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Kingston Communications Stadium Public Open Day: Sunday, December 15th
First Match and Inaugural Event sponsored by Dixon Motors, Wednesday, December 18th
With just four weeks to go before the opening of the Kingston Communications Stadium, detailed plans for the opening celebrations have been revealed, including a Council-organised public preview on Sunday, 15th December and the Stadium Management company¹s spectacular opening ceremony and first Hull City match on Wednesday, 18th December.
The whole of the city is to have the opportunity of a preview of some of the magnificent facilities on offer at the Kingston Communications Stadium when the doors are thrown open for a Public Open Day on Sunday, 15th.
From 10 am until 4pm, local people will have the opportunity to walk around the edge of the all-important new pitch and take in the breathtaking surroundings of the 25,400 -seat spectator arena, soon to be the new home of Hull City and Hull FC.
Throughout the Open Day the crowds will be greeted and entertained in West Park by street performers, carol singers and musicians, creating a festive atmosphere. They will also have the chance to enter a prize draw, with the lucky winners receiving free family tickets to the spectacular opening match and gala.
The Open Day is expected to attract thousands of people from across the city, giving them a glimpse of their new stadium before the spectacular official opening ceremony and first Hull City match on Wednesday, December 18th.
A continental team could now replace The Tigers’ planned friendly encounter with Sunderland as the main attraction of the opening gala, when the teams will play for the Raich Carter trophy, to be presented on the night by a member of the Hull City legend’s family.
But whoever City’s opponents, the opening match promises to be the highlight of an exciting and unique night of sporting and musical entertainment.
The turnstiles will be opened at 4.30pm, allowing the fans to come in and soak up the carnival atmosphere before the game. Even before they take their seats, fans making their way down Hull’s very own "Wembley Way” and through the stadium’s public concourses will be entertained by jugglers, stilt walkers, singers, dancers and living statues.
Once inside the arena, a stunning Hull City Council-sponsored firework display will kick-off the pre-match entertainment at 5.30pm, lighting up the city skyline and announcing to the whole of Hull that the Kingston Communications Stadium is officially open.
The Lord Mayor of Hull, Councillor Terry Geraghty, will hand over a giant scroll representing the agreement between the Council as stadium owner and Adam Pearson in his role as Chairman of the Stadium Management Company. Highlighting that the maintenance and running of the people’s stadium is being entrusted to the Stadium Management Company for the benefit of local people and future generations, the scroll will be paraded around the ground by local school children.
This will be followed by a four hour musical and sporting extravaganza that will include a performance by pop group The Fine Young Cannibals, fronted by Hull’s own Roland Gift. Former Hull City legends will also grace the pitch for a penalty shoot out, while youngsters from the club’s successful school of excellence - the soccer stars of the future - will put on a demonstration of their skills. The Hull Pipe Band will take to the pitch in keeping with sporting tradition and a dynamic display of music, dance and drama depicting Hull through the ages’ will be performed by students from Hull College.
Before the first ball is kicked from the new centre circle at 7.45pm, the two teams will be escorted onto the pitch by young mascots from Hull’s pioneering Children’s University, before meeting VIPs and dignitaries including Steve Maine, Chief Executive of Stadium sponsors Kingston Communications and Simone Butterworth, Leader of the City Council. After the match, the evening’s entertainment will conclude with another spectacular firework display.
Councillor Butterworth said: “We want to send a message to the people of Hull that this is their stadium. The public open day is a chance to for everyone in the city to have a preview of this wonderful sporting arena. The stadium is not just for sports fans. It has something to offer everyone in the community.”
Hull City and Stadium Management Company Chairman Adam Pearson, said: “Like the Council, I very much want this to be a community stadium where all levels of sport can flourish from the grassroots up to top amateur and professional and where sport can be used to promote learning and healthy lifestyles.”
”There is now great public anticipation and excitement about the opening. I know that both the public open day and the first match and opening ceremony will be a fitting tribute to the stadium.”
”In particular, we want to make the opening match a very special occasion. Fans are eager to see their team perform on this magnificent stage, but we also want to ensure that the whole event is a night to remember for everyone in the city.”
Pete Allen, the Council’s Head of Image and Promotion, added: “The opening of the stadium heralds the beginning of a new era, not only for sport in the city but for community involvement. The original principals and vision for the stadium have been adhered to and realised. Hull has a truly unique facility that people across the country and the world will admire and want to replicate.”
Tickets for the first match and inaugural event on December 18th will go on sale in early December at the Hull City ticket office.
For further information, please contact: Fax:
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