The red, white and blue pitches form part of the transformation work taking place at the venue - formerly known as Eton Manor and host of the wheelchair tennis competition at the London 2012 Paralympic Games - as the London Legacy Development Corporation prepares for its official opening in the spring of next year.

Measuring 101 metres long and 63m wide including the run off areas, the pitches can be used for both competitions and training, and will play host to some of the biggest events on the international hockey calendar in the coming years, including the 2018 Women's World Cup and the 2015 EuroHockey Championships.

They can also be floodlit for all year round play, while the main competitive pitch features 3,000 permanent seats and can be extended to 15,000 for major events.

"We're delighted with these eye-catching new hockey pitches which certainly invoke memories from London 2012 and I'm sure they will prove popular with hockey players and supporters alike," Lee Valley Regional Park Authority chief executive Shaun Dawson said.

"We're looking forward to seeing the world's best players in action on these state-of-the-art pitches over the next few years with the centre hosting an array of international competitions including the 2015 EuroHockey Championships and the 2018 Women's World Cup."

The pitches can be used for both competitions and training, while the main competitive pitch features 3,000 permanent seats and can be extended to 15,000 for major events
©London Legacy Development Corporation


The Union Jack themed pitches, which are made from a water-based artificial turf, were rolled out by hand and England Hockey chief executive Sally Munday believes they will help "stimulate fans' pride in the nation" when they come to watch matches.

"Like the Riverbank Arena during the Games, we're sure that we will now have a venue which will generate a great atmosphere for spectators, and also a stadium at which hockey players will aspire to play," she added.

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