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{{Short description|Outdoor amphitheatre in Milton Keynes}}
[[Image:MK Bowl Stage.jpg|thumb|[[Thunder (band)|Thunder]] perform at the 2006 [[Monsters of Rock]] festival]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2013}}
The '''National Bowl''' is an entertainment venue in [[Milton Keynes]], [[Buckinghamshire]], [[England]]. The site was a former clay-pit (for [[brick]]-making), filled in and raised to form an [[amphitheatre]] using sub-soil excavated by the many new developments in the area and it has a current maximum capacity of 65,000.<ref>http://www.thenationalbowl.net/</ref> The arena is open-air grassland, without seats.
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{for|the American gridiron football game|National Bowl Game}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = National Bowl
| image = Muse at Milton Keynes Bowl 2023 4.jpg
| caption = [[Muse (band)|Muse]] performing at the Bowl in 2023
| logo_image =
| logo_caption =
| former_names = Milton Keynes Bowl (1979–1992)
| location = [[Milton Keynes]], Buckinghamshire, England
| type = Stadium [[Amphitheatre]]
| opened = 1979
| renovated = 2012
| owner = [[Homes England]]
| operator = Gaming International/[[Live Nation UK]]
| seating_type =
| seating_capacity = 65,000
| website = {{URL|www.thenationalbowl.net}}
}}
The '''National Bowl''' (originally the '''Milton Keynes Bowl''') is an entertainment venue located in [[Milton Keynes]], [[Buckinghamshire]], England. The site was a former [[clay pit]] (for brick-making), filled in and raised to form an [[amphitheatre]] using sub-soil excavated by the many new developments in the area. It has a maximum capacity of 65,000.<ref>[http://www.thenationalbowl.net/ National Bowl official website]</ref> The arena is open-air grassland, without seats.


==History==
The venue opened in 1979 with gigs by [[Desmond Dekker]] and [[Geno Washington]]. In 1992, [[Sony]]/Pace bought the venue and re-branded it as ''The National Bowl'', building a permanent massive sound stage. They pulled out in 1996 citing profitability reasons. [[English Partnerships]] bought the site in 2000. It is currently leased to a Gaming International/[[Live Nation UK]] consortium.
The venue opened in 1979, with gigs by [[Desmond Dekker]] and [[Geno Washington]].


In 1992, [[Sony]]/Pace bought the venue and re-branded it as the ''National Bowl'', building a massive permanent sound stage. They pulled out in 1996 citing profitability reasons.
==Hall of fame==
<!-- note to editors: band names surrounded by <nowiki> {name} </nowiki> have been commented out as not notable because they don't already have a wiki article -->


