Sports Facilities & Venue
Set within our 200-acre Colchester Campus, our sports facilities offer a genuinely different setting for your next event. From our multi-award-winning Essex Sport Arena to floodlit outdoor pitches and courts, we have the space and expertise to support competitions, conferences, exhibitions and large-scale celebrations alike.
Essex Sport Arena
Built to international sporting standards, our £12 million Essex Sport Arena is one of the largest venue spaces in Essex. The Arena offers 2,076m² of flexible floor space, which can be divided into up to five smaller areas, and seating for up to 1,655 spectators.
Sporting Events
With 20 courts across basketball, netball, volleyball, badminton and futsal, a giant video screen, HD live-streaming capability and a customisable scoreboard, the Arena is built for competitions, training camps and televised sporting events.
Exhibitions and Conferences
The Arena’s flexible floor space makes it equally suited to exhibitions, trade shows, product launches and conferences. A separate bar and lounge area, function room, and full kitchen with on-site catering are all available.
Large-Scale Celebrations
Set within parkland grounds, the Arena can also host large-scale weddings and events for up to 1,000 guests, with a separate reception space for arrival drinks.
Sports Centre
Our Sports Centre is home to a spacious, fully air-conditioned gym, a large sports hall suitable for basketball, badminton, volleyball and netball, and two glass-backed squash courts with spectator viewing.
Outdoor Facilities
Our 40 acres of outdoor sports space include grass pitches for football, rugby and lacrosse, an all-weather synthetic turf pitch, four floodlit tennis and netball courts, and an 18-hole disc golf course, all set within 200 acres of parkland.
Getting in Touch
Whether you’re planning a national sporting competition, a conference, an exhibition or a celebration, our team can help you find the right space.
The Arena offers 2,076m² of flexible floor space, which can be divided into up to five smaller areas, with seating for up to 1,655 spectators.
20 courts across basketball, netball, volleyball, badminton and futsal, plus a giant video screen, HD live-streaming and a customisable scoreboard.
Yes, the flexible floor space suits exhibitions, trade shows, product launches and conferences, and it can also host large-scale weddings for up to 1,000 guests.
Yes, there’s a separate bar and lounge area, a function room and a full kitchen with on-site catering.
40 acres including grass pitches for football, rugby and lacrosse, an all-weather synthetic turf pitch, four floodlit tennis and netball courts and an 18-hole disc golf course.
Yes, external visitors can access the gym on a pay-on-day basis. A gym pass may also be included with some residential bookings, though this isn’t included as standard.
Yes, the Essex Sport Arena is home to the Essex Rebels professional basketball and volleyball teams.
Yes, a drinks reception can be hosted in the first-floor function room or the bar and lounge area.
Yes, car parking is available.
Yes, local clubs and community groups can hire our facilities.
Group discounts are assessed on a case-by-case basis, please get in touch to discuss.
