Frequently Asked Questions

For queries about purchasing tickets you’re best bet is to contact our friends over at The Ticket Factory who run our official box office and ticket hotline - 0344 33 88 222. Calls to 03 numbers typically form part of your inclusive calling plan.  However, call charges may vary – refer to your service provider for current charging information.

To book tickets with wheelchair space or have any other specific accessibility requirements, please call our dedicated accessible booking line on 0800 640 5001.

For Group bookings, usually for 10 or more tickets, call us on 0800 358 0058 or email [email protected]

For certain shows, presale tickets might be on offer. This means you'll be access tickets before they go on general sale. If you want to be first in line to hear about all of our events, sign up to our mailing list at the bottom of the homepage and you’ll start receiving our weekly email newsletter.

When presale tickets go on sale, just follow the link we send you to buy yours!

TIP: Also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X and we'll post when tickets are available.

We aim to post tickets as soon as possible after you've bought your tickets. However tickets can be delayed up to 10 days before the event.

TIP: You can track your order here.

Tickets booked using a Credit or Debit card must be posted to the Card Holder's registered address. We are obliged to implement this rule under the terms of our contract with the Card Issuers (VISA, MasterCard, American Express etc.) and are unable to make any exceptions.

Tickets booked using cards that are registered to addresses outside the UK, cannot be posted abroad and instead will automatically be held for collection at the venue Box Office regardless of the delivery method chosen at the time of booking.

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Just call customer services – run by our friends at The Ticket Factory- and they will be able to help you on 0844 338 0338. Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company's access charge.

We can scan tickets on smartphones, however we always advise you to bring a printed copy of your ticket in the event the barcode doesn’t scan properly.

Check what time the box office opens for your event, and head down with your ticket booking confirmation and photo ID.  Our box office team will take it from there.

We appreciate tickets are sometimes bought as gifts (after all, tickets are the best gift you can give). The name on the tickets will not affect the use of the tickets unless stated in the terms and conditions at the time of booking.

If there is a strict ID policy in place for your event, we will notify you at the time of booking and in subsequent event communications.

Seating varies for every event, and the seating layout can be subject to change before the concert takes place. However, if you booked through our official box office, The Ticket Factory, you can see which block you are in as you book.  Alternatively, you can check out the seating plan on your event page to use as a guide.

A restricted view means there may be something obstructing your view of the event.

Ticket prices are set by the (independent) Promoters and Organisers of the concerts and events which are staged at the venues. The promoters and Organisers distribute tickets for sale through various Ticket Agents and in effect The Ticket Factory simply acts as another one of these Agents. Please note that tickets might be a higher price when purchased on the night of the event.

This is the per-ticket fee agreed with our clients (venues, artists and event organisers). This fee contributes to our ticketing and distribution processing costs, such as the costs of running the ticketing software and computer network, operating our call centre and marketing the event.

The amount of the administration fee is agreed with our clients and is often based on a percentage of the ticket price.

The fulfilment fee is charged per order regardless of the number of tickets purchased. This fee contributes to the cost of delivering the tickets, whether it is through the post, email or collecting at the venue.

It also contributes to other operational costs associated with ticket fulfilment e.g. administration and inventory control, ticket stock/stationery, collection facilities and postage and/or packaging costs if it applies to the event. It's not payable if a ticket is purchased and collected at the box office at the same time.

The renovation levy is a permanent feature of the ticket prices for Bradford Live events to ensure that both venues offer superb facilities, attract world class artists and provide customers with fantastic experiences.

A secondary ticket ‘agent’ or ‘seller’ is an outlet or person that re-sells second-hand tickets.  We always recommend using a primary ticket agent though, who is a STAR accredited retailer, such as our official box office The Ticket Factory.  That way you can guarantee your money is in safe hands and your tickets are real.

If we are aware of any tickets sold by our official box office, The Ticket Factory, that have made their way to a secondary site other than Twickets – their partner ethical secondary ticket re-seller - and can trace them back to us, we will take steps to cancel them.

