57-655: The UK Rock Challenge was the British arm of the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge . The Rock Challenge was an anti-drug and crime-prevention event that took the form of a friendly performing arts competition for schools and colleges. Originating in Australia in the 1980s, it reached the United Kingdom after inspector Mark Pontin of Hampshire saw it in 1995 and was so impressed that he persuaded Hampshire's constabulary to form
114-443: A factor in the party's defeat. While the event was seen as a success to those within the hall, many commentators, and Labour politicians, viewed it as triumphalist in nature. However, it has also been asserted that the event had negligible impact on the outcome, with a fall in the party's support having already occurred. TV shows such as The X Factor , Britain's Got Talent , Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing on Ice visit
171-650: A joint venture with Tony Barron, chairman of the Hampshire Education Committee and Peter Coles, UK Rock Challenge's chief executive. Together, they introduced it in Hampshire and found joint funding to support it. The first UK event took place in Portsmouth Guildhall in Portsmouth in 1996 and involved 11 schools and around 750 young people. Rock Challenge then expanded into many additional areas across
228-482: A mark for 'Overall Impact' out of 5. At the end of the evening, a prize ceremony is held where a number of awards are presented along with the announcement of the top-scoring schools. The core message of the Be Your Best Rock Challenge is to show young people how they can achieve a 'natural high' on life rather than with the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco - the concept is that through participation in
285-534: A million young people aged between 11 and 19 years have performed on stage. In 2005, 100,000 young people from 800 schools took part in one of the hundreds of shows staged worldwide.{{ }} In 2006 over 400 schools and 40,000 students competed in 50 Rock Eisteddfod Challenge shows in 17 regions across Australia. The concept began in Sydney in 1980 known as the Rock 'n' Roll Eisteddfod , a NSW Arts Council sponsored-event held at
342-677: A panel of judges new and independent from those at the live events, announcing each division's top schools for each criterion. Scottish Grand Final As of 2012, schools participating in Scottish events will compete at heats for a place in the Scottish Grand Final held in Dundee. Should a school win the Scottish Grand Final two years in succession they will be given the option of competing in the Northern Region Premier Division for
399-592: A seated music concert is currently held by Little Mix when 12,485 customers attended their Get Weird Tour Saturday 23 April 2016. The record for most shows in Sheffield Arena is held by Irish boyband Westlife with 32 shows played to date. British-Irish boy-band, One Direction played their last concert, before going on an indefinite hiatus, on 31 October 2015 at the Arena. The arena held from somewhere between 35,000-37,000 people raising over 3 million dollars. The arena
456-492: A small number of other countries. In 2004 an event for primary school students was started, called J Rock , to raise awareness about obesity and other eating disorders by promoting dance as a fun way to exercise. On 9 February 2010 it was announced that due to lack of funding, the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge would not take place in 2010. The event was subsequently revised, however ceased permanently following
513-587: A test match against Portugal in that arena in preparation for the 2012 Olympics. As well as being home to the Sheffield Steelers the venue has also hosted other ice hockey events such as the 2019 Super Series between USA and Canada featuring many ex- NHL stars and has acted as a neutral site for the EIHL Challenge Cup final The arena has hosted many professional wrestling events held by companies including WWE , NXT and 5 Star Wrestling over
570-516: Is a regular venue for some of the world's best known Comedians such as Russell Brand , Lee Evans , Jack Whitehall , Eddie Izzard and Peter Kay who in 2011 played the arena for 5 nights running with all shows selling out within hours of going on sale. In June 2018 Michael McInytyre broke the venue's record attendance for a seated comedy show when his Big World Tour played the FlyDSA Arena on Saturday 23 June 2018 in front of 12,347 fans The arena
627-567: Is an open, small and premier division. Introduced in 2006, the RAW Division is the division of the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge which has a 'no set' rule, focusing purely on dance. Participants are encouraged to explore using the human body in order to tell their story, and as a result RAW division has greater emphasis on choreography, dance and drama. Schools may compete in Open/Small/Premier AND Raw divisions. The Small Teams division
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#1732854742254684-422: Is set to a pre-recorded soundtrack of contemporary music, and the aim is to use dancing and drama to tell the story. There are also sets and costumes to be thought of and the performances often combine elements from the whole arts curriculum. Schools choose their own theme and story and work collaboratively with teachers and parents to bring their ideas to life. While performances are professionally staged events,
