logo
#

Latest news with #QueenElizabethOlympicPark

ABBA Voyage arena set to be demolished as developers unveil plans for housing estate
ABBA Voyage arena set to be demolished as developers unveil plans for housing estate

The Sun

time3 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • The Sun

ABBA Voyage arena set to be demolished as developers unveil plans for housing estate

ABBA Voyage has been a huge success since its launch three years ago, but now the Swedish group's digital avatars are set to be kicked out of their East London arena. I can reveal plans have been drawn up to make way for a 1,000-home neighbourhood, which would mean the venue, constructed especially for the concert spectacle, will be demolished by the end of the decade to make way for apartment blocks. 2 2 The news is likely to devastate fans, as the group have said the concert — using state-of-the-art technology to show a younger version of the group on stage — is the closest anyone will come to seeing Agnetha Faltskog, Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Bjorn Ulvaeus perform together again. It also scuppers hopes the Spice Girls could take over the arena, in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, after The Sun revealed the girl group have been planning to create their own similar digital residency. The concert is currently booking up until January 2026, although it is expected to continue for longer. The show's CEO and executive producer Michael Bolingbroke previously said: ' ABBA Voyage will certainly run for another couple of years and hopefully longer — in an ideal world we'd stay for ever.' Building work on the first two phases of a major new estate is scheduled to start next year just metres away from the arena. Real loss That will include construction on the site of the nearby hotel and bar Snoozebox, where revellers often congregate after the performances and which only has permission to stay until the end of 2025. The first homes on the site are scheduled to be completed in 2028, but earlier this year, ABBA's Bjorn said he believed the arena could remain until 2029. He explained: 'We are allowed to stay in our venue till 2029, but sales might drop, you never know.' The arena was originally built as a moveable venue, but the band later admitted they hoped the show would stay in the area. During its run, ABBA Voyage has attracted more than two million visitors and has contributed £1.4billion to the UK economy. A spokesperson for ABBA Voyage said: 'We are in constant dialogue with the London Legacy Development Corporation and Newham Council about our lease and we welcome the opportunity to stay at the arena for as long as viable. 'At present, there are no plans for any changes to be made.' It would be a real loss for it to go, but it's certainly been a massive triumph.

Bjorn Ulvaeus unsure if Abba Voyage will continue if a bandmate dies
Bjorn Ulvaeus unsure if Abba Voyage will continue if a bandmate dies

Yahoo

time13-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

Bjorn Ulvaeus unsure if Abba Voyage will continue if a bandmate dies

Bjorn Ulvaeus said he does not know if the Abba Voyage virtual concerts will continue if one of his band members dies. Since opening in May 2022, more than three million people have seen the show that brings to life younger versions of the Abba members through digital 'Abba-tars' and a 10-piece live band in a purpose-built arena in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. The influential pop group, also made up of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Benny Andersson, were the first Swedish winners of the Eurovision Song Contest with their hit Waterloo in Brighton in 1974. Asked on Times Radio if the virtual concerts will continue if a member of Abba dies, Ulvaeus told the station: 'That's a question I've never had before… I honestly don't know, hadn't thought about that. 'It's good you raise that question – I'll talk to the others about that as we need to decide beforehand between us if it's OK for all four of us to go on after we're gone.' Faltskog and Ulvaeus married in 1971 before splitting almost a decade later, while Andersson and Lyngstad also married and divorced in 1981, a year before the band broke up. Abba had a string of chart-toppers including Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, The Winner Takes It All and Mamma Mia! The group reunited and released their first new music in almost 40 years with Voyage, their ninth studio album, which topped the UK album charts. Their songs also inspired the musical Mamma Mia!, which began in London in 1999, and became a hit worldwide sensation. It spun off two movies, 2008's Mamma Mia! and 2018's Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

Bromley crowned London Youth Games champions for 12th time
Bromley crowned London Youth Games champions for 12th time

Yahoo

time11-07-2025

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Bromley crowned London Youth Games champions for 12th time

Bromley has clinched the Jubilee Trophy at the London Youth Games (LYG) finals. The borough was crowned champion at the exciting finale weekend at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from July 4 to 6. This year, more than 10,000 young Londoners competed in 37 sports. Advertisement The Jubilee Trophy recognises the borough with the most points from their top 24 scoring competitions of the season. Bromley boys' basketball team huddle up during London Youth Games showdown (Image: London Youth Games) This marks the 12th time Bromley has claimed the trophy, a testament to their consistent performance throughout the season. Bromley shone in multiple sports, securing gold in Para Games athletics, U15 girls' football, boys' cross country, and both girls' and boys' Para Games swimming. Read more Louise Hills, sports and events manager for Mytime Active, which coordinates Bromley's LYG entry, said: "We are absolutely delighted to win the Jubilee trophy and be crowned LYG Champions for another year. Advertisement "Our teams performed consistently well during the entire season and we are so grateful to our loyal team managers who recruit and train the players." Bromley Para swimmers celebrate gold at London Youth Games (Image: London Youth Games) The London Youth Games, founded in 1977 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee, have seen over two million young Londoners aged seven to 17 compete in 37 sports. Among them are renowned athletes and para-athletes including Olympians Sir Mo Farah and Christine Ohuruogu MBE, Paralympian David Weir CBE, and England footballers Chloe Kelly and Raheem Sterling MBE. As the 50th anniversary Golden Games approach in 2027, LYG is encouraging Londoners to share their stories and experiences about the transformative impact of the Games. Advertisement The London Youth Games Foundation also aims to raise £5 million to celebrate this milestone and ensure the Games continue for future generations.

