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Tier arrangements
Bowl Capacity Tier arrangements Implication
Up to 8000 Single Economic construction with roof span to 60m. Boxes arranged at the top of the tier with limited facilities
8000 - 11,000 Single Roof spans up to 75m. Boxes arranged at the top of the tier with limited facilities
11,000 - 19,000 Double/triple Roof spans up to 100m. Arrangement determined by box configuration
More than 19,000    Impractical because of rake and maximum viewing distance
Build - up of costs of international ice-rink
£ £/m2 of rink area
Permanent ice pad    
Refrigeration plant and distribution 580 000 320
Insulated concrete ice pad 170 000 95
Heated ice pit 10 000 5
Furniture, fittings and equipment    
Insulated flooring system 150 000 85
Barrier system 200 000 110
Ice resurfacing machine 75 000 40
Enhancements to building services    
Power supply to refrigeration plant,
ventilation system and dehumidification to arena		 315 000 175
Total 1 500 000 830
 
Typical environmental design criteria
Temperature ( c ) Winter Summer
Arena 18 26
Boxes 20 23
Hospitality/press areas/administration 20 23
Concourse 16  
Ventilation (litres/second per person)    
Arena 8  
Hospitality/press areas/administration 12  
Lighting levels (lux)    
Arena    
Broadcast events 2000  
Spectator viewed events 900  
Club level sport 500  
Tiered seating 200  
General lighting    
Concourse 100-150  
Toilets 200  
Changing/locker rooms 250  
Administration 400-500  
 
Furniture, fittings and equipment
Typical FF&E costs for a 7000 -8000 seat arena (£)
Central scoreboard 500 000 - 1000 000
Temporary floor covering for concerts etc. 110 000
Temporary seating for arena floor ( @ £75 each ) 200 000
Staging and rigging grids 300 000
Removable sports flooring for ice rink (@ £60/m2 ) 110 000
Demountable dasher boards 150 000
Sports equipment 50 000
Locker rooms fit-out 50 000
Hospitality boxes fit-out 3000 - 4000 each
Concession units basic fit-out 5000 each
Sources of revenue for typical UK arena
Indicative percentage breakdown of revenues
Sports events and concerts 63
Catering, merchandising and club seats 21
Hospitality boxes, functions and advertising 16
Operating costs for typical UK arena
Indicative percentage breakdown of costs
Event costs 27
Staff costs 25
Management 9
Utilities and insurance 9
Rates 7
Maintenance 6
Marketing 4
Administration 3
Miscellaneous 10
Cost breakdown Table 1
element cost cost/m2 gfa £ % of total cost
Substructure 2 519 000 111.96 9.12
Excavation and fill to site area; average depth 500 mm; disposal; breaking out obstructions   11 000 m2 @ £9
300 mm diameter driven precast concrete piles; complete   11 000 m2 @ £80 
Column bases and pile caps; average 1.5 m deep; excavation; reinforced insitu concrete   11 000 m2 @ £20 
Suspended ground slab; excavation; damp proof membrane; insitu concrete, average thickness 265 mm; reinforcement (230 kg/m3); including allowances for ground beams; pits and thickenings   11 000 m2 @ £100
Extra over ground slab; for works associated with hydraulic athletics track     item @ £50 000 
Extra over ground slab for works to form permanent ice floor; dropped section to ground slab; additional monolithic slab; service ducts; insulation   2000 m2 @ £85
Frame 1 103 100 49.03 3.99
Columns and stepped raker beams to arena bowl; reinforced insitu concrete; reinforcement @ £250 kg/m3   2570 m2 @ £77 
Columns and beams generally; reinforced insitu concrete; reinforcement @ £250 kg/m3   8900 m2 @ £87 
Extra over for circular columns   1030 m @ £30 
Allowance for structural steel truss to suspended section of main concourse floor     item @ £100 000 
Upper floors 554 700 24.65 2.01
Prestressed, precast concrete structural suspended floor units, 260 mm thick; 50 mm thick structural topping as required   8900 m2 @ £32 
Prestressed, precast concrete seating units; L-section, 875 mm × 475 mm, spanning 10 m   2570 m2 @ £105 
Roof 3 661 100 162.72 13.26
Roof trusses to clear 72 m span; grade 50 structural steel; tonnage based on allowance of 85 kg/m2; fabrication, erection, high-performance paint finish; including allowance for high-level walkways   770 tonnes @ £2250 
Roof cladding; curved and tapered; raised seam aluminium roofing, structural deck,insulation, vapour barrier   8000 m2 @ £125 
Extra for perforated aluminium acoustic lining   7000 m2 @ £25 
