Motorpoint Arena Nottingham

Motorpoint Arena Nottingham is one of England’s best-known indoor arenas and the largest concert venue in the East Midlands region. It hosts concerts by global stars, sporting events, ice shows and family performances. The arena forms part of the National Ice Centre complex and has remained one of the country’s leading venues for major concert tours for over two decades. In this article, we’ll look at how it has developed and which artists and events have made it an iconic venue on England’s concert map.

The History of Motorpoint Arena Nottingham

The history of Motorpoint Arena began in the mid-1990s, when Nottingham City Council decided to replace the ageing Nottingham Ice Stadium, which had opened back in 1939. The new complex was intended to be not just a modern ice rink, but a multi-purpose venue capable of hosting world-class concerts, sporting tournaments and major city events.

Construction began in 1998 and took around two years to complete. The architectural firm FaulknerBrowns was responsible for the project, and the total cost of the work amounted to around 43 million pounds. The grand opening took place on 1 April 2000, and the first band to perform a full concert there was Simply Red.

Over the course of its history, the arena has changed its name several times. It was initially known as the Nottingham Arena, then became the Trent FM Arena, later the Capital FM Arena, and has borne its current name, Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, since 2016. Meanwhile, the venue itself has undergone continuous development: in 2011, it was modernised, its capacity was increased, and it was made more suitable for concerts of various scales.

Today, it is the largest concert venue in the East Midlands region, welcoming hundreds of thousands of spectators every year. Motorpoint Arena Nottingham is often compared to Utilita Arena Cardiff, which was known as Motorpoint Arena Cardiff from 2011 to 2022. Both venues host concerts by global stars, sporting events and comedy shows, though the Nottingham arena is significantly larger. It can accommodate up to 15,865 spectators at standing-room-only concerts, whilst the maximum capacity of Utilita Arena Cardiff is 7,500 people. Furthermore, Motorpoint Arena Nottingham forms part of the National Ice Centre complex and is the home arena of the Nottingham Panthers ice hockey club.

Events and concerts at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham

Over the years, Nottingham Motorpoint Arena has become a must-visit venue for the world’s biggest touring acts. It hosts rock and pop concerts, stand-up shows, sporting events, boxing matches, ice hockey matches and ice shows. According to the venue itself, thousands of events have taken place here since it opened, and annual attendance is estimated at hundreds of thousands of people.

British rock acts perform at the arena particularly frequently. The well-known band The Prodigy, for example, included the Nottingham Arena in their tours in 2018 and 2026, drawing full houses thanks to their powerful live sound. Kasabian have an equally close association with the venue; they regularly return here to promote new albums and are invariably among the most eagerly anticipated acts.

Fans of alternative rock will be well acquainted with Biffy Clyro’s concerts held here in 2010 (before the venue was renamed) and in 2026. Their performances at Motorpoint Nottingham are traditionally characterised by spectacular light shows and a lively connection with the audience. The venue has also hosted concerts by the Scottish band Twin Atlantic, who have managed to build a following far beyond their home country.

The arena regularly hosts major pop acts as well. It was here that Little Mix set the venue’s attendance record, drawing a crowd of 15,685. The band performed here in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022. Olly Murs has also included Nottingham on his UK tours on several occasions, in 2017, 2019, 2023 and 2025.

Among the acts from the indie rock and new British music scenes to have performed here were The Libertines and Don Broco (on 2 November 2016 – as special guests at a Bring Me The Horizon concert – and on 2 December 2025 – headlining their own major solo concert). Each of these bands visited as part of their national tours, confirming the arena’s status as one of the country’s key concert venues. In 2025, Wolf Alice set the arena alight. The local audience is also eagerly awaiting a concert by Pale Waves.

Over the years, the venue has hosted rapper Slowthai, The X Factor winners Rak-Su, and many other British acts for whom a concert in Nottingham formed part of a major tour of England. Today, Motorpoint Arena Nottingham remains one of the country’s most sought-after venues. It hosts not only music concerts but also sporting events, family shows and ice shows. Thanks to the hall’s flexible layout, the arena is equally well suited to both intimate performances and large-scale shows with audiences numbering in the thousands.

Where is Motorpoint Arena Nottingham?

Motorpoint Arena Nottingham is situated in the Lace Market district, practically in the very centre of Nottingham. The arena forms part of the National Ice Centre complex, so it hosts not only concerts and shows, but also training sessions, competitions and public ice-skating sessions.

