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Information About

National Exhibition Centre




The NEC Arena, host to large music concerts, is part of the complex.

Together, The NEC and The NEC Arena host over 5 million visitors each year.


HISTORY

In November 1971 , the Secretary Of State for the Environment granted outline planning approval for the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

The NEC, originally comprising 89,000 m² of exhibition space, was opened by The Queen in February 1976 .

In 1989, the Queen opened three further halls, increasing the space to 125,000 m²

Four more halls were added in 1993 , the total exhibition space increasing to 158,000 m²

Another four new halls, opened in September 1998 by The Right Honourable Neil Kinnock , European Commissioner for Transport, took the total space to 190,000 m²


NEC GROUP

The parent NEC Group also runs the National Indoor Arena ('''NIA''') and ''' International Convention Centre ''' ('''ICC'''), both in central Birmingham. The latter houses ''' Symphony Hall ''', a concert venue opened in April 1991 .


EXTERNAL LINK