Hull’s Bonus named one of the busiest arenas in Europe

BIG NAMES: Kaiser Chiefs performing at the Bonus Arena last November

By Rick Lyon

Hull’s Bonus Arena has been named as one of the busiest in Europe as part of a prestigious industry poll.

The arena, which opened in 2017, has been rated in the top 100 venues in Europe in the Pollstar magazine rankings, which are based on number of visitors and revenue streams.

The 3,500-capacity arena ranked 51st in Europe after welcoming almost 200,000 people through its doors during 2022.

The Hull venue beat large arenas in cities such as Sheffield, Munich, Berlin, Florence, Brussels, Zagreb, Oslo and Belgrade in the list.

It is the first year the Bonus Arena has featured in the Pollstar top 100 rankings.

The OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow came out on top, with The O2 in London, the highest rated venue in England, coming in third.

‘A FANTASTIC YEAR’: Darren Moore, General Manager at the Bonus Arena

Artists such as Bob Dylan, Kaiser Chiefs, Bryan Adams, Blondie, Paloma Faith, Ne-Yo, Kevin Bridges, Pet Shop Boys, Foals, Bastille and Sarah Millican performed at the Bonus Arena last year.

Darren Moore, General Manager at the arena, said: “2022 was a fantastic year for the Bonus Arena with a number of world renowned artists coming to Hull. The local community has truly embraced the arena and it is a real privilege for the Bonus Arena to be ranked as one of the busiest in Europe in the Pollstar rankings.

“This is the first time we’ve featured in the top 100 and shows how Hull really is now on the map, not just in the UK but in Europe too.”

Comedian Michael McIntyre announced last week he will be performing at the Bonus Arena for two sold out shows and the legendary Donny Osmond will bring his Las Vegs show to Hull in November.

Mr Moore added: “We have lots more great events to announce for 2023 and beyond in the coming weeks as we look to continue to bring world-class entertainment to East Yorkshire.”