741-596: Is the home to the city's Elite Ice Hockey League team, the Sheffield Steelers , who began to play at the arena in 1991. Whilst the standard capacity for ice hockey at the arena is around 9,300, the Steelers have recorded crowds of over 10,000 in the building with extra seating being installed at the venue. In 2019 the Steelers were the highest ranked team in the UK in terms of attendance and 35th in Europe drawing an average crowd of 6,045 to
798-451: The 1992 United Kingdom general election which was widely criticised for being prematurely triumphalist. The arena was renamed Hallam FM Arena in 2002, but returned to its original name from 1 November 2007. On 9 August 2010, Sheffield Arena was officially renamed Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, after the Derby based car sales company invested £1 million to rename the venue. In August 2015
855-792: The Australian Rock Eisteddfod Challenge , was an Australian dance and drama challenge for government-funded high schools that was active between 1980 and 2012. Initiated by the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge Foundation as part of the Global Rock Challenge, the aim of the event was to promote healthy lifestyle choices, particularly abstinence from drugs , alcohol and cigarettes . The event started in Sydney , New South Wales in 1980 and subsequently spread to other States and territories of Australia and
912-736: The Chief Constable , Sir John Hoddinott , to introduce it to their area of the United Kingdom . In 1996 the inaugural event of the Rock Challenge was staged in Portsmouth with eleven schools and 800 students. This has now turned into a national series of competitions, usually starting in Aberdeen in February and running through many parts of the UK (including London, at the Hackney Empire) until
969-765: The Hordern Pavilion . The idea was developed by Sydney radio station 2SM and, with support from Coca-Cola , the NSW Arts Council promoted the event as an example of local youth culture in action. In 1988 the New South Wales Department of Health was the first to see the Rock Eisteddfod as an opportunity to deliver the Quit for life anti-smoking message to secondary school students in New South Wales. At
1026-482: The Sheffield Steelers ice hockey club. Attendance for all events at the venue has totalled around 14 million since its opening. It has a maximum capacity of 13,600. Constructed at a cost of £ 34 million, it was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 30 May 1991 as Sheffield Arena. The first concert took place that evening, Paul Simon playing as part of his "Born at the Right Time" tour. The arena then took on
1083-456: The WBA belt by 9th-round knockout against Carlos Maussa . Sheffield fighter Clinton Woods also defended his IBF light-heavyweight title against Mexican Julio César González on two occasions, winning on points both times. Kell Brook has had many fights here, his most notable being a fourth-round knockout victory of Vyacheslav Senchenko . The Great Britain men's national basketball team played
1140-468: The 18th most popular arena in the world and this was in the year that the building was closed for over 2 months to enable the multi-million pound refurbishment of the venue. More recently, in 2019, Pollstar ranked the arena at 65th worldwide and 7th in the UK as part of their 'Top 200 Arena Venues' with 311,125 tickets sold, up 5 places from 70th in 2018. During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom ,
1197-769: The 2012 event. On 30 June 2013 the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge Foundation voluntarily revoked its accreditation as a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission . In 2013, the Government of Victoria supported the establishment of the Wakakirri School Challenge as a replacement of the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge for Victorian primary and high schools. Rock Eisteddfod shows are stories on stage of no longer than eight minutes. Participants can have between 10 and 120 students on stage, as well as up to 20 back stage crew. The entire show
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#17328547422541254-713: The British Be Your Best Rock Challenge). Rock Challenge also had a short and small stay in the US, but there has been no known activity since the confirmation of two events for 2004. Just like in the UK, since its inception in Australia the events have grown in popularity, so much that the National Finals are shown on the Nine Network over a period of weeks on a Saturday Morning (after being previously recorded live). This television coverage has been happening since
1311-470: The Global Rock Challenge is about having fun along the way. Students, teachers, parents and communities work together over many months helping to prepare the school's performance. Many state government health and education departments put their support behind the event. The Australian Department of Health and Ageing sponsored the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge television specials with various tobacco, alcohol and drug prevention messages for 18 years. Almost
1368-601: The North and one from the South) giving twelve schools: Sandown High School from Sandown, Isle of Wight won this event with their performance 'Cursed' after winning their Open Grand Final. In 2012 the second UK Rock Challenge National Grand Final was held at the Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes: Kings Langley School, Hertfordshire won this event with their performance entitled 'Swift as a shadow short as any dream.'. Since 1996,
