Sheffield Utilita Arena now and then - from construction to hosting some of the world's biggest music acts
Sheffield Arena, the city’s biggest performance venue, has changed names more often than it has its appearance.
The arena was opened by the Queen on May 30, 1991 and Paul Simon played the same night. The Broughton Lane venue was built as a gymnastics centre for the World Student Games.
Its name has changed with the arrival of new sponsors, starting with Hallam FM in 2002. It’s also been called the Motorpoint Arena, FlyDSA Arena and now Utilita Arena Sheffield.
Sheffield band Arctic Monkeys took the ticket sales record when they instantly sold out more than 13,600 tickets in November 2013. Previous holders were fellow city band Pulp, who sold 13,300 tickets for their final live show in December 2012.
Tina Turner also bowed out there in May 2009.
The home to Sheffield Steelers ice hockey team has staged all manner of shows and also served as a vaccine centre during the pandemic.