Reinforced insitu concrete slab; roofing membrane; insulation   1285 m2 @ £110
Extra for glazed rooflights   70 m2 @ £250 
Lightweight roofing systems; generally   3000 m2 @ £75 
Allowance for safety balustrades, handrails and gantries   1125 m @ £150 
Allowance for box office and service yard canopies; including steelwork     item @ £135 000 
Above-ground rainwater installations; generally   11 000 m2 @ £6
Stairs 395 000 17.56 1.43
Reinforced insitu concrete stairs and landings; frameless glass balustrades and stainless steel handrails to concourse stairs (finishes not included)   30 @ £12 500 
Precast concrete gangway step units     item @ £13 000 
Allowance for roof access stairs and cat ladders     item @ £7000 
External walls, windows and doors 1 614 500 71.76 5.85
Facing quality, coloured spit-faced blockwork cavity walls; including allowances for reinforcement and insulation   1450 m2 @ £160 
Reconstituted stone copings   300 m @ £150 
Aluminium composite panel rainscreen cladding; insulation; sub-frame   1550 m2 @ £290 
Aluminium soffit cladding to arena roof eaves; to match rainscreen; sub-frame   1350 m2 @ £225 
Terracotta rainscreen cladding; insulation; sub-frame   1050 m2 @ £210 
Extra over rainscreen cladding for blockwork backing walls   1600 m2 @ £30 
Glass blockwork   170 m2 @ £275 
Aluminium louvres to plant rooms and to roof perimeter   575 m2 @ £340
Perforated screens to roof level main plant; 3 m high   210 m2 @ £350 
Windows and external doors 447 000 19.87 1.62
Aluminium-framed punchhole windows; sealed double-glazed units   450 m2 @ £375 
Entrance screens; laminated single-glazed screens incorporating double entrance doors; ironmongery   34 @ £5 000 
Escape doors; metal panel double doors and frames; ironmongery   34 @ £2 000 
Escape doors; metal panel single doors and frames; ironmongery   4 @ £1 000 
Security shutters; power operated   145 m2 @ £250  
Internal walls and partitions 1 268 400 56.37 4.59
Insitu concrete walls; 200 mm average thick; to vomitorys, staircores and so on   530 m2 @ £90 
Blockwork partitions; average 190 mm thick; including reinforcement and head restraint   16 500 m2 @ £45 
Proprietary toilet cubicles; vandal-resistant; metal-faced; including doors, ironmongery and fittings   183 @ £400 
Glazed screens; non-fire rated   260 m2 @ £250 
Sliding/folding partitions; 6 m extended length   34 @ £10 000 
Internal doors 490 000 21.78 1.77
Single doors; fire resisting; overpanels as necessary; including ironmongery   195 @ £1000 
Double doors; fire resisting; overpanels as necessary; including ironmongery   100 @ £1 750 
Full-height sliding double-glazed screens to boxes   60 m2 @ £250
Allowance for main duct access doors and hatches     item @ £5000 
Roller shutters and fire shutters   400 m2 @ £250 
Cost breakdown Table 2
element cost cost/m2 gfa £ % of total cost
Wall finishes 133 500 5.93 0.48
Ceramic tiles; sand cement backing; to concrete or blockwork   500 m2  @ £75
13 mm two-coat lightweight plaster; vinyl paper; to concrete or blockwork   3000 m2  @ 17
Paint finish to concrete or blockwork   15 000 m2  @ £3 
Floor finishes 381 500 16.96 1.38
Vinyl floor tiles; levelling screed   1500 m2  @ £30 
Contract carpet tiles; levelling screed; matwells   4250 m2 @ £40 
Hardwood skirtings generally; decorations   6000 m @ £10 
Paint and epoxy to concrete floors; including allowances for skirtings   10 000 m2 @ £10 
Vitrified ceramic tile; levelling screed; including allowance for skirtings and movement joints   100 m2 @ £65
Ceiling finishes 262 400 11.66 0.95
Suspended ceilings; mineral fibre tiles; edge trims   2850 m2 @ £20 
Suspended ceilings; moisture-resistant mineral fibre tiles; edge trims   750 m2 @ £35 
Suspended ceilings; metal pan tiles; plain and perforated tiles; edge trims   225 m2 @ £30 
Suspended ceilings; aluminium open cell ceilings; edge trims   2000 m2 @ £35 
Suspended ceilings; plasterboard; skim coat; decorations; edge trims   2400 m2 @ £35 
Concrete sealer to underside of concrete structure   4600 m2 @ £4
Furniture and fittings 2 233 000 99.24 8.09
Padded and upholstered seating; fixed to tiers   3820 @ £100 
Extra for cloth upholstery to boxes and so on.   420 @ £50 
Padded and upholstered seating; retractable/moveable; powered retractable sections; including safety rails and barriers   3350 @ £300 
Safety rails and barriers to fixed seating bowl   700 m @ £250 
Allowance for signage     item @ £100 000 
