M&S Bank Arena

The building opened in 2008, a gift from the city to itself, built on the site of the old King's Dock. It cost the local tax-payers a small fortune, but the view from the water was worth the price. The architect wanted a building that felt like a ship, something that belonged to the water rather than the land. The glass reflects the river, and on a still day the arena disappears into the water entirely.

Inside the arena, the capacity shifts depending on the event, but the seats are always close to the action. There is no standing room for football, only for the concerts that fill the space on weekends. The pitch is not natural grass, but a hard surface that can be covered with a carpet for a boxing match or a basketball game. The acoustics are designed to carry sound to every corner of the room.

The arena is owned by the city council and operated by a private company, a arrangement that keeps the lights on without adding to the public debt. The name was changed in 2019, but the old sign remains, a ghost of the building's original identity. Visitors still look for the Echo name when they arrive.