ExCeL London to confirm its place as London's largest venue
1st July 2008
ExCeL London has revealed plans for the next phase of building development which, when complete, will confirm its place as the largest event space in London.
The extension will increase the size of the venue space by more than 50 per cent, taking it to 100,000 m2, the equivalent of 14 football pitches. The plans include a covered pedestrian walkway to Prince Regent DLR station, additional bars and restaurants, underground parking and the creation of a new auditorium with seating for up to 5,000 delegates.
The award winning venue has already enjoyed exceptional success since its opening in 2000, hosting over 2,000 events attended by more than five million visitors from 200 countries. It was also responsible for the Motor Show returning to London in 2006 for the first time in 30 years.
The extension is planned to be completed by 2010 in time for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, when ExCeL London will host seven Olympic sports and four Paralympic events.
Speaking at the launch of the plans, Kevin Murphy, Chief Executive of ExCeL London, said: "This expansion will provide huge economic benefits to the local community in terms of employment and facilities. The venue is currently one of Newham's biggest employers and the expansion will bring an additional 1,400 jobs to the area.
"However, this is only the beginning, as we are already looking to put plans for the next phase of development in place - enabling ExCeL London to remain at the forefront of the UK events market."
