Established in 1976, The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) is the UK’s largest exhibition venue situated in Solihull. The NEC attracts 2.3 million visitors and over 45,000 exhibiting companies per year. Each year, The NEC hosts 149 exhibitions and 500 events every year, including flagship shows such as the Spring Fair International, Motorhome & Caravan and Crufts. It is known as the best connected venue in the UK, particularly owing to its physical connection to Birmingham Airport and Birmingham International train station.
Additionally, as part of the NEC’s development, Resorts World Birmingham was launched in 2015. This is the UK’s first integrated destination leisure and entertainment complex, which encompasses a number of features including a four-star hotel and Spa and outlet shopping centre.
As Official Overlay Supporter of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, GL events UK will be installing grandstand seating and structures such as saunas and tents. GL events UK will also provide fencing, containment, tribunes, rigging, carpets, exhibition walling, cabin showers and toilets, office cabins, site lighting, portable toilets and scaffolding.
During Birmingham 2022, The NEC, will host an array of sporting events such as the Netball (hosted in The NEC Arena), Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting (The NEC Hall 1), Table Tennis and Para Table Tennis (The NEC Hall 3), Boxing (The NEC Hall 4) and Badminton (The NEC Hall 5).
Alongside such events, there will be a number of things for spectators to see and do inside the Arena and Halls. There will be areas for spectators to participate in the sport for themselves and potentially even meet athletes or Birmingham 2022’s official mascot, Perry the Bull.
In total, GL events UK will be providing overlay infrastructure at 12 venues for the Games this summer. Stayed tuned for further venue updates!