[[English Partnerships]], which merged with the [[Homes and Communities Agency]] in 2008, bought the site in 2000.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} From 2006 to 2010, it was leased to a Gaming International/[[Live Nation UK]] consortium.
Bands which have played at the National Bowl include :
*[[AC/DC]] (2001), <!-- [[Alex Cartana]]--> [[Zentveld & Oomen|Angel City]] & [[Alice Cooper]] (2006)(special guest with [[Foo Fighters]]) (2011)
<!-- [[Bellefire]] -->
*[[Black Sabbath]] (2001), [[Blazin' Squad]] (1998), [[Blue (boy band)|Blue]], [[Blur (band)|Blur]] (1995), [[Bon Jovi]] (1989, 1993, 1996, 2001 & 2006), [[The Bravery]] (supporting [[Linkin Park]] & [[Jay-Z]]) (2008), [[Bruce Springsteen]] (1993), [[Bryan Adams]] (1991) & [[Busted (band)|Busted]] (2003)
*[[Charlotte Church]] (2005), [[Coal Chamber]] (1998) & [[The Cult]] (1986), [[Chase & Status]] (2010), (supporting [[The Prodigy]] & [[Pendulum]])
*[[David Bowie]] (1983 & 1990), [[Deep Purple]] (2006), [[Desmond Dekker]] (1979), [[Diamond Head (band)|Diamond Head]] (1993) & [[Disturbed (band)|Disturbed]] (2001)
*[[Eminem]] (2003), [[Enter Shikari]] (supporting [[Linkin Park]] & [[Jay-Z]]) (2008), (supporting [[The Prodigy]] & [[Pendulum]]) (2010), [[Erasure]] (1990), [[Europe (band)|Europe]] (1989)
*[[Fear Factory]] & [[Foo Fighters]] (1998)
*[[Foo Fighters]] (2011) ([[Biffy Clyro]], [[Jimmy Eat World]] & [[Death Cab for Cutie]] supporting [[Foo Fighters]])
*[[Gary Glitter]] (1984), [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] ([[Six of the Best|reunion]] with [[Peter Gabriel]] & [[Steve Hackett]]) (1982), [[Geno Washington]] (1979), [[Green Day]]<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/mostpunk/galleries/milton_keynes/ BBC photos of Green Day]</ref> (2005), [[Guns N' Roses]] (reunion with [[Izzy Stradlin']]) (1993)
*[[Hard-Fi]] (supporting Green Day) (2005)
*[[Innerpartysystem]] (supporting [[Linkin Park]] & [[Jay-Z]]) (2008) & [[Ian Van Dahl]]
*[[Jamiroquai]] (1994), [[Javine Hylton|Javine]], [[Jimmy Eat World]] (supporting [[Green Day]] (2005) (supporting [[Foo Fighters]]) (2011), [[Journey (band)|Journey]] (2006), [[Jay-Z]] (2008) <!-- [[Judy Tzuke]] (1981) -->
<!-- [[Mania (band)|Mania]] -->
*[[Linkin Park]] (2008)
*[[Marillion]] (1984 & 86), [[Marilyn Manson (band)|Marilyn Manson]] (1999), [[Mark Owen]], [[McFly (band)|McFly]] (2004, 2005), [[Megadeth]] (1993, 2001), [[Metallica]] (1993, 1999), [[Michael Jackson]] (1988), [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]] (1999), [[Monsters of Rock]] (2006)
*[[Natasha Bedingfield]] (2004), [[Nazareth (band)|Nazareth]] (1984), [[Nickelback]] (2006), [[Nigel Kennedy]] (1999), [[N.E.R.D]] (supporting [[Linkin Park]] and [[Jay-Z]]) (2008)
*[[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] (2005), [[The Offspring]] (2001) & [[Ozzy Osbourne]] (1998)
*[[Pantera]] (1998), [[Papa Roach]] (2001), [[Phixx]], [[Pitchshifter (band)|Pitchshifter]] (1998, 1999 & 2001), [[Placebo (band)|Placebo]] (1999), [[The Police]] (1980), [[Pendulum (band)|Pendulum]] (supporting [[Linkin Park]] & [[Jay-Z]]) (2008), (supporting [[The Prodigy]]) (2010), [[The Prodigy]] (2010)
*[[Queen (band)|Queen]] (1982), [[Queens of the Stone Age]] (2001) & [[Queensrÿche]] (2006)
*[[Ramones]] (1985), [[Rachel Stevens]] (2005), [[Raging Speedhorn]] (2001), [[R.E.M. (band)|R.E.M.]] (1985, 1995), [[Robbie Williams]] (2001, 2006), [[Ronan Keating]] (2002, 2003),
*[[Squeeze (band)|Squeeze]] (1980), [[Simple Minds]] (1986, 1991), [[Simply Red]] (2003), [[Slayer]] (1998), [[Sleeper (band)|Sleeper]] (1995 supporting [[R.E.M.]]), [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]] (2001), [[Soulfly]] (1998, 2001), [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]] (1984) [Quo played the final concert from their (at that time) last tour, the "End of the Road" - tour in 1984. It was the last tour with their 1962-1985 bassist [[Alan Lancaster]] and 1982-1985 drummer [[Pete Kircher]]], [[The Stranglers]] (1988)
*[[Take That]] (2006), [[Taking Back Sunday]] (supporting [[Green Day]] (2005)) [[Ted Nugent]] (2006), [[Terrorvision]] (1999), [[The Almighty (band)|The Almighty]] (1993), [[The Offspring]] (2001), [[Therapy?]] (1998), [[Thunder (band)|Thunder]] (2006), [[Thin Lizzy]] (1981), [[Three Days Grace]] (2008)
*[[UB40]] (1980, 1994), [[U2]] (1985)
*[[V (band)|V]], [[VS (band)|VS]]
*[[ZZ Top]] (1991)
*[[The 411]], [[50 Cent]]
*[[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]] (1986)


==Development plans==
''For the list in date order, see [http://www.mkweb.co.uk/Bowl/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=3151 the Bowl article on MKWEB.]'
[[File:MK Bowl Stage.jpg|left|thumb|The Stage in 2006.]]


