Location | Gateshead Quays, United Kingdom |
---|---|
Coordinates | 54°58′03″N 1°36′00″W / 54.9675°N 1.6000°W |
Operator | ASM Global |
Type | Concert venue, conference centre |
Capacity | 12,500 (Sage Arena)[2] |
Construction | |
Built | 2021–present |
Opened | 2025[1] |
Construction cost | £350 million[1] |
Architect | HOK |
Website | |
thesage |
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 arena is being built to replace the nearby 11,000 capacity Utilita Arena Newcastle that was originally opened in 1995.[2]
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]
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]