Glasgow-based British Basketball League club the Caledonia Gladiators has released the first images of its proposed new temporary arena, which marks the first stage of a £20m (€23.4m/$25.1m) project that will include the delivery of a permanent 6,000-capacity facility.
The Gladiators detailed plans for the project, which will mark the largest investment in basketball in Scottish history, back in March. The two-stage development will see the Gladiators’ men’s and women’s teams initially move to a 1,800-seat temporary facility at the PlaySport Scotland leisure complex in East Kilbride.
Today (Tuesday), the team has released a fly-through video of the temporary arena to mark one month before the first game at the venue. CGI images have also been released showcasing the club’s new court, Saltire-branded stands, and a new fan zone with seated eating areas for supporters and big-screen TVs.
The men’s team’s first game at the temporary arena will be against the Surrey Scorchers on October 5, before the women’s team face the Durham Palatinates on October 22.
The arena renovation will be finished in the coming weeks, and the club hopes to move into its new permanent venue in 2024. Images of the larger arena have not yet been released.
The work has been funded by businessman Steve Timoney and his wife Alison, who own the club. It is hoped the permanent arena will eventually serve as the home of Team GB’s basketball outfit.
Talks are also underway for the permanent arena to host music concerts and conferences, filling the gap in the wider Glasgow area for mid-to-large arenas.
Steve Timoney said: “We’re really proud of how the new stadium is coming together and pleased to be able to share CGIs with supporters showing how impressive it will look once completed.
“It’s a hugely exciting time, with a hive of activity at the club as the final touches are put on the arena, and everyone can’t wait for fans to experience the new stadium in the flesh next month. We’re confident PlaySport will be one of the finest basketball facilities in Europe once the final project is completed, and this stadium is a key part of those plans.”
The CGIs were produced by architects Holmes Miller, which will continue to work with the Gladiators in the coming months on the second stage of the club’s arena.
Ethan Kennedy, architect at Holmes Miller, said: “Basketball is a rapidly growing sport in the UK, and the Caledonia Gladiators have grand ambitions for their new home as a centre for Scottish basketball.
“We have been working tirelessly in partnership with the club to help bring these aspirations to fruition as quickly as possible. Through Holmes Miller’s extensive experience in sports architecture, and our work alongside event venues such as the SEC Hydro, we have been able to develop creative solutions in reusing the existing vacant spaces of Playsport.
“The team is especially proud of the new fan zone space that will be unique to this type and scale of venue and will offer an excellent fan experience and added value to the club.”
