The Sage is a forthcoming indoor arena and conference centre in Gateshead, United Kingdom due to open in phases between 2025 and 2027.[3] The site is located between The Glasshouse and BALTIC centres on Gateshead Quayside.[4]

The Sage
The future location of The Sage, viewed from the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
Map
LocationGateshead Quays, United Kingdom
Coordinates54°58′03″N 1°36′00″W / 54.9675°N 1.6000°W / 54.9675; -1.6000
OperatorASM Global
TypeConcert venue, conference centre
Capacity12,500 (Sage Arena)[2]
Construction
Built2021–present
Opened2025 (2025)[1]
Construction cost£350 million[1]
ArchitectHOK
Website
thesage.co.uk

The arena is being built to replace the nearby 11,000 capacity Utilita Arena Newcastle that was originally opened in 1995.[2]

Name and history

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The venue is named for The Sage Group, a British multinational enterprise software company based in Newcastle upon Tyne,[5] who agreed a £10 million deal for the naming rights.[2] As of 2022 the Sage Group are currently patrons of the next-door Sage Gateshead venue which announced that they will be finding a new name for the 2004 building,[6] which is now The Glasshouse International Centre for Music.[7]

Gateshead Council announced plans to redevelop the vacant site in 2014 and at that time the aim was for a mixed use development.[4] The development is likely to cost in excess of £350 million.[1] Preparatory works on the site began in late 2021.[8][9] £20 million was secured from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund in 2023.[1] Construction work is expected to start in Spring 2024.[10]

HOK are the architects of the complex and it is a joint venture between developer Ask Real Estate and investment manager Patrizia AG.[11] The 54,500 square metres (587,000 sq ft) complex will be operated by ASM Global who currently operate the nearby Utilita Arena Newcastle.[12] The conference centre is due to open in 2025 with the arena following in 2027.[3]

Facilities

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The site will have two hotels run by the Accor group, an ibis and Novotel, with a total of over 300 rooms.[13]

The Sage Arena will have a capacity of 12,500 and will also have outdoor performance spaces, bars, restaurants and retail outlets.[14] The 6,320 square metres (68,000 sq ft) conference and event space will include 17 conference suites and 2,520 square metres (27,100 sq ft) of adaptable meeting space.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Holland, Daniel (20 January 2023). "Gateshead Sage Arena delayed to 2025 after £20m Levelling Up Fund boost". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Whitfield, Graeme (27 January 2022). "Tech firm Sage to sponsor new Gateshead conference centre and arena". Business Live. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b Shakespeare, Austen (12 July 2023). "New plans for Quayside development mean Sage Arena will not open until 2027". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b Kelly, Mike (6 November 2014). "Plan to develop land between the Sage Gateshead and the BALTIC revealed". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  5. ^ "The Sage, a world class business centre in the North East". The Sage Group plc. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  6. ^ Shakespeare, Austen (27 May 2022). "'No Sagey McSageface': Sage Gateshead to announce new name by September". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Sage Gateshead renamed Glasshouse International Centre for Music". BBC News. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  8. ^ "The Sage". Newcastle at MIPIM. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Work starts on the NewcastleGateshead Quays development". Sage Gateshead. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Gateshead and Durham projects get £23m devolution funding". 31 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Sage strikes naming rights deal for new Newcastle Arena". Conference News. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Gateshead Quayside development venue named as The Sage". BBC News. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Accor chooses NewcastleGateshead Quays for dual branded hotel". NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Conferencing and Events". The Sage. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
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