Anne, Princess Royal visited the Aquatic Centre on 22 January 2009 and gave it a second 'opening' ceremony.

A third ceremony was held in the presence of the Mayor of Sunderland Mary Smith later that year.

It replaced the swimming pool and gymnasium facilities at the Crowtree Leisure Centre, which was opened in 1978 by Prince Charles.

In February 2017, Sunderland City Council announced that the centre would have to be closed for up to nine months to make structural repairs to the roof, after leaks were reported.

[3] In August 2018, an out-of-court agreement was reached, and Balfour Beatty committed to carry out a programme of work to repair the roof.