Opened by the Queen in 1991, the 13,600-capacity arena was built for the World Student Games at a cost of £34 million.
As sponsors have come and gone it has had different names – Hallam FM Arena, Motorpoint Arena Sheffield – while 15 million people have visited over the decades.
Home to the Sheffield Steelers ice hockey team, the venue is used for spectacles like Disney On Ice as well as major concerts. Paul Simon played on the opening night, Oasis performed their first arena gig there in 1994 and Tina Turner sang her hits for the very last time to a packed house in 2009.
These photos show how the arena took shape.
Home to the Sheffield Steelers ice hockey team, the venue is used for spectacles like Disney On Ice as well as major concerts. Paul Simon played on the opening night, Oasis performed their first arena gig there in 1994 and Tina Turner sang her hits for the very last time to a packed house in 2009.
5. The land is cleared
This shot shows the site before construction got under way. Firth Rixon's River Don Works is in the centre middleground. Photo: Picture Sheffield
6. Making progress
A photo from a later stage of construction in 1990. Photo: Picture Sheffield
7. All lit up
The lights are on and the interior is nearing completion in 1990. Photo: Picture Sheffield
8. A solid framework
The arena part-way through its construction in 1990. The Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation is in the foreground. Photo: Picture Sheffield