The complex consists of a multipurpose indoor sports arena, a "hands-on" science learning centre, retail facilities and a large car park.
As of February 2025, the Odyssey Place area of the complex houses Cineworld, Hollywood Bowl, The Lost City Adventure Golf Apocalypse, W5, Funstation and a range of restaurants, shops and bars.
In 2011, the Odyssey Pavilion, which was owned by the Sheridan Group, went into administration, and the building went under the control of KPMG temporarily until energy company SSE purchased it.
[3] Since opening, the SSE Arena has been the home to the UK's Elite Ice Hockey League team, the Belfast Giants.
On 16 June 2007, the SSE Arena hosted the UFC 72: Victory as they continued their expansion into Europe where the live events were broadcast on pay-per-view in North America, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
In 2024, Odyssey Place announced that Mary Brown's, Funstation and new concept bar called Chapter & Verse will open new stores in the area during 2024.
W5, which stands for "Who, What, Where, When, Why", was developed by Sally Montgomery, the Ulster Museum's project director (and then founding CEO), with the exhibitions being designed by Hands On Inc (Florida, United States), and Ontario Science Centre, Canada.
In 2013, W5 opened 'Climbit',[6] the biggest Luckey Climber in Europe where small children can climb up twelve metres in total safety.
The plans included 800 residential units, two hotels, a promenade, shops, additional leisure facilities and a multi-storey car park.
Plans included a new entrance to the Odyssey Pavilion, upgrade of public realm spaces, and reconfiguration of existing retail units.
[8][9] The SSE Arena, Belfast, has won the ‘App of The Year’ at the 2017 DANI (Digital Advertising Northern Ireland) Awards.