In a majority of cases tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged after purchase.  Please contact your original point of purchase for details.

For a worry free ticket purchase, choose Ticket Protection to protect your transaction when purchasing through The Ticket Factory. Find out more about Ticket Protection here.

If you bought through The Ticket Factory, you can view their ticket terms and conditions on their website.

Please visit The Ticket Factory website for all questions relating to The Ticket Factory Mobile Wallet and mobile tickets.

For all events at Bradford Live children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18+ with a valid ticket to enter the venue.

On applicable shows, the ‘Standing Area’ of the arena bowl is not suitable for anyone under 14 years of age and we advise booking seated tickets if your party includes anyone under the age of 14. Please note, the venue reserves the right to remove or reseat (if possible) any child in the standing area who appears to be under 14 for safety reasons.

Due to the sound levels experienced during an event, the venue recommends that children under 5 should not attend concerts or events other than those specifically aimed at younger visitors, i.e. children’s shows.

Generally, children aged 2 and under that are attending a children’s show and sitting on an adult’s knee, do not need a ticket. However, we advise you to please check the event details prior to booking Please note though that any interruption caused by young children/babies that directly affects other members of the audience may result in you being asked to leave the performance area.

Certain shows will also have their own specific age restrictions. Please check the relevant event page before booking to avoid any disappointment.

Door opening times vary for every event. Check the venue event webpage for the latest times.

Check out our Getting Here page for more info.

Make sure you arrive in plenty of time taking into consideration security measures.  We would advise checking your journey in advance for any possible delays i.e. traffic/transport/weather etc.

No, we do not operate any queue numbering system, as we don’t encourage any form of queueing prior to doors opening.

In the interest of safety and security, all attendees will be asked to go through airport style security arches and be subject to a bag search prior to entry. Further security checks including pat downs may be conducted on the discretion of security. Non-compliance may result in entry being refused. The security process is a condition of entry - any refusal, or the use of abusive, threatening or discriminatory remarks; including comments relating to weapons or explosives, will result in access being refused.

We’re afraid not, you’ll need to enter the arena together.

Door opening times and show start times vary for every event and should be detailed on your ticket.

Running times are usually confirmed closer to the event.  These will be posted as soon as we have them on the Event page, so check back a week before for updates.  Please note though that all timings are approximate and subject to change with no notice.

It is accepted that at most concerts, the audience may stand through all or part of the performances – indeed it is often encouraged by some artists.

This is also stated on your ticket if you buy through our official box office, The Ticket Factory.  However, standing on seats and in the aisles is strictly prohibited on health and safety grounds.  If you have accessibility requirements, please advise your ticket agent at the time of booking.

Please note that where screens are used on a concert, this will be as part of the touring stage set, decided upon by the artiste and their Production. The venue does not provide screens for any concert and as such this facility is never guaranteed.

No. Access is strictly limited to the area which your tickets are for.

Strobe lighting may be used during some performances. Customers will be notified via signage on doors and/or digital screens if a performance includes the use of strobe lighting. If you have any concerns/queries around this, please speak to a member of security on arrival who will be able to provide you with more information.

Moshing can lead to the injury of others and is therefore prohibited at Bradford Live.

Any conduct which could be deemed as dangerous e.g. crowd surfing and could lead to serious injuries to yourself and others are prohibited. Such activities may result in ejection from the venue without a refund.

Once you have had your ticket scanned and entered the venue, there is no re-admittance if you leave.

The venue is cashless. All transactions therefore, should be paid by card or contactless rather than cash. This means a speedier and safer service for everyone.

We accept all card, Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay, except for American Express.

We are a cashless venue, therefore only card payments are accepted. We’re aware that a variety prepaid cards are now available, which will allow them to use our cashless tills. We accept all major prepaid cards and it means you can load as little or as much as you want them to spend on the night!

Unfortunately, as a venue, we’re not responsible for the distribution of backstage passes, which are for working personnel only. Occasionally, meet and greet passes are won as competition prizes or offered as part of VIP tickets.  These are issued by the promoter not the venue, so please do not contact us to request backstage passes as we will be unable to help you.

