Best seats at The O2 Belfast (ex-SSE Arena) - floor or tiers

The O2 Belfast is an ice hockey arena first. The Belfast Giants have played here since it opened as the Odyssey Arena in 2000, and the seating is built round a rink. For gigs, the ice is covered and the stage goes at one end. That gives you the classic arena choice: the floor, or a seat in the bowl.

Floor or tiers

At full stretch the arena holds 11,200. The floor is flat, so it is either a standing pit or rows of loose chairs, depending on the show; your ticket and the event's seating map on Ticketmaster tell you which.

• Standing floor: for the energy, and the only way to get close. Short people at the back see mostly shoulders, as on any flat floor.
• Tiered seats: the bowl rises around the sides, so even the back rows look over heads rather than through them. The venue names its tiers by compass point, East and West included, so check the side on the map before you buy.
• Seated floor: the worst of both, unless you are in the first rows. Every chair is at the same height.

Our tip: if you are not going to stand at the front, take a side tier seat level with the front of the stage rather than a floor seat halfway back.

Getting in on a standing night

The arena has three public entrances: the main entrance at the front, and two through the Odyssey Pavilion, on the ground and first floors. On standing shows, the venue sometimes sends floor ticket holders in via the ground floor of the Pavilion. It tells people show by show, so read the pre-event email before joining a queue. Inside, blocks and doors are signed in white on blue, above head height.

Accessible seating

There are 34 wheelchair spaces on platforms in the tiers: 22 in the West tiered seating and 12 in the East. Seated shows usually add up to 8 more on the floor. Wheelchairs are not allowed on the floor during standing shows. Book these on Ticketmaster, normally for the user plus one companion; Essential Companion tickets are available with proof such as PIP or DLA.

An FM hearing loop covers the whole bowl, and sensory bags with ear defenders are available at the Concierge Desk. If you cannot queue, the VIP/access door at the South side is quieter and has lifts to every level. Driving in? See parking at The O2 Belfast for the 60 disabled bays.

Small things that help

• Mobile tickets must be in your phone's wallet or app. Screenshots will not scan.
• Ear plugs are free on request from stewards or the Concierge Desk.
• Strobes, pyro and lasers are flagged on signs around the arena, often only on the day.

After the show, write a review and tell others how your seat was.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capacity of the SSE Arena Belfast?

Up to 11,200 for concerts and sport. Many concerts use a part-standing layout, so the actual number varies by show.

Is the SSE Arena standing or seated?

Both. The tiers are always seated; the floor is standing or seated depending on the event, as shown on its Ticketmaster seating map.

Where are the wheelchair spaces at the SSE Arena?

On platforms in the tiered seating: 22 on the West side and 12 on the East. Seated shows add up to 8 on the floor; standing floors are off limits for wheelchairs.

Which entrance do I use for standing tickets?

Often the ground floor of the Odyssey Pavilion, but it changes by show. The venue confirms it before the event, and staff point the way on the night.