The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) is an exhibition centre in Solihull, England and is one of Birmingham's greatest attractions. It is near junction 6 of the M42 motorway, and is adjacent to Birmingham International Airport and Birmingham International railway station. It has 20 interconnected halls, set in grounds of 628 acres (2.54 km2) making it the largest exhibition centre in the UK and is also the busiest and seventh-largest exhibition centre in Europe. Even though it is called the N.E.C Birmingham officially the complex is in neighbouring Solihull.
Opened by Elizabeth II in February 1976, the first event to be staged at the venue was International Spring Fair, which has returned every year since. Growing annually, the event now occupies all of the NEC's 20 halls, the LG Arena (formerly The NEC Arena) and is the largest single exhibition staged at the venue.
Since the 1980's, The NEC has hosted performances by many international musicians and music groups, several of which have played at The NEC Arena on more than one occasion. The following are some of the most famous appearances in the Centre and they show the diversity of what a stay close to the arena could offer you:
Sir Cliff Richard has performed numerous concerts at the venue and is the artist to have played the most shows at the arena.
Canadian rock band Rush filmed their VHS and DVD release entitled A Show of Hands at The NEC Arena in 1988. Some of this recording featured in the the audio album of the same name.
Queen have performed at the Centre several times over the years while on tour, from their Crazy Tour in 1979, to The Game Tour in 1980 & to The Works Tour in 1984.
David Bowie performed, on two consecutive nights, at the centre during his Serious Moonlight Tour on June 5-6, 1983, began the first European leg of his Sound & Vision Tour, on two consecutive nights, on March 19-20, 1990, performed on two consecutive nights, during his Outside Tour on November 20-21, 1995 & performed on two consecutive nights during his A Reality Tour on November 19-20, 2003.
Christina Aguilera performed at the Centre during her Stripped World Tour on October 25 & November 7, 2003.
Beyoncé performed at the Centre during her Dangerously in Love Tour on November 13, 2003 & during The Beyoncé Experience Tour on June 1, 2007.
As you can see there have been some of the worlds best acts in the NEC and more and more arrive every year to grace us with their presence. Check out the NEC Website to see who might be playing during your stay, or indeed book a room closeby with Hotels NEC Birmingham to co-incide with your favourite act! Indeed you are not limited to music performances for entertainment during your stay as there are a lot more things to do in the area.