GLASGOW'S new £113million sports arena got off to a winning start despite a hiccup during the first official sporting event.

More than 10,000 people passed through the doors of the Emirates Arena during its opening weekend.

These included around 5000 basketball fans who watched Glasgow Rocks' first home match yesterday against Newcastle Eagles.

However, a technical fault caused the lights to fail for ten minutes during the match, which ended in a 106-84 win for the away side.

However the problem did not appear to dampen the enthusiasm of spectators.

The facility, which was built by Glasgow City Council and will be operated by Glasgow Life, opened on Friday.

More than 3000 people attended the venue on Saturday to watch a variety of pre-programmed sporting activities.

A spokesman for Glasgow Life said: "It was fantastic to see the venue so busy and that bodes well for the future.

"It has been a weekend to remember but this is just the start of what promises to be a long and successful era of sport at the Emirates Arena."

Built on a 10.5 hectare site next to the Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village and Celtic Park, the Emirates Arena is one of the largest facilities of its kind in Europe.

The venue, which will be called the Commonwealth Arena during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, will host the badminton and track cycling events at the Games.

Facilities at the venue include the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, an indoor sports arena, three full-size sports halls with 12 badminton courts, four outdoor 5-a-side football pitches, an outdoor 1km outdoor cycle circuit, one of the largest Glasgow Club health and fitness centres in the city and a luxury spa.

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk