A decade on from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) has appointed charitable social enterprise GLL, the operating contract for the Copper Box Arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park; continuing to build on the venue’s hugely successful legacy.

The Copper Box Arena is the Park’s most versatile venue, with a maximum seating capacity of 7,500 and the ability to stage elite sports, esports, as well as other live cultural and entertainment events.  The Arena has established itself as the UK’s home of esports and base to the London Lions basketball teams and London Pulse netball team.

The London Legacy Development Corporation, which operates the Park, is leasing the Arena under a new operating arrangement that will build on the venue’s first successful decade. 

Major music events held at the Arena have included Dizzee Rascal: Boy in Da Corner Live; corporate events such as the One Bauer Media Awards and the Fiat 500x launch; esports tournaments including Apex Legends, Clash Royale, Call of Duty and Rocket League; sporting events spanning WBO title fights, the Billie Jean Cup/Fed Cup Tennis, Skateboarding World Championships, Open Pool Championships, Table Tennis World Cup, England Netball Internationals, the Vitality Netball Superleague Grand Final, Wheelchair Rugby League matches and the Invictus Games. 

A series of exciting events for 2024 and beyond will shortly be announced, while in the short-term London Lions home fixtures, the London Youth Rowing championships and the launch of the London Pulse netball season are scheduled for March 2024.

The Arena also houses an 80-station gym and the new contract announcement coincides with confirmation of a £600k investment into the site’s gym and fitness class spaces – in response to increased demand from a growing local population.  The upgraded gym facilities will include a new state-of-the-art functional suite and an expansive new fitness class programme.  A wide range of memberships will be on offer including discounts for local residents and concessionary memberships.

Edward Fane, Head of Venues at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, said:

“The Copper Box Arena is established as a thriving venue for national and international events as well as community sport, health and fitness. We are excited to continue working with GLL to build on the success of the last 10 years and bring in more high-profile events.

“This exciting high value contract is critically important to the long-term legacy of the London 2012 Games.  Now working alongside the new cultural district at East Bank the Copper Box Arena links the sporting legacy of 2012 with cultural and community events too and this is something we are keen to see flourish.  We are delighted to be continuing to work in partnership with GLL to bring more high-profile events to the Park and build on the Arena’s hugely successful first decade."

GLL’s Chief Executive Officer Peter Bundey said:

“We are delighted to have retained the contract for the Copper Box Arena, safeguarding the venue’s Olympic Legacy for years to come.

“It is an extraordinary facility that brings thousands of people together to enjoy sports and community activities and is an integral part of the regeneration of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

“We have strong relationships with the world class organisations, clubs and event promoters who call the venue home – so this extension of our partnership with LLDC ensures continuity, sustainability and further benefits for community users, spectators and sport.”

GLL will work with CBRE Global Workplace Solutions – a commercial real estate services and investments leader - to ensure the highest standard of maintenance for the venue, bringing improvements to technical operations, including health & safety, extended asset performance/life cycle, energy efficiency and staff training.

Alongside GLL, CBRE is a signatory to the Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) Buy Social Corporate Challenge, a ground-breaking initiative which will see CBRE commit to engaging with more social enterprises as part of a collective £1 billion spend with social enterprise suppliers.

Wes Montgomery, Business Unit Director at CBRE said: "We look forward to working with charitable social enterprise GLL as part of their operational contract at leading events venue CBA. 

"We share GLL’s service excellence ethos and also have a strong relationship with other social enterprises in our supply chain.  In partnership, we will provide strong support for the facility and its many and varied users."

The award has been made in another year of evolution for the Park, with the new East Bank cultural quarter at the Park, opening from summer 2023, and more and more people choosing to work, live and study on the Park.  

Further information on Copper Box Arena events or memberships and sports activities can be found at https://copperboxarena.org.uk or E: copperboxarena@gll.org