P&J Live
P&J Live is a multi-purpose indoor arena and event complex located in Aberdeen, Scotland, serving as the region's primary venue for concerts, conferences, exhibitions, and sporting events. Opened in September 2019, it replaced the outdated Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre and forms the centrepiece of The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA), a larger development funded by Aberdeen City Council with an investment exceeding £300 million.[1][2] The facility features a main arena spanning 9,000 square metres with a seated capacity of 10,000 or up to 15,000 including standing areas, complemented by 48,000 square metres of total flexible event space including exhibition halls and conference suites.[2] Designed for versatility, it has hosted high-profile performances by artists such as Elton John and Girls Aloud, alongside industry gatherings like the Offshore Europe energy conference.[1] Its modern infrastructure has earned accolades, including Venue of the Year at the 2022 Exhibition News Awards and Most Versatile UK Venue at the 2023 Exhibition and Events Awards.[3][4] Despite its successes, P&J Live has encountered operational challenges, with attendee feedback highlighting issues such as inadequate parking management, long queues for food and facilities, and discomfort from concrete flooring and seating arrangements during events.[5] These criticisms, drawn from user reviews on platforms like TripAdvisor, reflect practical strains on a venue handling large crowds in a peripheral location near Aberdeen International Airport, though no systemic structural failures have been reported.[6][7]Overview
Location and Design
P&J Live is located at East Burn Road, Stoneywood, in the northern outskirts of Aberdeen, Scotland, within the broader Bridge of Don and Bucksburn districts, approximately 6 miles northwest of the city centre.[8] The site offers convenient access for motorists via the A96 Aberdeen-Inverness road and direct connectivity to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), a key segment of the A90 trunk road completed in 2019, enhancing regional accessibility.[9] Public transport links include nearby bus stops served by Stagecoach routes such as the 727 from Aberdeen city centre to the airport and the 64/64A to Inverurie, with additional event-specific services available.[10] The venue forms the core of The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA), designed by Glasgow-based architects Keppie Design in collaboration with input from engineering firms like Buro Happold for structural and acoustic optimization.[11][12] Architectural elements include angular facades precisely angled at 21 degrees, which unify the complex's form and integrate it with the surrounding landscape while accommodating the site's topography.[13] The multi-building layout emphasizes modularity, with the main arena and adjacent conference halls arranged to support flexible configurations, complemented by subterranean multipurpose spaces for additional utility.[10] Purpose-built technical features prioritize event versatility, including advanced acoustic design achieved through computational modeling with software like EASE and CATT to minimize reflections—via elimination of large flat interior surfaces and incorporation of high-absorbency materials—ensuring clarity for performances across genres.[12][14] Lighting and staging infrastructure, installed to contemporary standards, allows for rapid reconfiguration, while a dedicated hybrid low-carbon Energy Centre provides efficient heating, cooling, and power distribution throughout the complex, reducing operational emissions.[15] These elements collectively position P&J Live as a modern, adaptable facility tailored to the demands of large-scale indoor events in northern Scotland.[16]Capacity and Naming Rights
P&J Live's main arena provides an all-seated capacity of 10,000, expandable to 15,000 with the inclusion of standing areas on the floor.[17][18] Configurations can be scaled down for specific uses, such as the short hall's 5,334 all-seated capacity, enabling events as small as several thousand attendees for conferences or intimate gatherings.[18] The venue encompasses 48,000 square meters of flexible multi-purpose space across exhibition halls and conference suites, including subdivisible areas like Hall C with 2,000 square meters.[2][19] Acoustic partitioning systems allow for customization and simultaneous events in adjacent sections, such as separate conferences or exhibitions running concurrently.[20][21]The naming rights were secured by DC Thomson Media, publisher of the local Press and Journal newspaper, in a partnership announced on May 23, 2019, prior to the venue's opening.[22][23] This arrangement integrates regional media branding with the publicly funded facility, generating commercial revenue to support operational sustainability.[24]