1425-539: The Rock Eisteddfod Challenge improved flexibility, empathy and caring, good communication skills, sense of belonging and sense of purpose. 90% of students from REC schools and 87.5% from control schools knew that the message was an anti-substance abuse message, the study found very positive attitudes toward the REC, particularly amongst those who took an active role in the event. In all Rock Eisteddfod Challenge events there are Open and RAW divisions. In Melbourne and Sydney there
1482-553: The Sheffield NHS Vaccination Centre opened at the arena on 25 January 2021, taking up the space previously occupied by the drive-through phlebotomy clinic before its relocation. The vaccination centre remained open until 26 July, when it was relocated to the former NHS Blood and Transplant building next to the Northern General Hospital to allow the arena to reopen for its usual events. In April 2020,
1539-544: The Tour has been to many venues around the country and as Rock Challenge has become larger, so have the venues. Even just in the first year it grew from one night and one event to 8 venues and 11 nights. With the planned National Grand Final, it would bring the biggest ever venue ever used by the Rock Challenge team in the UK, The Sheffield Arena with a capacity up to 12,500 seated (downgraded to 4000 seats for Final). As of 2012
1596-541: The UK in 2005 for participants aged 7–11. Many J Rock events are not full competitions based on the desires of the local schools and sponsors. Rock Challenge Rock Challenge is for participants aged 11–18. As of 2004, Rock Challenge has been split into 2 competition divisions; the Open and the Premier divisions: In the 'Open' Division: In the 'Premier' Division: From 2007, National Awards have also been awarded, judged nationally by
1653-418: The UK. In 2016, there were 49 days of events. The event stopped abruptly in 2019. The premise of the Rock Challenge is that each school puts together an 8-minute dance and drama production on a theme of their choice set to a soundtrack of commercially available music. Over the course of months/weeks schools create their production and finally bring it to an event day held at a professional venue where they spend
1710-605: The US media company Live Nation UK . The arena is easily accessible by road with the nearest motorway junctions being Junction 34 of the M1 if approaching from the North and Junction 33 of the M1 if approaching from the South. The arena has parking for around 1,200 cars which is often available to pre-book in advance at a discounted rate The arena is accessible via the Sheffield Supertram with
1767-735: The actual team also had lower propensities to smoke, drink excessive alcohol or take other drugs. The Rock Eisteddfod Challenge as an Intervention to Increase Resiliency and Improve Health Behaviours in Adolescents (1999–2001) study examined a sample of 44 Sydney high school students and explained the effectiveness of the events as a youth program. The overall findings included a lower incidence of drug, marijuana and alcohol use among participating REC students compared to students in non-participating REC schools. Students similarly had an improved sense of identity, belonging, purpose, problem solving skills, and social competence. As an intervention program,
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1824-453: The arena every year as part of their tours. It hosted the BBC revival of Gladiators in 2023 and will host it again on select dates during August 2024; the arena previously hosted the live show during Easter 1995. The arena has hosted major special high-profile events, including The International Indian Film Academy Awards , which took place on Saturday, 9 June 2007 and was broadcast live around
1881-509: The arena was once again rebranded as Sheffield Arena, however in September 2017 nearby Doncaster Sheffield Airport began sponsoring the arena giving it a rebrand, FlyDSA Arena. In 2021, Utilita Energy took over sponsorship of the arena. The arena underwent a major renovation installing a new roof, doors, seats, lighting, catering and toilet facilities in July 2013. In 2013 the arena was ranked as
1938-506: The arena. The first ever competitive Sheffield Steelers game at Sheffield Arena took place on Sunday 6 October 1991, when the Steelers were held to a 3–3 draw against Chelmsford Chieftains in front of 300 spectators. However, the first Ice Hockey game played at the Sheffield Arena took place on Thursday 26 September 1991 when Durham Wasps beat a Sheffield Steelers select 7–1 to win the World Leisure Cup. Durham's Rick Brebant scored
1995-462: The car park of the arena was used as a drive-through phlebotomy service operated by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , the first of its kind in the country. This allowed patients to attend for routine blood tests from within the isolation of their cars, reducing the requirement for patients to attend GPs or hospital clinics. The drive-through phlebotomy service opened on 8 April 2020 for patients with underlying health conditions, and
2052-586: The competition). Participation in the Rock Challenge has shown to have many positive effects on participants, schools, and communities, including: Rock Challenge has been running in the UK since 1996 (see above) and has been running as the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge in Australia since 1980 (see History in Rock Eisteddfod Challenge page) and has reached out across the world to New Zealand (Stage Challenge), Japan (Rock Challenge Japan), Germany , South Africa (ARA Be Your Best Rock Challenge) and UAE (set up by