The site was not chosen at random. The Lace Market district is one of Nottingham’s most famous historic neighbourhoods. In the 19th century, it was home to warehouses, factories and trading houses linked to the lace industry, which brought the city worldwide renown. Today, the old Victorian buildings stand alongside modern bars, restaurants, hotels and cultural venues.

Seating Plan Motorpoint Arena Nottingham

Depending on the event, several different seating layouts are used inside the arena. Organisers adjust the positioning of the stage, seats and standing areas to make the most efficient use of the space. The official website lists four main options, but the first two are used most frequently.

Seated Arena – the layout used for most concerts, where seating is provided for all audience members. The stage is situated at one of the arena’s short ends, with additional rows of floor-level seats set up in front of it. Fixed stands run around the perimeter, ensuring high capacity whilst providing the audience with a good view from all sectors. This is the layout typically used for performances by pop artists, orchestras, comedy shows and various ceremonies.

Standing Arena – during large rock and pop concerts, the stalls are cleared of seats, transforming them into a large standing area in front of the stage. Seats in the stands are retained, so visitors can choose between actively participating in the concert near the stage and a more relaxed viewing experience from the upper tiers. This configuration allows for a larger audience and creates that very atmosphere of major live concerts, where the majority of the audience is positioned directly in front of the performers.

Information for visitors

Before visiting Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, it’s worth checking its opening hours and finding out about nearby hotels and restaurants. It’s also a good idea to consider your transport options.

Opening hours

The arena is only open on event days – entry times depend on the specific concert, match or show. However, the telephone and customer support services operate from Monday to Saturday, 09:00 to 18:00. Tickets can be purchased 24 hours a day on the official website. The box office at the venue is only open on event days.

Nearby restaurants

Just a few minutes’ walk from the arena, there are a number of well-reviewed eateries:

1. Bar Iberico – a popular Spanish tapas restaurant.
2. Mowgli Street Food Nottingham – a restaurant serving contemporary Indian cuisine.
3. Pizza Punks Nottingham – a pizzeria where you can order a pizza to your own taste.
4. Compa Nottingham – a restaurant serving Sicilian cuisine.
5. Spotlight Bar & Restaurant – a restaurant located inside the arena complex, open on event days.

Hotels nearby

If the concert finishes late in the evening, it’s more convenient to stay at one of the nearby hotels. Among the closest options are:

1. Lace Market Hotel Nottingham – a boutique hotel in the historic Lace Market district; a room here costs on average £80–140 per night.
2. Premier Inn Nottingham Arena (London Road) – about a 5–7-minute walk away, costing £70–120.
3. Ibis Nottingham Centre – a budget option in the city centre costing £55–90.
4. Leonardo Hotel Nottingham – a hotel next to the railway station. Rooms here cost £80–130
5. Hilton Nottingham – one of the most famous hotels in the centre of Nottingham, costing £90–150 per night.

How to get there?

Thanks to its location in the centre of Nottingham, the arena is easily accessible by both public transport and car. The journey from most transport hubs takes just a few minutes.

• By train. It’s a 10–15-minute walk from Nottingham railway station to the arena. Trains arrive at the station from London, Birmingham, Leicester, Sheffield, Derby, Lincoln and other cities, so this is considered one of the most convenient options for visitors attending a concert or sporting event.
• By tram. The nearest stop to the arena is Lace Market on the Nottingham Express Transit network. It is just a few minutes’ walk from there to the entrance.
• By bus. There are numerous bus routes running through the city centre that stop near the arena. Buses operated by Nottingham City Transport (NCT) stop right next to the arena, whilst Trent Barton routes run just a few steps from the entrance. If you’re travelling from another city, long-distance coaches arrive at Broadmarsh Bus Station and Victoria Bus Station – from either of these, it’s about a 10-minute walk to Motorpoint Arena Nottingham.
• By car or taxi. The complex is located at Bolero Square, The Lace Market, and is accessible via the city’s main roads. Taxis usually drop passengers off near Bolero Square or on Lower Parliament Street.

Parking

The arena does not have its own large car park, but there are several multi-storey municipal car parks nearby. The management recommends booking a space in advance, particularly on days when popular concerts are taking place. For some events, advance booking is available at Broad Marsh Car Park. There are designated parking spaces nearby for Blue Badge holders.

Contact details and postcode

Address: Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, Bolero Square, The Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1LA

Telephone: +44 (0)115 853 3000

Postcode: NG1 1LA

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