Chester Racecourse plan to build 4,000-seat arena in City

Feb 6 2009 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

Huge arts arena hope

A 4,000-seat arena hosting concerts, events and performing arts could be built above a two-storey car park on Chester’s Little Roodee.

The idea for a smaller version of Liverpool’s Echo Arena is being considered by the increasingly successful Chester Racecourse, it emerged this week.

But chief executive Richard Thomas says it is too early to talk about the project which was discussed by his board on Monday.

Meanwhile The Chronicle’s Gateway Theatre campaign took a major step forward when a drama group claimed they could re-open it by September for £100,000.

Tip Top productions has kept the Gateway building alive by staging amateur productions in the basement studio theatre as well as investing in front-of-house facilities, lighting and sound equipment.

The group is asking for the chance to bring back professional and amateur shows and help make Chester a city for families once again.