2109-410: The day rehearsing and preparing for an evening show where parents, peers, community members, and invited guests attend. During the evening, a panel of judges give verbal feedback on each performance and also score each piece based on strict criteria. Performances are judged on: Performance Judge Marks: Production Judge Marks: Drama and Design Judge Marks: Each judge also gives the performance
2166-512: The early 1990s, but since the UK launch in 1996 it still does not have any major media coverage there. The most famous participant of Rock Challenge in the UK was the actress Emma Watson from the Harry Potter franchise. She participated twice, once in 2006 and once as the Rock Challenge leader in 2007 with her school in Oxford. Rock Challenge is split into 2 age brackets: J Rock J Rock started in
2223-486: The event at a professional venue with a professional production and technical crew, the students are helped in the belief that they can achieve a high on life rather than relying on substances. This is emphasised during the event where everyone is warned that if anyone is caught smoking, taking drugs or drinking alcohol the individual/s concerned will be asked to leave and their team will be deducted two overall ranking places (making it impossible for them to win or go further in
2280-626: The event was introduced in 1993, where it was branded as the Smokefree Stage Challenge, starting with 20 schools and 2000 participants, and had grown to include 171 schools and 16,381 participants. In 1995 Inspector Mark Pontin of the Hampshire Constabulary visited Australia on a Churchill Scholarship . Pontin saw the Australian Rock Eisteddfod Challenge first hand and was so impressed that he persuaded
2337-632: The events will have taken place in the following towns/cities across the UK: • Aberdeen • Arbroath • Basingstoke • Belfast • Bournemouth • Bradford • Brighton • Carlisle • Crawley • Croydon • Derby • Dundee • Eastbourne • Grantham • Grimsby • Hackney • Hemel Hempstead • Hull • Inverness • Leeds • Lincoln • London (central) • Manchester • Margate • Milton Keynes • North Finchley • Portsmouth • Reading • Rotherham • Sheffield • Skegness • Southampton • St Albans • Stevenage • York Since its inception in 1996, many UK Rock Challenge events have taken place up and down
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2394-421: The first goal at 2:18 in front of an estimated crowd of 2,000. In February 2020 it was announced that the arena had secured planning permission to install a new 22-ton machine to make production of the ice surface more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Disney On Ice holds the record for the most performances & customers of any touring show to perform at the Arena. Feld Entertainment has promoted
2451-502: The following year. Should a school win the Scottish Grand Final three years in succession they will be automatically moved into the Northern Region Premier Grand Final for the following year. National Grand Final In 2009 the UK's first National Grand Final was held at the Sheffield Arena. This consisted of the top 5 schools from each Premier Final along with the top scoring first place from the Open finals (one from
2508-501: The interior space of the arena was used as a storage location for 1,800 additional hospital beds which were being delivered to hospitals in Sheffield to support pandemic operations. Photographs of the hospital beds inside the arena later leaked onto social media, and the local NHS trust issued a statement denying rumours that the arena was going to be repurposed as a Nightingale temporary hospital . In August 2020, an ophthalmology clinic
2565-1487: The nation; below is a full chronological list of results (announced places) from the first event to the present day: 1996 Be Your Best Rock Challenge Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Awards: Most Outstanding Soundtrack 1997 Be Your Best Croydon Rock Challenge Ashcroft Theatre , Croydon , Surrey Wednesday, 26 February Awards: BT Award for Most Entertaining Performance Metropolitan Police Award for Best Stage Crew Award for Best Soundtrack Award for Best Choreography Award for Best Lighting Design Encouragement Award 1997 Get Real Be Your Best Portsmouth Rock Challenge Day One Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Tuesday, 4 March Awards: Gosport Borough Council Award for Best Lighting Design Portsmouth City Council Award for Best Choreography Hampshire Police Authority Student Leadership Award Hampshire County Council Award for Best Drama Skills Hampton Trust Performers' Performers Award Producer's Award for Excellence 1997 Get Real Be Your Best Portsmouth Rock Challenge Day Two Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Thursday, 5 March Awards: Hampton Trust Performers' Performers Award Gosport Borough Council Award for Best Lighting Design Producer's Award for Excellence Sony Award for Best Soundtrack Hampshire Police Authority Student Leadership Award Rock Eisteddfod Challenge The Rock Eisteddfod Challenge , also known as