200 m hydraulic running track and infieldof which track is £250 000; infield is £200 000; and hydraulic system and controls is £100 000     item @ £550 000 
       
Sanitary fittings 624 300 27.75 2.26
WCs, urinals, washhand basins; generally, including allowance for disabled WCs   585 @ £300 
Showers; including trays and fittings   65 @ £750 
IPS installation     item @ £400 000 
Disposal installations 293 100 13.03 1.06
Below-ground drainage; complete (unit area based on building footprint excluding the event floor)   7050 m2 @ £28 
Above-ground soil and waste installation; (unit area based on gross internal floor area excluding the event floor and fixed tiers)   15 950 m2 @ £6 
Water installations 263 300 11.7 0.95
Mains water booster set and cold water storage tanks     item @ £40 000 
Hot and cold water service; distribution; local electric heating   15 950 m2 @ £14 
Space heating and air treatment 2 321 400 103.17 8.4
Gas installation     item @ £27 000 
Boiler plant, chimneys and flues, pumps, pressurisation units and heat exchangers   22 500 m2 @ £6
LPHW distribution pipework; insulation   22 500 m2 @ £12 
Chilled water installation; air-cooled chillers; pressurisation unit; pumps and valves; distribution pipework; insulation   22 500 m2 @ £21
Supply and extract ventilation to arena bowl; air-handling units with heating batteries;ductwork distribution   6600 m2 @ £90 
Comfort cooling to boxes; four-pipe fan-coil installation; ductwork; insulation; grilles and diffusers   840 m2 @ £125 
Supply and extract ventilation; tempered air heating system; fresh air supply and extract installations   8650 m2 @ £35 
Door curtains     item @ £55 000 
Extract fans and fire-rated ductwork to kitchens, toilets and other areas   1970 m2 @ £80 
Smoke extract installations   22 500 m2 @ £9 
 
Cost breakdown Table 3
element cost cost/m2 gfa £ % of total cost
Electrical installations 2 302 900 102.35 8.34
HV switchgear; transformers;   22 500 m2 @ £8 
LV Switchboard and busbar distribution   22 500 m2 @ £7 
Sub-mains switchboards; distribution boards and cable   22 500 m2 @ £22 
Containment; allowance for power and lighting distribution   22 500 m2 @ £14 
Small power distribution   15 950 m2 @ £8
Lighting and luminaires to general areas   15 950 m2 @ £20
Lighting and luminaires to arena bowl   6600 m2 @ £30
Emergency lighting; complete   22 550 m2 @ £16 
Allowance for gantry-level lighting     item @ £25 000 
Diesel standby generator; 850 kVA     item @ £70 000 
Power to mechanical services     item @ £55 000 
Lift installations 168 000 7.47 0.61
Electro hydraulic 16-person passenger/goods lift serving two levels   3 @ £56 000 
Protective installations 356 200 15.83 1.29
Lightning protection     item @ £31 000 
Earthing and bonding     item @ £15 000
Sprinkler installation; complete (area based on gross internal floor area, excluding event floor and fixed seating)   15 950 m2 @ £16 
Hose reel installations.     item @ £30 000 
Dry riser installations     item @ £25 000 
Communications installations 727 500 32.33 2.63
Public address and voice alarm system; complete   22 500 m2 @ £18 
Fully addressable fire and smoke detection and alarm system   22 500 m2 @ £6 
CCTV installation   22 500 m2 @ £5 
Card access and intruder alarm installations     item @ £75 000 
Special installations 1 165 000 51.78 4.22
Permanent ice floor; refrigeration plant, under-slab pipework and so on (excluding dasher boards and other FF&E)   2000 m2 @ £380 
BMS installation; complete   22 500 m2 @ £ 18 
Builder's work in connection 225 000 10 0.82
Pads, bases, holes, chases, motices, cat ladders, supports, walkways and painting to pipework     item @ £150 000 
Anti-vibration measures to M&E plant     item @ £75 000 
Preliminaries and contingencies 4 111 000 182.71 14.88
Contractor’s overheads, profit, site establishment and site supervision; allow 12%     item @ £2 821 000 
Allowance for commissioning management     item @ £115 000 
Contingency sum; allow 5%     item@ £1 175 000 
Total construction cost: building only 27 620 900 1 227.61 100
Regional variations
All costs in this article are based on schemes in south-east England and should be adjusted by the following location factors for projects in other areas.
Inner London 1.1 Yorkshire and Humberside 0.92
Outer London 1.04 North-west 0.96
South-west 0.95 Northern 0.92
East Midlands 0.92 Scotland 0.93
West Midlands 0.92 Wales 0.92
East Anglia 0.93