Eventguide

When

Sunday 15 November 2026

Where

Utilita Arena Birmingham

Doors

11:30

Record

The world record attempt starts at 11:25, just before the doors open.

Way in

Everyone uses the main public entrance. The other entrances are for VIPs and celebrity guests.

Help

About 70 volunteers around the arena. See Who to ask.

Finish

17:00

Parking

Utilita Arena South or North Car Park. The West Car Park is for pre-booked spaces.

Entry

Ticketed event. No registration needed.

Seats

Blocks 1 to 12, plus courtside Block A. See Seating & layout.

Bags

Best to bring none. If you do, A4 size at most. See Bags & what to bring.

Food & drink

On sale inside. No outside food or drink.

One ticket covers the lot: a world record attempt, three matches and the presentation.

Back to top

Travel partner: TfWM (Transport for West Midlands). Plan your journey (needs internet).

Venue

Utilita Arena Birmingham

Sat nav

B1 2AA

Parking

Utilita Arena South Car Park or North Car Park. The West Car Park is for pre-booked spaces.

Free bus travel

Ticket holders could apply for one week of free bus travel in the West Midlands, then a second week at 25% off, through Transport for West Midlands. Applications ran 19 to 30 October, one per person, and people who already have a bus pass for daily travel don't qualify. If you applied, your code comes by email a day or two after 30 October and lasts 28 days.

Coming by train in a group? London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway give up to a third off for groups of 3 to 9, and up to 26% off for 10 or more.

By train

Birmingham New Street, Moor Street, Snow Hill and Five Ways stations are all a short walk from the arena. Taxis are available at each station.

By bus or coach

Buses run past the arena often. Check routes with Network West Midlands. If you come by coach to Digbeth Coach Station, the arena is a 30-minute walk, so the arena suggests a taxi.

By taxi

Pre-book, and use the arena's designated pick-up and drop-off points.

By car

• Parking is limited. The arena advises booking your space in advance.
• All parking payments are cashless, so bring a card or use contactless.
• The arena and its car parks are inside Birmingham's Clean Air Zone. Daily charges apply to cars that do not meet the zone's rules.

Back to top

The arena's own plans for Netball Aid: one for the seats, one for the building.

Tap a plan to zoom in, then drag or pinch to look closer. Works offline.

Finding your seat

• Blocks 1 to 12 go round the court. Blocks 2, 3 and 4 run along one long side, 9, 10 and 11 along the other, and 5 to 8 curve round the far end. Blocks 1 and 12 are in the corners at the big-screen end.
• Block A is two courtside rows, A and B, along the side facing the team benches.
• The benches. The home and away team benches and the judges' table are on the Blocks 2 to 4 side.
• The big screen. A high-resolution LED screen stands at the end between Blocks 1 and 12, by the players' entrance.
• Wheelchair spaces. The seating plan lists 44 wheelchair positions and 44 places for helpers.

Entrances and what is near them

Everyone with a ticket comes in through the main public entrance. The other entrances are for VIPs and celebrity guests.

• Entrance G is on the team-bench side, next to the ground-floor medical centre.
• Entrances B and C are on the Block A side, near Legoland, Sommar Bar and Costa Coffee.
• Entrance E is at the curved end, behind Blocks 5 to 8, next to the box office and the Boardwalk food court.
• Toilets. Public toilets are marked by the north lobby (Entrance G), the south lobby (Entrances B and C, including an accessible toilet) and on the Boardwalk (Entrance E).
• Named on the plan behind Blocks 5 to 8: Brewdog, Neos, Theos and Underground, with the North Bar and South Bar at either end. Further out on the Boardwalk: Max's Bar, Jukeboxers, B'EAT and Ed's Diner.

From the arena's Netball Aid plans, revision A1. The plans say the layout can change at the organiser's discretion and the drawings are not to scale.

Where things are

• First aid. The medical centre is on the concourse level, opposite Block 2. More under Staying safe.
• Water. Water stations are by the female toilets on the arena floor, and on the concourse at the end of the catering units opposite the Block 7 door.
• Smoking and vaping. Not allowed anywhere in the building. The outside areas are at the ends of the main concourse, by Blocks 1 and 12.

Back to top

Here is what the arena offers.

• Blue Badge parking. South Car Park, Level 11, has lifts into the arena. North Car Park, Level 9, has no lift.
• Priority entry. If long queues are hard for you, tell a steward at the entrance straight away and they will arrange it.
• Accessible toilets. Stand-alone unisex accessible toilets are across the concourse. Most use a RADAR key, so ask a steward if you do not have one.
• Changing Places toilet. On the concourse opposite Block 5, with a height-adjustable bench and a ceiling hoist. Bring your own sling.
• Hearing system. It covers the whole arena bowl. Ask a steward or security on arrival for a receiver, free of charge.
• Assistance dogs. Specially trained assistance and guide dogs are welcome.
• Wheelchairs. Bring your own if you can. The arena has a small number of manual wheelchairs at the entrance doors, first come first served, for use inside the venue only.
• Hidden disabilities. The arena supports the Sunflower Lanyard scheme and its staff are briefed to help.
• Quiet space. There is no dedicated quiet or prayer room. Ask a steward and the arena will try to find you somewhere, but cannot promise it.
• Need time out? Speak to any member of staff.

