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ExCeL Exhibition Centre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The ExCeL Exhibition Centre is a large purpose-built exhibition centre in the Royal Docks area of London's redeveloped Docklands, at grid reference TQ408807. The centre opened in November 2000 and its name is formed from the words Exhibition, Centre and London.
Excel's site covers over 100 acres (400,000 m²) on the north quayside of the Royal Victoria Dock. Whilst this dock closed to commercial traffic in 1981, it is still accessible to shipping. The centre's waterfront location is used to advantage when it hosts the annual London Boat Show, with visiting vessels able to moor alongside the exhibition centre; for example the 2005 show was visited by HMS Sutherland. The exhibition building itself consists of two column-free rectangular halls of 32,500 m² each on either side of a central boulevard containing catering facilities and information points. The halls can be subdivided for smaller events. There are also a number of function rooms. A temporary hall can be added on part of the car park when required, as it is for the London Boat Show.
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ExCeL is served by two railway stations. The main western entrance is directly linked to Custom House station and the eastern entrance is connected to Prince Regent station, both of which are served by the Docklands Light Railway. During major shows with large visitor attendances, extra shuttle trains are run between Prince Regent station and Canning Town station, with interchange at Canning Town to London Underground's Jubilee Line.
ExCeL is located near London City Airport. A number of duel-carriageway roads connect the centre to the airport and the important nearby office and commercial district of Canary Wharf.
In December 2005 ExCeL hosted a boxing match between British heavyweights Danny Williams and Audley Harrison. For the 2012 Summer Olympics ExCeL will be divided into four sports halls with capacities ranging from 6,000 to 10,000, which will be used for boxing, judo, taekwondo, table tennis, weightlifting and wrestling. On April 22 2005 ExCeL played host to WWE Friday Night Smackdown!.
In 2007, ExCel will be hosting Star Wars Celebration Europe; the first Star Wars fan event of its kind outside the United States, between 13th-15th July 2007.