Glasgow City Council has announced Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd as the construction contractor to deliver the National Indoor Sports Arena (NISA) and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, a facility that will host two events at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

The NISA and velodrome - which will be one of the biggest indoor sports facilities of its type in Europe - will be located on a 10.5 hectare site in the East End of Glasgow, close to Celtic Park and the Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village.

This will be the principal new dedicated sports facility for the games, and will be Scotland's first indoor velodrome, building on the celebrated successes of Sir Chris Hoy and other Scottish cyclists.

The indoor arena will have 5,000 spectator seats for sporting competitions, while the velodrome will have a further 2,000 seated and 500 standing spectators viewing a 250-metre cycle track.


The facility will be a national training centre for athletics, basketball, netball, track cycling and volleyball.

The velodrome track will be designed by the internationally renowned designer Ralph Schuermann.

The new headquarters of sportscotland, the national sports agency, will be located on the same site, adjacent to the NISA and velodrome.

The facility will also be the administrative base for several other national sports federations and Culture and Sport Glasgow's sports development unit.

Other features include a community sports centre with sports halls, outdoor floodlit 5-a-side courts, extensive health and fitness provision, indoor roller sports park, provision for cycling and a crèche. There will be dedicated and shared facilities for school use.

The construction project will require a total workforce of 200, including 20 new apprenticeship places, and 84 staff will be employed by Culture and Sport Glasgow to operate the venue, once opened.

Councillor Steven Purcell, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "The National Indoor Sports Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome will be world-class venues able to attract sporting competitions of the highest standard to Glasgow, as well as providing a fantastic community facility that presents the chance and challenge to improve health and fitness levels.

"The design and construction of this state-of-the-art facility will offer employment, training and skills opportunities to local people, and will be a real asset for the city and country for decades to come."

Construction work is due to begin towards the end of 2009, with contract completion expected in early 2012, with velodrome track installation expected in Spring 2012.

(GK/BMcC)