===2006 development plans===
==Recordings==
*'''[[Queen (band)|Queen]]''' have released a DVD and double CD of their 1982 appearance at the Bowl entitled ''[[Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl]]''.
*'''[[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]]''' had their End of the Road Concert filmed here in 1984, it was released on 2 VHS tapes, End of the Road, and More from End of the Road, the concert marked their end as a touring band, but later revived in 1985 for the live aid Concert.
*'''[[Green Day]]''''s album ''[[Bullet in a Bible]]'', and the accompanying DVD, were recorded at the National Bowl in the summer of 2005. The band's two-night stand was supported by [[Jimmy Eat World]], [[Taking Back Sunday]] and [[Hard-Fi]]. The bowl also appears in [[Green Day: Rock Band]] as one of the playable venues.
*'''[[Linkin Park]]''' released a CD/DVD combo entitled ''[[Road to Revolution: Live at Milton Keynes]]'' from their first ever UK [[Projekt Revolution]] show that they recorded back in June 2008, Also headlining the show was [[Jay-Z]] with supporting acts [[Pendulum]], [[N.E.R.D]], [[Enter Shikari]], [[The Bravery]] & [[Innerpartysystem]]. This show turned out to be the biggest capacity Projekt Revolution to date. This was the first time the tour was held outside of North America.
*'''[[Three Days Grace]]''' will be doing another gig at the Bowl. It has been stated that they will record the gig for their future live album.
*'''[[The Prodigy]]''' have released first live album and second DVD of their 2010 appearance at the Bowl entitled ''[[World's on Fire (album)]]''.


On 23 January 2006, Gaming International/Live Nation won a further lease in a competitive tender. The [[wiktionary:consortium|consortium]] made proposals for major developments in a [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929084508/http://www.thenationalbowl.net/pdfs/leaflet.pdf a development summary leaflet] (previously linked from the 'Backstage' section of the [http://www.thenationalbowl.net National Bowl website], now removed).
==2006 Development plans==


Gaming International handed The Bowl back to Milton Keynes Partnership towards the end of 2010 – so it is unlikely that any of the plans outlined in 2006 will ever be undertaken – apart from a temporary structure built close to The Bowl in summer 2010 which has a temporary three-year planning permission.
On 23 January 2006, Gaming International/Live Nation won a further lease in a competitive tender. The [[wiktionary:consortium|consortium]] made proposals for major developments in a [http://www.thenationalbowl.net/pdfs/leaflet.pdf a development summary leaflet] (previously linked from the 'Backstage' section of the [http://www.thenationalbowl.net National Bowl website], now removed).


===2013 proposed plans===
Gaming International handed The Bowl back to Milton Keynes Partnership towards the end of 2010 - so it is unlikely that any of the plans outlined in 2006 will ever be undertaken - apart from a temporary structure built close to The Bowl in summer 2010 which has a temporary three year planning permission.


In December 2011, [[Milton Keynes Council]] officially adopted proposals to make Milton Keynes an “International Sporting City” which included ambitious plans to redevelop the National Bowl into an international-standard sports training base suitable for hosting visiting international teams when they played at Stadium MK or elsewhere in the UK and also as a permanent home for MK Dons.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/planning-policy/documents/B145_-_ISC_Nov_2011_complete_report.pdf|publisher= Milton Keynes Council | title= International Sporting City Steering Group Final Report| date= 2011}}</ref>
==Elfield Park==<!-- This section is linked from [[Milton Keynes]] -->
Gaming International already owns '''Elfield Park''', a narrow strip of land on the other side of the [[A5 road (Great Britain)|A5]] from the Bowl, between the A5 and the [[West Coast Main Line]]. They cleared a site for the new [[greyhound]] stadium there, having recently (2005) purchased it from English Partnerships, and evicted the [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]] track and [[motocross]] club that had used it for 20 years. Greyhound racing in Milton Keynes was previously at [[Ashland, Milton Keynes|Ashland]] (since 1966): Gaming International owned that too, but sold it to English Partnerships as a [[brownfield]] site for a 350 house development.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} (The sale of the latter funded the purchase of the former or vice versa). A section of the Elfield Park site is designated<ref>[http://www.mkparks.co.uk/parks-trust/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=28673 Elfield Nature Park] - The Parks Trust</ref> as an educational nature reserve.


