DC Thomson Media, which owns The Press and Journal, Evening Express and Original 106, has agreed a deal with the venue’s operator SMG Europe to become the inaugural naming-rights sponsor for the state-of-the-art concert, exhibition, conference and banqueting arena.
The outstanding facility, developed by Aberdeen City Council and development partner Henry Boot Developments (HBD), will bring some of the biggest stars in music and entertainment to the Granite City, as well as conferences and exhibitions with attendees from across the globe.
The diverse calendar of exciting events is predicted to bring increased economic benefit with an estimated £113 million visitor spend and P&J Live is expected to create 352 full-time jobs over the next 10 years.
Alan McCabe, editor-in-chief of The Press and Journal, said: “DC Thomson Media is delighted to be making a significant investment in the future of Aberdeen and the north-east by supporting this truly world class venue.
“There’s a lot to be positive about in Aberdeen right now and we see this as big vote of confidence for the region. 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.”
The 48,000 sqm venue will offer a flexible and technologically advanced space, enabling the north-east to compete nationally and internationally for exciting events and attracting an estimated 4.5 million visitors.
P&J Live is located next to Aberdeen International Airport, just minutes from the Granite City’s new Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) and conveniently situated near rail links. This provides fantastic transport connections right on the venue’s doorstep, making it easily accessible for surrounding cities including Inverness and Dundee.
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.”
Constructed by the Robertson Group, the building also boasts undercover parking with direct entry to P&J Live – 2,400 car parking spaces in total. There are three on-site hotels including the adjoining 4-star Hilton hotel offering 200 bedrooms. The Aloft Hotel will have 150 bedrooms and a third hotel with another 150 bedrooms is to follow.
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.
P&J Live will boast a high-end 150-seater restaurant and a coffee shop run by in-house catering, which will add to the food and drink offering. Events already lined up for the impressive venue include Lewis Capaldi, Elton John, Russell Howard, Alice Cooper, Disney on Ice and Aberdeen Performance Car Show 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.
P&J Live will be the most sustainable venue of its kind in the UK, using food and garden waste locally to power an energy centre to supply heating, cooling and
power to the building.
As well as planting nearly 30,000 trees and shrubs around the venue, 98.8% of all materials have been reused and the building’s design goes above and beyond
statutory standards.
Aberdeen City Council co-leader councillor Douglas Lumsden said: “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.”
Open Day
With entertainment from local talent, food and drink, as well as a host of activities, the open day on Saturday, August 10 will allow the innovative new venue to be viewed
by the public.
Attendees will also be able to help to test the building as it opens its doors for the first time.
The free event will be ticketed with more details to follow.