Please note that unauthorised filming of an event by audience members will not be tolerated. Anyone found to be filming illegitimately will have their equipment confiscated or risk ejection from the venue.

We understand the desire to film or take a few snaps during the event/ performance, however every Event Promoter has their own policy regarding the admission of cameras, and this can change at short notice. Generally, filming is not permitted, but small instamatic cameras and smartphone cameras are generally permitted by Promoters for taking photos on (not filming).

Professional type cameras (those with the fancy interchangeable lenses) are a definite no-no unless you’re an officially accredited photographer covering the event. We’re afraid video cameras, audio equipment, go-pros, iPads and tablets are also on the no-no list. If you bring a camera that’s not permitted for the event, you’ll be required to leave it at the confiscation kiosk for collection after the event. Certain shows may have stricter restrictions. Please visit the event page for the event you are attending for any specific restrictions.

We do not allow leafleting anywhere at the venue without prior consent.

Most concerts bring merchandise to sell.  Official merchandise units can be found around the venue.

Please be aware that certain events attract unauthorised sellers that may sell inferior products which may not be safety tested outside the venue.  Those who purchase unofficial merchandise from these sellers do so at their own risk, as they may not be permitted into the venue.

Concert merchandise sales are operated by venue merchandisers, National Merchandise. They are contactable on [email protected]

No. These are unofficial merchandise sellers, and have no connection to the venue.  As they trade on public land, unfortunately they cannot be removed.  Those who purchase unofficial merchandise from these outlets do so at their own risk.

For all events at Bradford Live children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18+ with a valid ticket to enter the venue.

On applicable shows, the ‘Standing Area’ of the arena bowl is not suitable for anyone under 14 years of age and we advise booking seated tickets if your party includes anyone under the age of 14. Please note, the venue reserves the right to remove or reseat (if possible) any child in the standing area who appears to be under 14 for safety reasons.

Due to the sound levels experienced during an event, the venue recommends that children under 5 should not attend concerts or events other than those specifically aimed at younger visitors, i.e. children’s shows.

Generally, children under the age of 1 that are attending a children’s show and sitting on an adult’s knee, do not need a ticket. However, we advise you to please check the event details prior to booking Please note though that any interruption caused by young children/babies that directly affects other members of the audience may result in you being asked to leave the performance area.

Certain shows will also have their own specific age restrictions. Please check the relevant event page before booking to avoid any disappointment.

Under 14 year olds are not permitted on a standing floor.

14 and 15 year olds are only permitted on a standing floor when accompanied by an adult aged 18yrs +.

Due to the sound levels experienced during an event and the long-term hearing damage this could cause, we strongly recommended by most venues that children under 5 should not attend concerts or events other than those specifically aimed at younger visitors, i.e. children's shows. Any interruption caused by young children/babies that directly affects other members of the audience may result in you being asked to leave the venue immediately.

Children aged 2 and under attending children’s shows, and sitting on an adult’s knee do not need a ticket.  Please check the event details before booking.

Please note that whilst you may bring your children to the venue in a pushchair, car seat or carry cot, we do not allow these items into the Arena bowl. Please speak to Security on arrival – items can be left in a designated area at the owner’s own risk.  

Thermal bottles are not permitted in the venues as they are not collapsible under foot and cause a trip hazard in the event of an evacuation.  Sealed plastic bottles are however permitted into the venue.

We work closely with show organisers to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our visitors at all times.

The NEC Group Arenas have prepared a risk assessment form which can be used as a guideline. Completion of this form or your own company policy form covers your party in public areas.

For all other queries please contact NEC Safety, Health & Environment on 0121 780 4141 

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Generally, no food or drink purchased outside Bradford Live is permitted to be taken inside. Should you need to bring an item of food or drink in with you due to medical or religious reasons, please contact us prior to your visit. You should also check our confiscation list for prohibited items (e.g. glass bottles, cans etc.) before your visit. 