Milton Keynes Council agreed to fund the training complex as part of a property deal with Inter MK, a property development company owned by MK Dons chairman Peter Winkelman, on land owned by the Council in Newport Pagnell that was earmarked for housing development and expected to increase substantially in value when planning permission was given. The funding plan involved sale of the site to Inter MK for £2 million, with half of any increase in the value of the site being used to fund the training ground development and the remainder being returned to the Council.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://milton-keynes.cmis.uk.com/milton-keynes/Calendar/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/3985/Committee/907/Default.aspx | title=Minutes of the meeting of Milton Keynes Council |date= 18 December 2013}}</ref> However, this plan was abandoned in early 2014 following some local residents beginning judicial review proceedings against the Council on the basis that the plan involved illegal state aid to Inter MK.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://archive.org/stream/mk-news-2014-02-26/onemk-2014-02-26_djvu.txt | title = Call for judicial review of land | author = James Averill| work= MK News | date= 26 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://milton-keynes.cmis.uk.com/milton-keynes/Calendar/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/3990/Committee/914/Default.aspx | title= Minutes of the meeting of Milton Keynes Council Executive Scrutiny Panel | date= 16 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/tickford_fields_lot_1 | title= Milton Keynes Council response to FOI request (Tickford Fields) | date= 17 April 2019}}</ref>
=== Milton Keynes Motor Auctions ===


Milton Keynes Council consulted on these plans in 2013 before ultimately deciding not to pursue the proposals the following year.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2013/july/ambitions-for-the-bowl/ | publisher = MK Dons | title= Ambitions for The Bowl | date= 6 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://milton-keynes.cmis.uk.com/milton-keynes/Calendar/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/4772/Committee/907/Default.aspx | title= National Bowl Development Brief, paper for Milton Keynes Council meeting | date= 4 September 2013 | publisher = Milton Keynes Council}}</ref>
Milton Keynes Stadium Car Auctions is housed on this strip of land. Car auctions are held there on Wednesday and Friday.

===2014 proposed plans===
In February 2014, the BBC reported that an investment company had proposed a new development at the site of Milton Keynes Bowl. This was planned to include the UK's largest water park, and a range of sports facilities and enhancements to the arena.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-26364361 Milton Keynes National Bowl plans £26m indoor water park] - [[BBC]] Beds, Hertz and Bucks, 27 February 2014</ref> In July 2015, the investment firm leading the proposal announced that it would not proceed with the plan.<ref>[http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/local/setback-for-national-bowl-plans-1-6848620 Setback for National Bowl plans], [[Milton Keynes Citizen]], 14 July 2015</ref>

===2019{{ndash}}2023 proposed plans===
[[File:Milton Keynes Bowl June 2023.jpg|alt=A crowd at an outdoor event|thumb|The stage set for a performance by [[Muse (band)|Muse]] in June 2023.]]
In June 2019, Milton Keynes Council replaced the previous objective in its Council Plan to "Revitalise MK Bowl" with an objective to "Support the MK Dons in delivering a high-standard training ground and academy".<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/your-council-and-elections/council-information-and-accounts/strategies-plans-and-policies/council-plan-2016-2020 |publisher = Milton Keynes Council | title= Milton Keynes Council Plan 2016-2022 | date=11 July 2019}}</ref>

This allowed a deal to be agreed in September 2019 between Milton Keynes Council and Inter MK Limited for the National Bowl to be converted into a sports training ground facility partly funded by the Section 106 contributions from enabling commercial and leisure development at the site.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/mk-dons/dons-given-nod-redevelop-national-bowl-training-base-939809 | title= Dons given the nod to redevelop the National Bowl as a training base | work= [[Milton Keynes Citizen]] | date= 19 September 2019}}</ref>

