The BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year will return to Liverpool this year.
An announcement at the city’s Bluecoat on Monday confirmed that the ACC Arena is set to stage this December’s edition of the annual awards.
Liverpool first hosted the flagship ceremony in 2008 during its year as the European Capital of Culture, with 9,000 people flocking to the event.
A crowd of almost 11,000 is expected to attend this year’s awards, which Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan will again present.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “We’re honoured and excited to be rolling out the red carpet for BBC Sports Personality of the Year in Liverpool.
“We’re a city full of passionate sports fans and we’re renowned the world over for our hospitality, so we cannot wait to welcome the BBC in December.”
Liverpool’s hosting of Sports Personality of the Year has also won the backing of sport’s biggest names including three-time Olympic medal winning cyclist Chris Hoy.
He said: “I haven’t been to Liverpool in years, and I couldn’t believe it when we arrived.
“We were driving past the Albert Dock and it just looked so beautiful.
“The people of Liverpool are so friendly and their reception was unbelievable.
“The last time I went to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards was four years ago, and there were just 200 athletes in a studio. It was nothing like this.”
Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton echoed Hoy’s acclaim for the city.
“It’s my first time here in Liverpool and it has been unbelievable,” said the driver.
“I’ve been to the awards once before, I think it was Birmingham.
“This was better. It’s the best awards I have ever been to. It was incredible.”