Work Begins On 2,800-Seat Arena For BBL Club Newcastle Eagles

Construction has begun on a new home for British Basketball League club Newcastle Eagles, according to Jamie Hardesty of BDAILY. The club's charitable arm, the Eagles Community Foundation, is helping build the stadium, which is located at Riverside Dene in Elswick. The move to the 2,800-seat venue "will allow the most successful franchise in British basketball history to pursue its long-term dream of competing on the European stage." Breaking ground on the new project "brings to fruition a long-term partnership" between ECF and Newcastle City Council, Sport England, Newcastle College and the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, which provided a £1.1M ($1.5M) grant from the Local Growth Deal to help fund the build. The ECA will be open for 362 days a year and stage up to 40 events annually -- including a minimum of 22 Eagles fixtures. The venue will be open from 8am-11pm daily and "embrace a wide range" of sports clubs, organizations, age groups and abilities (BDAILY, 12/1).