This returned to the 2013 proposals which Milton Keynes Council had decided not to pursue. It followed the sale by Inter MK of land in Newport Pagnell to Milton Keynes Council for £11 million in July 2018.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://milton-keynes.cmis.uk.com/milton-keynes/Calendar/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/5933/Committee/1203/Default.aspx | title= Corporate Performance Report Annex B, Paper presented to meeting of Milton Keynes Council Scrutiny Management Committee | date= 10 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://milton-keynes.cmis.uk.com/milton-keynes/Calendar/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/5979/Committee/1211/Default.aspx | publisher =Milton Keynes Council | title= Delegated Decision Committee, Combined Decision Sheet| date= 12 June 2018}}</ref>

Inter MK is expected to lodge its planning application with Milton Keynes Council by the end of 2020.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.mkfm.com/on-air/podcasts/dons-on-saturday/episode/mkfm-exclusive-interview-with-mk-dons-executive-director-andy-cullen/ |publisher = MKFM | title= Interview with Andy Cullen | date=10 April 2020}}</ref>

In February 2023, Inter MK said that it had been granted planning permission for two full-sized football pitches and training grids on the site,<ref>{{cite news |title=Muse: Milton Keynes National Bowl hosts first gig in seven years |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k78w8zn88o |date=2 February 2023 |work=BBC News}}</ref> "with plans to still hold concerts at the site in future".<ref>{{cite news |title=Football pitches to be built at city music venue |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-66018649 |date=26 June 2023 |work=BBC News |first=Kris |last=Holland}}</ref>

==Recordings==
*[[Queen (band)|Queen]] have released a DVD and double CD of their 1982 appearance at the Bowl entitled ''[[Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl]]''.
*[[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]] had their End of the Road Concert filmed here in 1984, it was released on 2 VHS tapes, End of the Road, and More from End of the Road, the concert marked their end as a touring band, but later revived in 1985 for the Live Aid Concert.
*[[Michael Jackson]] performed at this venue in front of 60,000 fans (on each of three successive nights) and there is only a recording (so far) including [[Wanna Be Startin' Somethin']], [[This Place Hotel]], and [[Another Part of Me]].
*[[Erasure (duo)|Erasure]] performed their last date of the Wild! Tour and called "Erasure Live at Milton Keynes Bowl" on 1 September 1990 with more than 60,000 people in the National Bowl. This spectacular show by Erasure was broadcast live on "[[BBC Radio 1|Radio 1]]" and [[BBC Television]] and it was presented by BBC Radio 1's [[Gary Davies]].
*[[Metallica]] performed their last leg of the Wherever I May Roam Tour and called it Nowhere Left to Roam at the Bowl on 5 June 1993. This was broadcast live on "[[BBC Radio 1|Radio 1]]".
*[[Green Day]]'s album ''[[Bullet in a Bible]]'', and the accompanying DVD, were recorded at the National Bowl in the summer of 2005. The band's two-night stand was supported by [[Jimmy Eat World]], [[Taking Back Sunday]] and [[Hard-Fi]]. The bowl also appears in [[Green Day: Rock Band]] as one of the playable venues.
*[[Linkin Park]] released ''[[Road to Revolution: Live at Milton Keynes]]'', a CD/DVD set from their first ever UK [[Projekt Revolution]] show, filmed on 29 June 2008. [[Jay Z]] also headlined with supporting acts [[Pendulum (drum and bass band)|Pendulum]], [[N.E.R.D]], [[Enter Shikari]], [[The Bravery]] & [[Innerpartysystem]]. This show turned out to be the biggest capacity Projekt Revolution to date, and it was the first year in the tour's history to be featured outside North America.
*[[The Prodigy]] have released first live album and second DVD of their 2010 appearance at the Bowl entitled ''[[World's on Fire (album)|World's on Fire]]''.
*[[Swedish House Mafia]] held their (then) final UK show on their [[One Last Tour|farewell tour]] in July 2012. Scenes from the performance were seen in the music video for their final single, "[[Don't You Worry Child]]".