Generally, we discourage people from bringing posters, flags and banners to events as they can restrict the view of people sitting behind you. At the risk of getting your posters confiscated and upsetting other audience members, we would suggest that you don’t bring them with you. Flags and banners with large poles will be confiscated for health and safety reasons, as will any banner/poster with wording deemed to be offensive.

We salute all good deeds, but any charity collection must be agreed in writing by the Concert Promoter in advance of the concert date. For further information please contact us.

In the interests of safety and security, a search will take place.  Please allow additional time for this process.

The security search process is a condition of entry.  Any refusal or the use of abusive, threatening or discriminatory remarks, including comments relating to weapons or explosives will result in access being refused.

Bag searching is just one of many components which go into our security measures but for obvious reasons, we don’t go into specific security details for individual shows as this is potentially detrimental to these processes.

We have additional security measures in place including visible armed police and dog patrols throughout event periods and at all venues to ensure you guys feel relaxed and comfortable whilst at the show. Also, just a heads up, searches will be carried out throughout the day and evening on all our sites, so be cooperative if one of the teams ask.

At Bradford Live, we’re all about ensuring every visitor has a great time, but rules are rules. It’s a condition of our venue licence that certain items are not allowed into the arena in the interests of health and safety. These items include, but are not limited to:

hot food, alcohol, glass bottles, cans, flasks, cool boxes, hampers, large flags/banners, helium balloons, studded belts, dog collars, trouser chains, selfie sticks, sharp/large rings, smoke grenades, flares and fireworks.

Items will be confiscated and returned to you after the event, which may delay your access into and out of the arena. If in doubt, leave it home would be our recommendation. Please note, prohibited items vary on a show-to-show basis; please refer to your ticket terms and conditions for any items that are not allowed into the venue.

We encourage you to arrive to the venue as early as possible, to allow more time for enhanced security checks.

It is best for everyone if you do not bring a bag at all, however if you do, please only bring essentials with you:

NOT PERMITTED

Any bag larger than 21cm x 30cm x 19cm – that’s the size of an A4 sheet of paper. 

A full list of prohibited items can be viewed in the ‘Dos and Don’ts of what to bring’ section below.

Our security teams work hard to keep you safe, please be patient and help them by co-operating with their requests.

Customers who make any inappropriate comments to our colleagues or other event goers, even in jest, will be refused entry.

As always, please remain vigilant and if something doesn’t look right, you should speak to our team or the Police who will take appropriate action.

If you’re coming to a show in the near future, we’re encouraging you to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity you may to see to a member of our security team or the police. Please give yourselves plenty of time when planning your journey and get here as early as you can as enhanced security checks will be in place.

We encourage you guys to arrive as early as possible to allow time for enhanced security checks when heading into the venue.
We have additional security measures in place including visible armed police and dog patrols throughout event periods and at all venues to ensure you guys feel relaxed and comfortable whilst at the show. Also, just a heads up, searches will be carried out throughout the day and evening at all sites, so be prepared if one of the guys ask.

We take the safety and security of all our fans and visitors very seriously, Bradford Live operate a strict screening procedure for all guests entering the arena.

Fans will be allowed entry as long as the Kirpan does not exceed the stipulated size of 4 inches, is worn alongside at least one other Article of Faith and concealed underneath clothes. All Sikhs wearing Kirpans are encouraged to declare the Kirpan upon entrance to the Arena and undergo security searches along with all other attendees.

Any fans that do not adhere to these regulations will be refused entry to the Arena.

We take customers access need very seriously and we are proud of the developments we have made to make online bookings possible for disabled people.

In conjunction with our official ticket agent, The Ticket Factory, we have launched a new registration scheme for disabled customers which will result in your access requirements being linked to your account and allow you to choose the right access online for all bookings we have access tickets available for.

START YOUR APPLICATION
We have chosen to pass the registration scheme onto the same organisation that runs the Access Card. Nimbus Disability is a social enterprise and an organisation run by and for disabled people and is recognised as a lead authority on accessible ticketing in the UK.

