The British Basketball League Trophy Final winners, the Caledonia Gladiators, reveal computer-generated images as part of the first stage of their new stadium project.
The Caledonia Gladiators have unveiled images of how its new multi-million-pound stadium will look – exactly one month before the first game in the club’s new home. The British Basketball
League Trophy winners have released a range of computer-generated
images (CGIs) of the top-of-the-range
arena,
based at PlaySport
Scotland leisure complex in East Kilbride, Scotland.
The images
of the 1,600-seater
temporary arena include artist’s
impressions of the club’s
new
court,
and
Saltire-branded
stands.
The CGIs also offer a glimpse of the new fan zone, which has seated eating areas for supporters and big-screen TVs showing the courtside action.
It comes as excitement builds at the club ahead of its first match at the stadium on Thursday 5 October, when the men’s team host the Surrey Scorchers in the British Basketball League. The women’s first game will take place on 22 October against Durham Palatinates in the Women’s British Basketball League.
The stadium renovation will be finished in the coming weeks and is the first stage of a £20 million stadium project – the largest single investment in Scottish basketball history.
Work
will then begin on developing the
main project, a new state-of-the-art
purpose-built
6,000-seater arena and practice and community facility.
The work has
been funded by leading businessperson Steve Timoney
and wife Alison, owners of the club.
Steve said: “We’re
really
proud
of how
the new stadium is coming together
and
pleased
to 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.”
Caledonia Gladiators Men’s head coach Gareth Murray, who recently signed a three-year contract extension, said:
“It’s
fantastic to have our own arena, and the CGIs
show how great it’s
going to look when we play our first game here in
a month’s time.
“Having a new base where both the men’s and women’s teams can train and play is so important to the club and its ambitions.
“We’re now
really
looking forward to building on our BBL Trophy Final
success at our new home.”
Miguel Angel
Ortega Marco, Caledonia Gladiators Women’s head
coach,
added:
“Having our
own stadium and training facilities is fundamental
to
the continued growth of the women’s game.
“The
complex will be fantastic once it’s finished, as the images show, and we’re
all looking forward to welcoming the people of East Kilbride and beyond to our
games across the season.”
The club
has
ambitious plans for the next stage of the project,
including aims to make its
arena the
home of Team GB. With the
development of a world-class training academy, The
Gladiators aim to welcome young players from
across Scotland and around the globe to its state-of-the-art
gym facilities, accommodation area and physio suites.
Talks are also underway to see the facility used for music concerts and conferences, filling the gap in the wider Glasgow area for mid-to-large-sized arenas.
The CGIs
were produced by architects
Holmes
Miller,
who will
continue to collaborate 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 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.”