Belfast Giants take Super League Title
Arena Enjoys Outstanding First Year
Jan 2002

	IFS sponsored Belfast Giants in action at The Odyssey. IFS are also logistics providers to the team.

The Odyssey Arena recently celebrated its first birthday, marking the end of a hugely successful first year which has seen 600,000 people attend over 100 events, in the process creating around 600 jobs and a major boost for the local economy. On December 2nd 2000, the Arena got off to an amazing start with a sell-out crowd of over 7,000 for it's opening event, and Northern Ireland's first ever Superleague ice hockey match. This was followed by a Presidential visit the following week when President Clinton took to the stage at the Arena to address a crowd of 8,500, and a worldwide TV audience of millions.

With such an outstanding start it is hardly surprising that the Arena has gone from strength to strength. Major concert artistes who have been attracted to Belfast by the fabulous new venue have included Lionel Ritchie, Ronan Keating, Westlife and The Stereophonics.

Mark Johnston Group Director IFS pictured with the triumphant winners of the UK Super League and the coveted Super league Trophy. Photographs by Michael Cooper.

The Arena has already hosted several major national and international sporting events including the 2001 World Amateur Boxing Championships in June, International Supercross, and ice hockey's Superleague Challenge Final. Each of these events bringing large numbers of competitors, organisers and supporters to the country and gaining positive media coverage for Belfast and Northern Ireland.

However, the biggest sporting success at the Arena has been the Harp Lager Belfast Giants who have taken the country by storm. Bringing fast, exciting entertainment to a cross-community family audience, the Giants have attracted sell-out crowds to over 30 games within the past twelve months. Due to its success, the venue has already created almost double the number of estimated jobs. Almost 600 full and part time positions have been created either working directly for the Arena or with the venue's contracted stewarding, catering, merchandising and cleaning companies. The impact on the leisure and tourism industry has been equally significant with hotel, ferry and airline reporting a major boost in business. Commenting on the Arena's initial success Executive Director Nicky Dunn says: "The first year has surpassed all our expectations terms of the level of excitement the Arena has generated and the number of visitors. We would like to thank the public for their fantastic support and assure them that we fully expect to build on this success and attract an even more outstanding line-up of events for 2002"

With a successful first year under it's belt, the Arena is looking forward to an even busier 2002. Shows lined up include Tweenies Live in February, Toy Story on Ice in March, eight Westlife shows in April and June, and concerts by Destiny's Child, Travis and Ronan. The Arena is also starting to attract a number of major exhibitions. These include the Ulster Bike Show at the end of February and Our House in April.

The Arena is managed by SMG-Sheridan, a partnership between SMG, a Philadelphia based based company which is the world leader in arena, stadium and convention centre management, and The Sheridan Group, a Belfast based leisure and entertainment management company.

Back to Main News