Aberdeen's new £333 million conference, exhibition and entertainment venue is to be named The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA).

The new name is to be rolled out by operators and managers SMG Europe as part of a campaign for the new venue, with branding to follow. The campaign is to assist SMG in marketing the new venue to new national and international customers, and will help by differentiating it from the current venue.

The new venue project is being delivered by Aberdeen City Council in partnership with Henry Boot Developments and includes a new 12,500 capacity arena, 48.000 Sqm of exhibition space and conferencing for up to 5,000, as well as two on-site hotels with 350 bedrooms and a further 150 rooms coming shortly after opening. The venue is also extremely environmentally friendly boasting its own energy centre, which will use local renewable resources and advanced technologies to produce an energy eco-system.

TECA will offer a far more flexible and technologically advanced space than the current Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre site, enabling it to compete nationally and internationally for new events as well as broadening the appeal of the north-east to business and leisure visitors from across the globe.

TECA will be operated and managed by SMG, who currently operate over 240 venues worldwide including; Manchester Arena, First Direct Arena in Leeds, Bridgewater Hall, Bonus Arena in Hull and the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.

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The build project is progressing extremely well, with the complex scheduled to open in 2019.

Cllr Jenny Laing., Co-Leader of Aberdeen City Council, said: "The Event Complex Aberdeen represents one of the most significant developments in the history of the city. It is fantastic to see the construction continuing at pace and the momentum building as the opening draws nearer.

"The launch of the TECA name is part of the marketing strategy for the venue and it dovetails with the aims of our Regional Economic Strategy, which has internationalisation at its heart. The quality and scale of the complex will enable Aberdeen to attract global events and acts, supporting our ambitions to grow the number of visitors we attract from local, regional, national and international markets.

"We are in the midst of the most important period of transformation Aberdeen has ever experienced and TECA is integral to the Council's £1billion capital programme. There is a hugely positive story for the city to tell about the vision for the future and today's announcement is another step forward in the journey we are on."

Nick Waight, Managing Director at AECC, also said: "I am proud to be part of this major project for the north east. TECA is the largest ever single investment in a venue in the UK and reflects the ambition of Aberdeen City Council to diversify the local economy and brings an opportunity to add real value to the city, region and to Scotland as a whole. It boasts an impressive airport location, contemporary design and will be very eco-friendly. Our experienced and dedicated team at the AECC will transfer to the new venue and continue to offer the excellent customer service we are renowned for."

Nigel Munro, Project Director at Henry Boot Developments, continued: "Construction on this transformational project is progressing well as you can see, even from outside the site. TECA will have great economic benefits including more than 600 jobs during construction and once open attracting millions of pounds of business to the north east economy. We are delighted to be the development partner and an instrumental part of this significant project."

While TECA will remain the name of the new venue, SMG has various sponsorship opportunities available including naming rights for the venue, which could lead to an evolution of the brand.

(MH/LM)

PICTURE CAPTION: Nigel Munro, Jenny Laing, and Nick Waight at the main entrance of the new venue.