==Location==
==Location==
{{Location map|United Kingdom Milton Keynes|lat=52.0186|long=-0.7606|caption=National Bowl, on Watling Street and Chaffron Way<br /> [http://www.openstreetmap.org/way/34638901#map=15/52.0190/-0.7620 zoom in] <br />}}
The Bowl is in south central Milton Keynes, at the junction of [[Watling Street]] with Chaffron Way, just north of [[Bletchley]]. Parking on site (MK5 8AA) is very limited so fans are encouraged to arrive by public transport. In addition to the shuttle busses from [[Milton Keynes Central railway station]], it is also practical to walk [about {{convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}}] from the station using Sustrans cycle route 51.
The Bowl is in south central Milton Keynes, at the junction of [[Watling Street]] with Chaffron Way, just north of [[Bletchley]]. Parking on site (MK5 8AA) is very limited so fans are encouraged to arrive by public transport. In addition to the shuttle buses from [[Milton Keynes Central railway station]], it is also an easy walk (about {{convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}}) from the station using [[Sustrans]] [[National Cycle Route 51]] from the south side of the station building.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of contemporary amphitheatres]]
* [[List of contemporary amphitheatres]]
* [[Hollywood Bowl]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.thenationalbowl.net/ National Bowl official website]
*{{Official website|www.thenationalbowl.net}}
* [http://www.mkweb.co.uk/Bowl/home.asp National Bowl web site on MKWEB] for FAQ, current events, history, pictures, access and parking info


{{Authority control}}
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/MiltonKeynesBowl/ Event pictures tagged "Milton Keynes Bowl" at Flickr] (many)
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/NationBowl/ Event pictures tagged "National Bowl" at Flickr] (few)


{{Coord|52.018606|N|0.760589|W|region:GB_type:landmark_dim:900|format=dms|display=title}}

{{coord|52.018606|N|0.760589|W|region:GB_type:landmark|format=dms|display=title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2011}}


[[Category:Buildings and structures in Milton Keynes]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Milton Keynes]]
[[Category:Music venues in England]]
[[Category:Music venues in Buckinghamshire]]
[[Category:Amphitheaters]]
[[Category:Amphitheatres in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Event venues established in 1979]]
[[Category:Music venues completed in 1979]]
[[Category:1979 establishments in England]]

[[de:Milton Keynes Bowl]]
[[es:National Bowl]]
[[it:National Bowl]]
[[lb:National Bowl]]
[[nl:National Bowl]]
[[no:National Bowl]]
[[pt:National Bowl]]
[[simple:National Bowl]]

Latest revision as of 09:22, 19 July 2024

For the American gridiron football game, see National Bowl Game.
National Bowl
Muse performing at the Bowl in 2023
Map
Former namesMilton Keynes Bowl (1979–1992)
LocationMilton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England
OwnerHomes England
OperatorGaming International/Live Nation UK
TypeStadium Amphitheatre
Capacity65,000
Construction
Opened1979
Renovated2012
Website
www.thenationalbowl.net

The National Bowl (originally the Milton Keynes Bowl) is an entertainment venue located in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England. The site was a former clay pit (for brick-making), filled in and raised to form an amphitheatre using sub-soil excavated by the many new developments in the area. It has a maximum capacity of 65,000.[1] The arena is open-air grassland, without seats.

History

[edit]

The venue opened in 1979, with gigs by Desmond Dekker and Geno Washington.

In 1992, Sony/Pace bought the venue and re-branded it as the National Bowl, building a massive permanent sound stage. They pulled out in 1996 citing profitability reasons.

English Partnerships, which merged with the Homes and Communities Agency in 2008, bought the site in 2000.[citation needed] From 2006 to 2010, it was leased to a Gaming International/Live Nation UK consortium.

Development plans

[edit]
The Stage in 2006.

2006 development plans

[edit]

On 23 January 2006, Gaming International/Live Nation won a further lease in a competitive tender. The consortium made proposals for major developments in a a development summary leaflet (previously linked from the 'Backstage' section of the National Bowl website, now removed).

Gaming International handed The Bowl back to Milton Keynes Partnership towards the end of 2010 – so it is unlikely that any of the plans outlined in 2006 will ever be undertaken – apart from a temporary structure built close to The Bowl in summer 2010 which has a temporary three-year planning permission.

