Populous’ intimate-inviting The Londoner Arena

Article posted by Coliseum, September 8^th, 2023

Image: Populous

On the debut opening of Macau’s (a special administrative region of greater China) new The Londoner Arena, a state-of-the-art, multimodal performance space was unveiled with industry leading hospitality offerings and premium entertainment facilities.

‘Populous’ stated that designed by the global architecture and design firm Populous from the Asia Pacific headquarters, The Londoner Arena boasts superior visual and acoustic qualities with an innovative seating bowl providing an enhanced atmosphere and a truly memorable experience for guests.

Kansas City (US)-based Populous is a global architectural and design practice specializing in sports facilities, arenas and convention centers, as well as the planning and design of major special events.

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Christopher Lee, Managing Director, EMEA Populous, UK, is a Member of Coliseum – Global Sports Venue Alliance.

Located on the Cotai Strip in Macau, the stunning 6,000-seat venue is a hybrid amphitheater-style space located within The Londoner Macao integrated resort and can host an array of events including live music concerts, sporting events, gala dinners, DJ performances, product launches and conferences.

The Londoner Macao is a casino resort on the Cotai Strip, Macau. On August 5^th, 2011, Sands China announced that the $4 billion property, long referred to as parcels five and six, would be officially named Sands Cotai Central. The first portion of the resort opened on April 11^th, 2012. The resort was rebranded as The Londoner Macao in 2021. The resort’s redesign was completed in May 2023.

‘Populous’ further stated that the Populous Associate Principal Ross Summergreene was the Lead Architect for The Londoner Arena and said maximizing guest experience within an intimate and inviting arena was the main design driver.

Stated Summergreene, “The Londoner Arena was designed with both the guest and artiste in mind, ensuring to create memorable experiences for anyone entering the venue. We did this by ensuring there is a variety of premium hospitality offerings, VIP lounges, meet-and-greet spaces, elevated pre-function areas and concessions, and of course, a state-of-the-art performance space that can house almost any event or show possible.”

One of the key design elements that prioritized the guest’s viewing experience was to ensure all seats have premium sightlines regardless of the show-mode.

Added Summergreene, “Even the most peripheral of seats have excellent views to the stage. The seating bowl design also includes telescopic front tiers that can be truncated to various positions and allows for increased venue flexibility for shows and performance types.”

The functional planning of the venue features extensive back-of-house (BOH) facilities including a variety of artiste dressing rooms, touring company offices, operational staff facilities, BOH support spaces, and dedicated star performer facilities for the VVIP artistes and families.

Said Kris Kaminsky, Senior Vice-President of Hotel Operations at Sands China Limited, “We’ve added a flexible and multifunctional event space to Macau that’s sure to attract top promoters and event organizers.”

Populous also led the interior design of the venue and were tasked with finding a cohesive design responding to the ‘Londoner’ theme applied across the precinct.

Populous Head of Interior Design APAC Paul Foskett said his team drew inspiration from the Victorian Neo-Gothic expressions of exposed metalwork and intricate steel detailing akin to the St Pancras Station in London (UK).

Stated Foskett, “The quality and detail in the lavish finishes and furniture and materiality selection align to the level of the Sands Design Excellence Principles and create an identity that maintains connection to the overall Londoner Macao design. The use of warm copper and bronze, then softened with rich timbers creates elegance and charm for the guests. Ornate ceiling coffer designs are repeated throughout the pre-function spaces and suites with entry portals signifying VIP spaces and the expressed arches help break down the transition between The Londoner Arena and the existing Londoner Macao corridors.”

For the VIP and VVIP guests, there are four bunker suites with elegant interiors and plush furniture, big-screen LED TVs with live-feed support, full video and audio capabilities, and refreshments and private entrances to the auditorium.

Located just five minutes from the Macau International Airport, the Londoner Arena allows easy access for its guests and performers alike.

The official opening of The Londoner Arena occurred on May 25^th during The Londoner Macao’s Grand Celebration which was attended by the Sands Global Ambassador David Beckham.

Macao-based Sands China Limited is an integrated resort developer and operator in Macau and a majority-owned subsidiary of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation.

The Las Vegas Sands Corporation is an American casino and resort company with corporate headquarters in Paradise, Nevada, United States. Its corporate mission is to create ‘Integrated Resorts’ which feature a combination of gambling, accommodation, retail, and meeting space.

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