let's make wrestling more accessible.

Tag: AEW

  • Utilita Arena, Cardiff

    Utilita Arena, Cardiff

    Address:

    Mary Ann Street, Cardiff, CF10 2EQ

    Website:

    https://www.utilitaarenacardiff.co.uk

    Promotions:

    AEW

    Step-free access?

    The arena has designated disabled entry with a ramp.

    Seating available?

    Yes

    Wheelchair spaces provided?

    Yes

    Accessible toilets?

    Yes. There are two disabled toilets in the main arena space and two upstairs accessible via a lift. They also have a policy of not challenging which toilet people use on the basis of gender.

    Car parking nearby?

    Per the venue’s website, there are lots of multi-storey car parks nearby, and they’ve helpfully indicated how many disabled spaces are available in each:

    Rapports NCP – 3 disabled spaces
    St David’s – 120 disabled Spaces
    John Lewis – 21 disabled spaces
    Pellet Street NCP – 8 disabled spaces
    Adam Street NCP – 20 disabled spaces
    Westgate Street NCP – 4 disabled spaces

    Air conditioning?

    TBC

    Helpful staff?

    Event-specific staff all get basic training on helping people with accessibility needs, while permanent venue staff get more extensive training.

    Other info:

    Accessible tickets can be booked from the venue’s events page, with companion/carer tickets available (subject to availability). This video might be helpful – it also shows how to access the arena from different car parks, and where the drop-off point on Tredegar Street is.

    They have quiet areas for people who might get overstimulated – these aren’t signposted, but there are quieter areas that you can ask to use.

  • O2 Arena, London

    O2 Arena, London

    Address:

    Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0DX

    Website:

    https://www.theo2.co.uk

    Promotions:

    All Elite Wrestling (for a one-off Forbidden Door show)

    Step-free access?

    Yes

    Seating available?

    Yes

    Wheelchair spaces provided?

    Yes

    Accessible toilets?

    Yes

    Car parking nearby?

    The O2 has its own car parks, all of which include Blue Badge spaces, and you can book these in advance.

    Air conditioning?

    Allegedly yes, though it’ll still get hot when there are large crowds present.

    Helpful staff?

    We’ve not heard good things.

    Notes:

    To book an accessible ticket, you’ll need an Access card. Instructions on the process of booking accessible tickets is detailed helpfully on the website, here.

    BSL interpreters are available, but you need to organise that at least 28 days in advance.

    You can only take in bags smaller than A4 in size, and food and drink aren’t permitted to be taken in.

    What people told us:

    “Entrance organisation is AWFUL. Venue staff are criminally unhelpful. The queues upon door time were just insane. It took me over an hour to get into the arena. I’d queued for 45 minutes already when the only help I was given was from the ‘Fan Angels’ who literally grabbed me out of the queue and took me to the front and right through security in intense leg pain.

    There is no disabled queue jump for ambulant disabled people with regular seats. Disabled seating places are so limited, it’s crazy. They essentially make you give up personal details (on their website) to even get considered for ‘disabled access status’ at the Arena, which you have to apply for well in advance!

    The stairs inside are steep and shallow. There’s also a hell of a lot of them. Barely accessible on crutches or if you’re wobbly. “