plans for £20m basketball arena in East Kilbride which could end up hosting Team GB". Sky News. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ Welcome to Playsport, Playsport
- ^ Statement from Playsport Management, Blantyre Telegraph, 10 January 2023
- ^ "Glasgow Rocks renamed Caledonian Gladiators with view to East Kilbride move". BBC Sport. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ Capital One Arena
- ^ Wright, Scott (14 March 2023). "Scottish luxury hotel owners to invest £20m in basketball arena". The Herald. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ McGilvray, Andy (20 April 2023). "Caledonian Gladiators have bright future, says head coach as they chase play-offs amid East Kilbride move". Daily Record. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ Mitchell, Robert (6 September 2023). "Caledonia Gladiators reveal first images of new multi-million-pound stadium". Daily Record. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
