The Vertu Motors Arena (formerly the Eagles Community Arena) is a multi-purpose built venue for events, meetings, sports and the community in the Elswick area of the city of Newcastle, England. The arena has a capacity for up to 3,500 spectators and is home to the Newcastle Eagles of the Super League Basketball and Women's Super League Basketball.
Naming rights to the arena are held by the automotive retailer Vertu, which is based in nearby Team Valley.
Background It had been a stated aim of Newcastle Eagles owner Paul Blake 'for at least 10 years, probably longer' for the club and its foundation to own and control their own facility. The club had previously been based at the Metro Radio Arena and Northumbria University's Sport Central.
In partnership with Newcastle City Council, the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, Sport England and Newcastle College, planning permission was approved and construction work on the arena began in November 2017. The arena was officially opened in January 2019, when the Eagles hosted the Plymouth Raiders in a BBL Championship match.
The arena was awarded three prizes in special achievement, community value and social accessibility at the 2020 Lord Mayor's Design Awards.
International basketball matches Date Competition Home team Result Away team Attendance 24 February 2020 FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Qualifier 81–73 2,800 25 November 2021 FIBA 2023 Basketball World Cup Qualifier 78–69 2,600 3 July 2022 FIBA 2023 Basketball World Cup Qualifier 71–85 2,300 28 August 2022 FIBA 2023 Basketball World Cup Qualifier 80–87 2,300 11 November 2022 FIBA 2023 Basketball World Cup Qualifier 68-74 2,003 24 February 2023 FIBA 2023 Basketball World Cup Qualifier 59-88 2,239 23 February 2024 FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifier 98-94 2,213 24 February 2025 FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifier 96-75 2,181 27 February 2026 FIBA 2027 Basketball World Cup Qualifier 57-93 2,40730 August 2026FIBA EuroBasket 2029 Pre-Qualifier97-722,381
Boxing matches Date Competition Main event Result 23 September 2023 MF & DAZN: X Series 009 Idris Virgo vs Aaron Chalmers Virgo — TKO (3/5) 14 September 2024 MF & DAZN: X Series 18 – Stake Pro Tournament Card Elle Brooke vs Jenny Savage Brooke — UD
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