Jo?

[Osc]

Is the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham the same place as the NEC that you walk to from the airport? Thinking about going over for a day in January for something if it is the same place.

[Ally]

Sorry to butt in Osc - I'm only doing so as sometimes Jo doesn't come on here until the afternoon and you might want the information before then.

The arena you're talking about is in the town centre.

Hope this helps. xx

[Osc]

Thanks Ally, that's good to know. Things have moved on Miss Osc and I talked casually recently about bringing Michael over for the day to see the SCD live tour, as he absolutely loves the programme. However, it looks as if the two matinees in Brum are sold out so now I am looking at Manchester.

My concentrated efforts this morning have nothing to do with the fact that it has been announced that Tristan MacManus will be dancing in it ...........................

[Ally]

Thanks Ally, that's good to know. Things have moved on Miss Osc and I talked casually recently about bringing Michael over for the day to see the SCD live tour, as he absolutely loves the programme. However, it looks as if the two matinees in Brum are sold out so now I am looking at Manchester.

My concentrated efforts this morning have nothing to do with the fact that it has been announced that Tristan MacManus will be dancing in it ...........................

Of course it doesn't Osc.

[JoM]

Yeah, the Barclaycard Arena is what the NIA off Broad St is being renamed. The LG Arena, which is the one by the airport and was formerly the NEC Arena, will be called the Genting Arena from next year.

I've not moved on from calling it the big hall at the NEC yet

Is it at the Phones4U arena in Manchester?

[Osc]

Is it at the Phones4U arena in Manchester?

Yes it is and we are all booked now, going over and back on Saturday 24th January. On looking at their site it seems to be accessible easily from the airport and I do know that the station is actually under the airport which is handy. This is Miss Osc's and Michael's ceeword pressie (she would kill me if she knew how much the flights were )

[Workingman]

All these name changes get confusing.

We had the Leeds Arena, brand new, all shiny.

Them it became the First Direct Arena. Us locals call it the First Arena - because we didn't have one before - and that's confusing because it implies that we have a second arena, but we don't.

[JoM]

Frank, two names already and that arena's not been open 5 minutes has it?
I had to Google who or what Genting was when it was announced that the NEC/LG name was changing.

Osc, the arena (was going to call it the MEN then ) is in the city centre and it sounds as though the station at the airport is going to be handy for you then. Check which station you come into from there. If it's Piccadilly it's a relatively short walk from the other side of the city centre (10 minutes or so, or longer if you go in the shops ) but if it's Victoria then that's actually right below the arena.

[Osc]

Thanks Jo, I'll confirm all that sonetime after Christmas.

Over here we had The Point Depot, where you would have seen George Michael, Jo. It was called that because it had been a railway point depot Then it was totally redeveloped and became the O2, and in recent months has been renamed the 3Arena - all down to sponsorship of course, but most of us had only got to the stage of calling it the O2 and still regularly refer to it as The Point.

[JoM]

I was trying to think of the name of that venue not so long ago Osc! I liked it in there

I suppose the Phones4U Arena will have a name change before too long, bit pointless now really seeing as the company went bump a few months ago