Chic Nile Rodgers curates David Bowie Centre display in Stratford
Chic Nile Rodgers curates David Bowie Centre display in Stratford

BBC News

time05-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • BBC News

Chic Nile Rodgers curates David Bowie Centre display in Stratford

Chic star Nile Rodgers has guest-curated a display for the new David Bowie Centre, including personal correspondence between the two V&A Museum, which is behind the new David Bowie Centre, said Rodgers has also selected a bespoke Peter Hall suit worn by Bowie during the Serious Moonlight tour for the Let's Dance David Bowie Centre will open within the museum's new East Storehouse in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in Stratford, east London, on 13 of Bowie, Rodgers and guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan recording Let's Dance in New York will also feature. Costumes worn during Bowie's Ziggy Stardust period, and those worn by other musicians including Sir Elton John and PJ Harvey, will also be on said: "My creative life with David Bowie provided the greatest success of his incredible career, but our friendship was just as rewarding."Our bond was built on a love of the music that had both made and saved our lives."Rodgers produced Bowie's single Let's Dance and the 1983 album of the same name, as well as his 1993 album Black Tie White Noise, with the personal correspondence in the exhibition relating to the Award-winning indie rock band The Last Dinner Party have also curated part of the exhibition, describing Bowie as a "constant source of inspiration to us".Their items include Bowie's elaborate handwritten lyrics for his song Win, and notes and set lists for his 1976 Isolar band said: "David Bowie continues to inspire generations of artists like us to stand up for ourselves."Access to the David Bowie Centre will be free, with tickets released nearer its opening.

Nile Rodgers: Music saved my life ... and David Bowie's too
Nile Rodgers: Music saved my life ... and David Bowie's too

Telegraph

time04-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Telegraph

Nile Rodgers: Music saved my life ... and David Bowie's too

Nile Rodgers has said music saved his and David Bowie 's lives. The Chic star, 72, made the comments while guest curating a display for the new David Bowie Centre, which features personal correspondence between the two musicians. Speaking about their friendship, Rodgers said: 'My creative life with Bowie provided the greatest success of his incredible career, but our friendship was just as rewarding. Our bond was built on a love of the music that had both made and saved our lives.' The centre, put together by the V&A Museum, will feature a bespoke Peter Hall suit worn by Bowie during the Serious Moonlight tour and chosen for display by Rodgers. It will also showcase photographs of Bowie, Rodgers and the guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan recording Bowie's hit song Let's Dance in New York. Rodgers produced Let's Dance and the 1983 album of the same name, as well as the 1993 album Black Tie White Noise, with personal correspondence on display relating to the latter. Costumes worn during Bowie's Ziggy Stardust period, and those worn by other musicians including Sir Elton John and PJ Harvey, will also be on display. The centre will open within the museum's new East Storehouse in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in Stratford, east London, on Sept 13. The Last Dinner Party, the Brit Award-winning indie rock band, have also curated part of the exhibition, describing Bowie as a 'constant source of inspiration to us'. Their items include Bowie's elaborate handwritten lyrics for his song Win, and notes and set lists for his 1976 Isolar tour. The band said: 'David Bowie continues to inspire generations of artists like us to stand up for ourselves. 'It was such a thrill to explore Bowie's archive and see first hand the process that went into his world-building and how he created a sense of community and belonging for those that felt like outcasts or alienated – something that's really important to us in our work too.' Access to the David Bowie Centre will be free, with tickets released nearer its opening. The David Bowie archive, which boasts more than 90,000 items, was acquired by the V&A with the help of the David Bowie Estate, the Blavatnik Family Foundation and Warner Music Group. The centre will be spread across three zones which will include curated displays, audio visual installations and quieter study areas, allowing visitors to view the Bowie archive on their own, from musical instruments to stage models. Small displays will tell the stories behind the singer's albums and also look at his multidimensional creative approach, including unrealised projects, collaborations and influences. The East Storehouse opened at the end of May, and features the Order An Object initiative, where visitors can pre-book to see an item from its entire collection. The V&A will also open the V&A East Museum, in an area named East Bank, in spring 2026.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store