Sefton Council has selected the DSM Group to carry out the demolition of the existing Southport theatre and convention centre, a first big step in the project to build the new Marine Lake Events Centre in the north-west resort town.
Venue management company, ASM Global will manage the £73m venue on the resort’s promenade.
When completed, the Marine Lake Events Centre will join ASM Global’s network of more than 350 venues around the world, which collectively host 20,000 events across sports, music, entertainment, and business every year.
Other venues in ASM’s portfolio already include the AO Arena in Manchester, The Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai and Soldier Field in Chicago.
Andrew Fletcher, managing director of the DSM Group, said: “We have been able to work closely with Sefton Council and they were impressed with our plans and suggestions to mitigate any disruption to the community, which is a clear priority for the council.”
DSM will contact residents prior to the main demolition works (expected to commence this summer) to ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum, with ongoing communications and engagement throughout the works.
Phil Porter, chief executive of Sefton Council, said: “The Marine Lake Events Centre is going to be managed by one of the most experienced companies in the world, bringing more than half a million new visitors to Southport each year and generating an annual £18m boost for the local economy.”
He added: “Residents and passers-by won’t see an awful lot yet as preparatory work is taking place inside the building and we expect external demolition works to start in early summer.”
*The image displayed is a depiction of what the Marine Lake Events Centre might look like once completed, not an official image.*
