O2 Arena (Prague)
| File:O2 arena, od Českomoravské.jpg | |
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| Former names | Sazka Arena (2004-March 2008) |
|---|---|
| Location | Ocelářská 460/2 190 00 Prague 9 - Libeň, Czech Republic |
| Operator | BESTSPORT akciová společnost |
| Capacity | Concerts: 18,000 Ice hockey:17,360 basketball:16,805[2] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September 2002 |
| Built | 2004 |
| Opened | 27 March 2004[1] |
| Construction cost | 8 billion CZK € 347 Million |
| Architect | ATIP, a.s. - Vladimír Vokatý, Martin Vokatý, Jiří Vít |
| Tenants | |
| HC Slavia Praha (Czech Extraliga) (2004-Present) Euroleague 2005–06 (Basketball) (2006) Herbalife EMEA Etravaganza (2009) | |
O2 arena, formerly Sazka Arena, is a multi-purpose arena, in Prague, Czech Republic.
It was built in time for the 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships.
The O2 arena is the home of Czech Extraliga team HC Slavia Praha.
It hosted the Final Four of the Euroleague in 2006.
O2 Arena has hosted concerts by Madonna, Celine Dion, Tina Turner, Kylie Minogue, Beyoncé, Depeche Mode, KISS, R.E.M., Roger Waters, AC/DC, Jean Michel Jarre, Queen, Queen + Paul Rodgers, Luciano Pavarotti, Phil Collins, Genesis, Slade, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns N' Roses, Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam, Bryan Adams, Lenny Kravitz, Christina Aguilera, Shakira, Linkin Park, Gwen Stefani, P!nk, Evermore, Coldplay, Eros Ramazzotti, Backstreet Boys, Tiesto, Vanessa Mae, Karel Gott, Tom Jones, Rammstein, The Eagles, Mötley Crüe, Nine Inch Nails, The Black Eyed Peas, Aerosmith, Bob Dylan & Tokio Hotel, among others.
The O2 arena is easily accessible by public transport, there is a metro line B "Českomoravská" station, tram stops and bus stops; a train station "Praha Libeň" is close to the O2 arena as well.
Recent events
In October 2008, the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning opened the 2008–09 NHL season at the O2 Arena with two games.
In November 2008, the French electronia pioneer Jean Michel Jarre performed his Oxygène album live at the arena, as part of the second leg of the Oxygène 30th anniversary tour.
In December 2008, the arena played host to the playoff matches of the 2008 Men's World Floorball Championships, including the 7:6 Finnish upset over Sweden.
History
The idea of building a new arena in Prague came on the heels of the "golden era" of Czech ice hockey: winning 3 gold medals in a row. The arena was proposed to be built in time to host the 2003 World Championship tournament in ice hockey, but due to unforeseen complications with the investors,[citation needed] the ice hockey governing body had to switch that tournament to Finland. The arena's main backer then became Sazka a.s., a Czech betting company.
The construction of the arena (which began in September 2002) was not without problems, but it finally finished in time to host the 2004 tournament.
In March 2008, the building was renamed O2 Arena[3].
Technical facts
- Number of floors: 6
- Floor space: 35,000 m²
- Capacity: up to 18,000 spectators (depends on action)
- Club and Luxury seats: 2,460
- Skyboxes: 66
- Party Boxes: 4
- Places in bars,restaurants and cafés: 2,900
- Parking: 280 places
- Population of its catchment area: 1.5 to 1.8 million people
Gallery
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Interior of the O2 Arena -
View from Ocelářská street -
Sazka Arena in June 2007, before Ozzy Osbourne's concert
Sources
References
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2008) |
Wye Valley School perform at the 02 (Wye Valley School