‘The Residence’ set to push the luxe envelope

Article posted by Coliseum, May 2^nd, 2023

Image: The O2

The O2 Arena in London (UK) recently announced the launch of ‘The Residence’, an exclusive VIP members club with a 300-person capacity at the world’s most popular music, leisure and entertainment venue, designed to change the way customers experience live events.

‘The O2’ stated that opening late 2023, ‘The Residence’ will offer members exclusive access to some of the best views in the house for every public event at The O2 – from chart-topping legends and comedy superstars, to sporting greats and family fun.

The 20,000-capacity O2 Arena, commonly known as The O2, is a multipurpose indoor arena in the center of The O2 entertainment complex on the Greenwich Peninsula in Southeast London (UK). It opened in its present form in 2007. It has the second-highest seating capacity of any indoor venue in the United Kingdom, behind the 21,000-capacity Manchester Arena, and in 2008 was the world’s busiest music arena. As of 2022, it is the ninth-largest building in the world by volume.

Apply for membership

Set over 1,150 square meters, ‘The Residence’ will be located on Level 3 directly opposite the arena stage, providing breathtaking, uninterrupted views of the incredible headline acts, as well as offering industry-leading, exclusive experiences, including a first-of-its-kind retractable viewing platform named ‘The Walkway’. Never seen before in a United Kingdom arena, ‘The Walkway’ will be the ultimate spot to get fully immersed in the pre-show action and snap the perfect selfies, allowing members of ‘The Residence’ to stand 70ft above the crowds and soak up at the atmosphere at the world-famous arena.

‘The O2’ further stated that with intimate lounges and booths, a range of premium bars including a cocktail bar and a ‘floating’ champagne bar, and a 50-seat restaurant with an open kitchen serving specially curated menus, all set against stylish interiors, members can expect a sophisticated, luxurious experience at The O2’s hottest new members club – the ultimate space to entertain and be entertained. Members will also be able to pre-book a range of dining or entertaining spots, including a secret snug space, to guarantee the ultimate unforgettable experience, or rock up and take a seat at the bar before enjoying world-class entertainment at The O2. Upcoming acts with headline shows in the arena include global superstars Madonna (American singer-songwriter), The Chemical Brothers (English electronic music duo), Peter Kay (stand-up comedian), Fall Out Boy (American rock band), Madness (English ska and pop band), Pete Tong (English DJ), Romesh Ranganathan (English comedian), and many more.

Maintained Matt Botten, Senior Director, Premium Seating at The O2, “We’ve seen a real shift in recent years of premium customers craving more shared spaces and immersive experiences, and so we’re excited to be able to cater to that with The Residence and bolster our already sold-out premium offering here at The O2. It’s our biggest investment in premium seating at the venue to date, and we know that never-before-seen features like ‘The Walkway’ will create unforgettable, ‘wow’ moment for members and their guests. The Residence will be the most exclusive new member’s club at the world’s best venue, and we’re sure it will become the hottest ticket in town for enjoying live entertainment and that memberships will be highly sought after.”

Not only does ‘The Residence’ revolutionize the fan experience at The O2, but it also presents an exciting opportunity for brands looking to engage with consumers and business leaders, as venue-owner AEG will be seeking a naming rights partner for the space, via the AEG Global Partnerships.

Offering brand ownership of a new, premium space, ‘The Residence’ will provide the naming rights partner with a unique platform for exclusive activations and meaningful brand building, helping to make exciting experiences even more memorable.

Noted Nathan Kosky, Vice-President – Europe, AEG Global Partnerships, “The AEG strives to reimagine fan experiences globally – from the BST Hyde Park (musical event) to Coachella (an annual music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert – but ‘The Residence’ at The O2 is one of the most exciting developments anywhere in the world. We have a new take on what premium entertaining ‘should’ look like – this evolution will take customer experience at the venue to another level, and businesses can get in on the action. The business that takes brand ownership of ‘The Residence’, including ‘The Walkway’, will be able to engage with influential guests and further enhance their experience at a world-famous venue – and for others, entertaining has never been so exciting.”

With memberships available to both consumers and businesses, the venue’s latest premium offering provides an exciting alternative to a full or shared suite, and a new option for those who want to entertain on a 1:1 or 1:2 basis – suitable for friends, family or clients.

A full premium experience, members will have access to ‘The Residence’ pre- and post-show, and can also make use of valet parking, an exclusive VIP entrance to the venue, and a dedicated Account Manager to help make every event unforgettable.

‘The Residence’ joins The O2’s range of Premium offerings, which span single event experiences as well as year-round access through annual memberships. From seats and suites to exclusive lounges, there’s something for everyone to make you and your guests feel like the stars of the show. For more information on the range of Premium experiences available at The O2, visit the website here.

2023 is set to be a stellar year at The O2 – fresh off the back of being crowned ‘Venue of the Year’ at the inaugural LIVE Awards, the arena will host headline performances from the British singer Elton John, the Canadian singer-songwriter Shania Twain, Madonna, the American rock band Blink-182, the English pop group S Club 7, the American comedian Kevin Hart, and a monthly residency with Peter Kay.

An ever-evolving, day out destination, The O2 is also home to the roofwalk experience Up at The O2, Outlet Shopping with over 60 designer brands, London’s largest Cineworld, over 30 bars and restaurants, and much more.

Los Angeles (US)-based the Anschutz Entertainment Group, also known as AEG Worldwide, is an American global sporting and music entertainment presenter and a subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation. It is the world’s largest owner of sports teams and sports events.

The AEG Global Partnerships creates innovative experiences for brands to reach their desired audience at relevant moments, both in person and online. We are constantly working to deliver the best entertainment experience for millions of engaged sports and live music fans throughout the world.

Continue to follow Coliseum for latest updates on venues business news. Coliseum is dedicated towards building the best global community of sports and entertainment venue executives and professionals creating better and more profitable venues.

Become a member of the only Global Sports Venue Alliance and connect with stadiums, arenas and experts from around the world. Apply for membership at coliseum-online.com/alliance and make use of the 365Coliseum Business.

Watch 250 member-exclusive videos with valuable tips for your venue