For fifteen minutes, I walked in eerie silence through the deserted corridors from Birmingham International to the NEC. The corridors resembled those in an airport terminal, stretching on for miles, but the only difference was that no one else was around. It felt like I was the only player on a video game server, deathly quiet for what I was expecting at the NEC, even on a Friday night. Even the horizontal escalators sat motionless on the floor.
After about ten minutes, the distant echo of voices and music began reaching me. It appeared I was not alone after all. Soon, I saw the entrance of Hall 12, alive with a buzz of activity and excitement. Families and friends drifted towards the entrance, ready for the challenging assault courses that lay ahead. They probably had a better idea of what awaited them than I did.
Stepping into the Arena
I had only watched Gladiators a handful of times growing up and had largely forgotten about it until now. Stepping inside the area, I was surprised by the magnitude and scale of the assault courses, particularly the Eliminator, which was positioned close to the entrance. Its climbing wall looked tall and foreboding, as did the zipline next to it. Amidst the crowd, huge Gladiators from the TV show strolled around and posed for pictures. There were also contenders from this year's TV show, dressed in Gladiator kits. Everyone attending looked in good shape.
I quickly donned my safety gear—a helmet alongside elbow and knee pads—and decided to get the big behemoth out of the way first: the Eliminator. I am not very good with heights, so the thought of climbing up the ropes unnerved me a little. There were hidden bits along the course that did not look as difficult from the sidelines, but when I actually got up there, it was trickier than expected. Once I was coming down that zipline, though, I had a real buzz from getting the hardest part out of the way. This is what the Gladiator Experience is about, I thought: challenging yourself just like the Gladiators on TV.
Facing a TV Contender
The most fun I had was on Duel. Naomi, a contender from this year's show, was selected as my opponent, and we had a good duel. She kindly talked me through how to hold the pommel before the match began and proceeded to take no mercy on me, landing some heavy shots along the way. It was probably the most interactive event you can do with someone else, making it a good option for family and friends.
Despite my fear of heights, I actually found The Wall to be the easiest challenge. It is basically just a big rock climbing wall where you are strapped in with a harness. However, the hardest challenge, by a long shot, was Hang Tough. It is the only one I was unable to complete. You have to cross from one platform to another by grabbing onto metal rings. I fell twice on two attempts, slightly injuring my hand—thankfully, I did not need to see the medics—but I hope to return one day to complete it.
Accessibility and Tips
The good thing about the Gladiators Experience was that every obstacle course was accessible to everyone, no matter your ability or physique. It was all about taking part and having fun. One thing that paid off was completing the Eliminator first. It was the most physically exerting course, and I would have found it more difficult had I tried it after Hang Tough, Duel, and The Wall.
Overall, I would definitely recommend taking part in the Gladiators Experience if you fancy doing something exciting and new. A £44.50 ticket may seem quite steep, but you can take the family or a group of friends and easily spend a good few hours there. Family tickets are slightly cheaper, as are junior entries, and there is a smaller version of the Eliminator for junior participants to try.
Event Details and Pricing
The Gladiators Experience is being held at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre (NEC) until August 31 this year. Members of the public can purchase tickets to either spectate or take part themselves, with the latter costing more. There are also standard and VIP entry options. VIPs get early arena access, an official contender uniform, a participation medal, and a video package of their highlights.
- Standard Adult Contender: £44.50
- Standard Adult Spectator: £22.50
- Standard Junior (5-15) Contender: £39.50
- Standard Junior Spectator: £17.50
- Family Contender: £39.50 per person (minimum one adult and one junior, max eight participants)
- VIP Adult Contender: £139.50
- VIP Junior Contender: £124.50
- VIP Family Contender: £124.50 per person
Separately, a live tour of the show will arrive in Birmingham later this year in December. The Gladiators Live Tour will take place at BP Pulse Live from December 5 to 6. The national tour begins in Aberdeen at the P&J Live Arena on October 10 before heading to Glasgow (OVO Hydro), London (OVO Arena Wembley), Manchester (AO Arena), Newcastle (Utilita Arena), Liverpool (M&S Bank Arena), and Birmingham (BP Pulse Live).