This is the arena's general information, not specific to Netball Aid.

Before the day

To talk through your access needs before you come, call the NEC team on 0344 338 8222. Netball Aid works with the NEC and the arena on access.

Call 0344 338 8222

Back to top

Food and drink are on sale inside the arena, including vegetarian and vegan choices.

• Bringing your own. The arena does not allow food or drink to be brought in. If you need to bring food, drink or supplies for a medical condition, fill in the arena's Medical Exemption form before you come. The letter does not guarantee entry and your bags are still searched. For religious reasons, contact the arena before your visit.
• Water. Water stations are inside. Find them under Seating & layout.
• Allergens. The arena's kitchens handle all 14 allergens, so it cannot promise any dish is allergen-free. Allergen details are on QR codes at the food outlets, and the catering team can give you a paper copy.
• Alcohol. On sale inside. The arena asks for photo ID under Challenge 25.

Back to top

What to bring

• Your ticket
• Photo ID if you want to buy alcohol
• Any medical supplies you need, with the Medical Exemption form done beforehand
• A card or contactless payment for parking, which is cashless
• A small bag at most. Even better, no bag

The bag policy

The arena asks guests not to bring a bag at all if they can. If you need one:

• No bigger than A4: 21 cm x 30 cm x 19 cm
• Two compartments at most
• No rucksacks and no oversized bags
• Every bag is searched on the way in

Bags that do not meet the policy are not allowed in. If you need a larger bag for medical equipment, use an accessible entrance and speak to the staff there.

Leave these at home

• Food and drink, including alcohol. It is not given back after the event.
• Glass or metal bottles, cans and flasks
• Cool boxes and picnic hampers
• Professional cameras with detachable lenses, video or audio recording equipment, tripods and selfie sticks
• iPads and tablets
• Large banners and flags, golf umbrellas and helium balloons
• Laser pens, smoke grenades, flares and fireworks
• Fake or toy weapons, and anything that could be used as a weapon
• Studded or spiked items (belts, dog collars, wrist cuffs), trouser chains, sharp or large rings

Other items taken at the door are returned after the event. The arena says this can slow your entry and exit, so when in doubt, leave it at home.

Security checks

• Everyone and their bags are screened at the door with the arena's Evolv walk-through system. You do not need to empty your pockets.
• The arena asks you to arrive early to allow time for the checks.
• Once your ticket is scanned, there is no re-entry. Bring what you need in with you.

The arena says its list of prohibited items can vary from show to show.

Netball Aid's own rules

• Be respectful. Abusive, offensive or aggressive behaviour towards players, staff or other fans means removal from the event.
• Drink responsibly, in line with the arena's rules. Illegal substances are banned.
• Wear appropriate clothing.

From Netball Aid's ticket terms and conditions.

Back to top

Our Safeguarding Manager on the day is Yvonne Rhoden. If you are worried about a child or an adult, call her (her number is under Who to ask) or tell any member of staff or security.

• First aid. The arena's medical centre is on the concourse level, opposite the entrance door to Block 2. In an emergency, tell any steward, security officer or member of staff.
• If something does not feel right, tell a member of staff or security straight away.
• Children. Anyone under 14 must be with a responsible adult aged 18 or over who has a valid ticket.

Back to top

The arena handles lost property. Report a lost item through its feedback form and choose the lost property category. Anything found is held for up to two weeks.

Arena feedback form

For anything else after the day, email Netball Aid at info@netballaid.co.uk.

Back to top

• Your own photos. The arena's rules allow cameras, video and sound recording for personal use only. Anything commercial needs the arena's written consent.
• Kit that stays at home. Tripods, selfie sticks, professional cameras and recording equipment are on the arena's banned list. See Bags & what to bring.
• Filming at the event. The arena says that it and event organisers may film, stream and photograph the event and the audience.

Netball Aid's photos and film

• Netball Aid's ticket terms say that by taking part you agree to be photographed or filmed for promotional purposes. Netball Aid and its partners may use the images in marketing, on social media and in the press.
• Changed your mind? Netball Aid's privacy policy lets you withdraw consent for photos. Email director@netballaid.co.uk.

This guide uses logos and graphics only. Photos of people will only be added with their consent.

Back to top

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

TfWM logo © West Midlands Combined Authority.

Back to top

Help on the day

About 70 Netball Aid volunteers will be around the arena to help. Look for volunteers wearing this:

The Netball Aid team

Tap a number to call.

Back to top