When you register, Nimbus Disability will handle all of your information securely and safely without us ever having cause to see the detail behind why you need accessible seating options.

Once you have registered, Nimbus will then provide you with a unique code which you can then use to link your access needs into our system.

If you are not able to use online forms and would be unable, because of the nature of your impairment, to access online sales you do still need to register. Nimbus will be able to provide those that need telephone bookings with access to a specialist team at The Ticket Factory. The team will happily help you to register by phone, paper application or similar - please let them know what format would suit you best

You can find more information here.

All visitors with disabilities wanting to purchase tickets for events at Bradford Live are advised to call our Ticket Factory dedicated ticket line on 0800 640 5001. We’re open from 9am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm Weekends and Bank Holidays.

Please inform us at the time of booking if you need a wheelchair space or have any special requirements, so that we can arrange for everything to be ready on your arrival. We will also help you find the most convenient seating for visitors with visual and/or hearing impairments.

If you are a disabled visitor and require a carer to attend the event with you, it may be possible to claim a discounted or complimentary carer ticket. This can differ on a show to show basis, so please check with the sales advisor when you make your booking. They may ask questions to ascertain the nature of your disability to ensure you are offered the best possible seating and eligibility for a carer ticket.

Assistance dogs are welcome at our venues; however we do recommend that they are not brought to concerts or other loud events.

We ask customers who require an assistance dog to notify us of their requirements at the time of booking. Assistance dogs are only allowed within certain seating areas within the arena bowl for the welfare of the dogs, other customers and to maintain safe venue evacuation routes, should they be required.

You can contact us via The Ticket Factory’s designated disabled booking line on 0800 640 5001.  Alternatively, you can pre-register your requirements using The Ticket Factory’s free registration system via this link.

We operate a radio frequency analogue hearing system which covers 100% of the arena bowl, which means you can book any seat or stand anywhere on the floor and still receive great sound quality.

Customers wishing to use the system can do so free of charge and should speak to a member of Security on arrival at the Arena. We will then book out a receiver pack with lanyard and an earphone headset which plugs into the receiver. Alternatively, if you use a telecoil hearing aid, we can supply a personal neck loop which then plugs into the receiver to enhance the sound through your own hearing aid.

In the event of a medical emergency please notify a member of Security or any member of our team who will be pleased to help you.

An in-house committee meets regularly to address services for disabled visitors, and regular audits of our building are undertaken in respect of access.

If you have any suggestions or comments you wish to make, please advise a member of our team. Alternatively, write to:

Visitor Experience Manager
The NEC
Birmingham
B40 1NT

Or email them at: [email protected].

Many concerts/events at Bradford Live use strobe lighting. Often we will not know about this until the day of the event. If you have any concerns then please speak to a steward who will be able to assist with further information about their use.

If you have purchased your tickets from The Ticket Factory, please check out the Help pages on The Ticket Factory website.

If you purchased tickets from elsewhere, then please contact your point of purchase.

Please refer to our FAQs above.

Please approach any member of security or the stewarding team, who will be more than happy to help you with any enquiries.

If you require alternative seating please return to Customer Services at the Box Office whilst you are at Bradford Live. If you see empty seats in the arena bowl, please do not assume that you can move into them without first asking a member of our team.

We welcome all feedback and if you would like to contact us about a recent experience at Bradford Live, please. email us at [email protected].

Bradford Live strives to make your visit as enjoyable as possible, however if you do encounter a problem please return to Customer Services at the Box Office immediately and they will offer every assistance possible. There is also a Manager on duty at each event. Please note that it is easier to resolve a complaint at the time as there is often little we can do after the event.

If you have any suggestions or comments you wish to make, please advise a member of staff. Alternatively, write to:

Visitor Experience Manager
The NEC
Birmingham
B40 1NT

Or email them at: [email protected]

If you have lost an item at the venue, please contact the venue on [email protected] and our team will be happy to look into this for you.