2622-593: The northern and southern Grand Finals around the end of May / beginning of June. Rock Eisteddfod events were staged in several locations worldwide. New Zealand, Germany , the U.S. (until 2003), United Kingdom, Japan , the United Arab Emirates and South Africa have all taken up the Global Rock Challenge. A sister event, The Croc Festival , staged a series of festivals in remote and regional areas of Australia, aimed at both indigenous and non-indigenous communities are held each year. In addition to performing,
2679-550: The primary stop, Arena / Olympic Legacy Park , being served by both the Yellow Route and Tram Train. The Valley Centertainment entertainment complex nearby provides a secondary stop for the arena, Valley Centertainment, which is also served by the Yellow Route and Tram Train. This stop has Park & Ride facilities There are 3 train stations that are connected to the arena by Supertram – Sheffield , Meadowhall Interchange and Rotherham Central – as well as nearby Darnall which
2736-420: The role of Gymnastics Hall for the 1991 World Student Games which were held in the city and which prompted the investment in, and development of, both the arena and nearby Don Valley Stadium . Since the venue opened in 1991 the arena has averaged 122 shows a year with over 650,000 customers passing through the doors each year. The Arena was the location of the infamous Labour Party Sheffield Rally during
2793-540: The same time, Kerrie Hayes and Peter Sjoquist AM took over and revitalised the event which became known nationally as the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge. In 1998 the Rock Eisteddfod was televised nationally for the first time on the Nine Network as part of the National Drug Offensive . Novelist Tim Levy was an organiser of the Junior youth competition and hosted it in five cities across Australia. In New Zealand ,
2850-465: The show every year since the building opened over November/December, as of 2013 there has been 260 performances seen by 1.3 million customers. The arena was the location for the Labour Party 's 1992 Sheffield Rally . Attended by over 10,000 party members and the entire shadow cabinet. Held just before that year's general election, which Labour was widely expected to win, the event is often seen as
2907-504: The three-day festivals provide the opportunity for rural and remote students to participate in many health, education, employment, sport, visual and performing activities during the day. Global Rock Challenge events in each country attempt to deliver specific health and lifestyle themes such as anti-tobacco, drugs and alcohol messages. A three-year research study by the University of Sydney Department of Public Health and Community Medicine
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#17328547422542964-677: The world. This included a season hosted by the city of Sheffield and nearby Leeds . Also, in 2009, the arena hosted the annual BBC Radio 1Xtra concert and the 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year . The arena has hosted major boxing events such as when Joe Calzaghe first won his WBO world title here on 11 October 1997 against former world champion Chris Eubank . On the same bill Sheffield born Naseem Hamed defended his WBO title against Jose Badillo. On 26 November 2005 Ricky Hatton extended his unbeaten record to 40–0, defending his IBF and Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight world titles and winning
3021-586: The years dating as far back as the WWE UK Rampage events in 1992 and 1993 Since 2007, it has played host to the Premier League Darts . Every year students from both Sheffield Hallam and The University of Sheffield assemble to watch the final game of their varsity play out as both universities ice hockey teams play and the stadium fills to capacity. The arena is owned by Sheffield City Trust , an independent charity , and managed under contract by
3078-457: Was cut out of the competition in 2008 in favor of RAW. Sheffield Arena Sheffield Arena , known for sponsorship purposes as Utilita Arena Sheffield , is a multi-purpose arena located in Sheffield , England. It is situated near Meadowhall and lies between Sheffield city centre and Rotherham town centre. Opened in 1991, it is used for concerts and sporting events, and is also home to
3135-544: Was expanded to become available to all patients in the Sheffield area on 27 April. The drive-through was deemed such a success that it was turned into a permanent service, relocating first to a warehouse next to the Sheffield Parkway before settling into a permanent site next to the Northern General Hospital after the end of the pandemic. To support the rollout of the local COVID-19 vaccination campaign ,
3192-535: Was opened inside the arena featuring eye imaging suites, remaining in operation until the arena reopened for normal usage after the pandemic. Sheffield's own Arctic Monkey's broke the Arena ticket sales records when they instantly sold out over 13,600 tickets for their date are the arena in November 2013. The previous record of 13,300 was held by fellow Sheffield band Pulp in December 2012. The venue's record attendance for
3249-467: Was the first cross-sectional analysis of participating and non-participating students. Professor Don Nutbeam found that participants in the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge in Sydney secondary schools had higher self-esteem than the control group of schools who did not participate in the event; that participants smoked less tobacco and marijuana and drank less alcohol than the control group. Dr Rose Grunstein also found that students in participating schools but not in
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