Preparations for Europe's newest purpose built convention centre are stepping up a gear as the facility approaches its official opening in January 2008.

MTV Networks International (MTVNI) today announced that Liverpool will be the host city for the fifteenth annual MTV Europe Music Awards in 2008. This will be the third time that the UK has hosted the Awards. Previously the event has been held in London (1996) and Edinburgh (2003).

There are now just 100 days to go until the spectacular 10,600 seat Echo Arena Liverpool opens for business.

THE legendary Ringo Starr will be the first ever performer at the new ECHO Arena Liverpool

ACC Liverpool has come second in a major survey of UK convention centres - despite not being open yet.