Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan will present the December event in front of an audience of almost 11,000 people while broadcasting live to millions more. Tony McDonough reports
One of BBC TV’s biggest annual events – Sports Personality of the Year – is to return to Liverpool for first time since 2008.
The city’s waterfront ECHO Arena will host the awards night in December which will feature presenters Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan.
They will be celebrating a year of sporting achievements in front of an audience of almost 11,000 people while broadcasting live to millions more.
Last year, Wimbledon men’s singles champion Andy Murray picked up the coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award for a record third time in front of a 12,000-strong audience at Birmingham’s Genting Arena.
Director of BBC Sport, Barbara Slater, said: “2017 marks a very exciting year of sport. From England winning the Six Nations to Chelsea winning the Premier League, Arsenal scooping the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium to Anthony Joshua’s nail-biting knockout fight against Wladimir Klitschko.
“With plenty more highlights still to come we’re going to be spoiled for choice and the nominee list will once again be genuinely difficult to pull together.”
Ian Ayre, chair of the ACC Liverpool Group, which includes Echo Arena, said: “It was a great success when it was held here during the venue’s inaugural year and we are pleased to welcome back this prestigious event to Liverpool – a city with such an illustrious sporting heritage.”
Tickets for the event will go on sale later this year.