British Athletes To Train At World's First Indoor BMX Centre

21 July 2009

British Cycling and Manchester City Council, in partnership with New East Manchester, are putting final touches to an ambitious plan to build a £24 million National Indoor BMX Centre in Manchester's Sportcity in a bid to secure a world class BMX training facility for the GB Cycling Team and boost Manchester's position as the home of British Cycling.

If new plans for the National Cycling Centre go through and funding is approved, the 11,000 square foot building will be the world's first purpose built indoor BMX track. It will sit alongside the Manchester Velodrome with a brand new purpose built office for British Cycling located in the link building between the two venues.

The National Indoor BMX Centre will be used by athletes preparing for London 2012 who will benefit from the integration with the rest of the GB Cycling Team and greater consistency of training thanks to the venue's weatherproof nature. Capable of seating 2,000 spectators, it will help bring major national and international events to the city. The venue will also be open to schools, clubs and the local community.

Ian Drake, CEO at British Cycling, comments:

"The National Indoor BMX Centre will be a fantastic venue for the GB Cycling Team and will aid our preparations for London 2012. As a community facility, it will also offer local youngsters a rare opportunity to train alongside British BMX stars, inspiring future generations of riders and growing the discipline at the grass roots.

"Equally exciting is the fact that we will finally have a purpose built office in the middle of the two facilities with plenty of space to accommodate our growing team. When we moved to the Velodrome in 1994 our team numbered 15, today we have over a 200 strong team which is growing fast, so a new home for British Cycling is long overdue."

Councilor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said:

"Manchester Velodrome has already proved itself to be a gold medal factory and we expect that this world-class centre for BMX next door will bring more medals to the city.

"Combined with our world-class outdoor BMX track in Platt Fields Park and the planned outdoor cycling facilities close to Sportcity in Philips Park and the Medlock Valley, it all adds up to a great package for BMX riders, from the grassroots to potential Manchester cycling stars of the future."

Eddie Smith, Chief Executive of New East Manchester said:

"Bringing this £24 million national indoor BMX centre to Sportcity will not only enhance the existing facilities and cement east Manchester's reputation as a world-class centre for cycling, but it will create 64 full time jobs and safeguard a further 100."

New, improved public spaces will also be developed around the National Cycling Centre, including outdoor freestyle cycling areas, to form one of the UK's first veloparks.

Subject to funding and planning approval, work on the scheme will start in January 2010 with completion expected by March 2011.