2013 proposed plans

[edit]

In December 2011, Milton Keynes Council officially adopted proposals to make Milton Keynes an “International Sporting City” which included ambitious plans to redevelop the National Bowl into an international-standard sports training base suitable for hosting visiting international teams when they played at Stadium MK or elsewhere in the UK and also as a permanent home for MK Dons.[2]

Milton Keynes Council agreed to fund the training complex as part of a property deal with Inter MK, a property development company owned by MK Dons chairman Peter Winkelman, on land owned by the Council in Newport Pagnell that was earmarked for housing development and expected to increase substantially in value when planning permission was given. The funding plan involved sale of the site to Inter MK for £2 million, with half of any increase in the value of the site being used to fund the training ground development and the remainder being returned to the Council.[3] However, this plan was abandoned in early 2014 following some local residents beginning judicial review proceedings against the Council on the basis that the plan involved illegal state aid to Inter MK.[4][5][6]

Milton Keynes Council consulted on these plans in 2013 before ultimately deciding not to pursue the proposals the following year.[7][8]

2014 proposed plans

[edit]

In February 2014, the BBC reported that an investment company had proposed a new development at the site of Milton Keynes Bowl. This was planned to include the UK's largest water park, and a range of sports facilities and enhancements to the arena.[9] In July 2015, the investment firm leading the proposal announced that it would not proceed with the plan.[10]

2019–2023 proposed plans

[edit]
A crowd at an outdoor event
The stage set for a performance by Muse in June 2023.

In June 2019, Milton Keynes Council replaced the previous objective in its Council Plan to "Revitalise MK Bowl" with an objective to "Support the MK Dons in delivering a high-standard training ground and academy".[11]

This allowed a deal to be agreed in September 2019 between Milton Keynes Council and Inter MK Limited for the National Bowl to be converted into a sports training ground facility partly funded by the Section 106 contributions from enabling commercial and leisure development at the site.[12]

This returned to the 2013 proposals which Milton Keynes Council had decided not to pursue. It followed the sale by Inter MK of land in Newport Pagnell to Milton Keynes Council for £11 million in July 2018.[13][14]

Inter MK is expected to lodge its planning application with Milton Keynes Council by the end of 2020.[15]

In February 2023, Inter MK said that it had been granted planning permission for two full-sized football pitches and training grids on the site,[16] "with plans to still hold concerts at the site in future".[17]

Recordings

[edit]

Location

[edit]
National Bowl is located in Milton Keynes
National Bowl
class=notpageimage|
National Bowl, on Watling Street and Chaffron Way
zoom in

The Bowl is in south central Milton Keynes, at the junction of Watling Street with Chaffron Way, just north of Bletchley. Parking on site (MK5 8AA) is very limited so fans are encouraged to arrive by public transport. In addition to the shuttle buses from Milton Keynes Central railway station, it is also an easy walk (about 2 km (1.2 mi)) from the station using Sustrans National Cycle Route 51 from the south side of the station building.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ National Bowl official website
  2. ^ International Sporting City Steering Group Final Report (PDF) (Report). Milton Keynes Council. 2011.
  3. ^ "Minutes of the meeting of Milton Keynes Council". 18 December 2013.
  4. ^ James Averill (26 February 2014). "Call for judicial review of land". MK News.
  5. ^ "Minutes of the meeting of Milton Keynes Council Executive Scrutiny Panel". 16 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Milton Keynes Council response to FOI request (Tickford Fields)". 17 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Ambitions for The Bowl" (Press release). MK Dons. 6 July 2013.
  8. ^ "National Bowl Development Brief, paper for Milton Keynes Council meeting". Milton Keynes Council. 4 September 2013.
  9. ^ Milton Keynes National Bowl plans £26m indoor water park - BBC Beds, Hertz and Bucks, 27 February 2014
  10. ^ Setback for National Bowl plans, Milton Keynes Citizen, 14 July 2015
  11. ^ "Milton Keynes Council Plan 2016-2022". Milton Keynes Council. 11 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Dons given the nod to redevelop the National Bowl as a training base". Milton Keynes Citizen. 19 September 2019.
  13. ^ Corporate Performance Report Annex B, Paper presented to meeting of Milton Keynes Council Scrutiny Management Committee (Report). 10 October 2018.
  14. ^ "Delegated Decision Committee, Combined Decision Sheet". Milton Keynes Council. 12 June 2018.
  15. ^ "Interview with Andy Cullen". MKFM. 10 April 2020.
  16. ^ "Muse: Milton Keynes National Bowl hosts first gig in seven years". BBC News. 2 February 2023.
  17. ^ Holland, Kris (26 June 2023). "Football pitches to be built at city music venue". BBC News.
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52°01′07″N 0°45′38″W / 52.018606°N 0.760589°W / 52.018606; -0.760589

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