Hala sportova

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Palata sportova

Location	Belgrade, Serbia
Opened	1968
Owner	New Belgrade Sports and Business Center
Tenants
KK Lavovi
Seats
5,000 (Sporting events) 7,000 (Musical events)

Hala sportova (Sports' Hall) is a multi-purpose venue located in Belgrade municipality of New Belgrade.

The building's actual name is Palata sportova (Sports' Palace) but it is widely known by its informal title - Hala. It was built and opened during 1968. Today it functions as part of publicly owned New Belgrade Sports and Business Center (JP Sportski i poslovni centar Novi Beograd). Nearby sports and recreation center '11. April' is also included under its umbrella.

Hala seats up to 5,000 people for sporting events and up to 7,000 for musical events.

[edit] Sports

Hala sportova served as home floor for many sports teams. Perhaps the most prominent being the Partizan basketball club which played its home games here from late 1970s until early 1990s. During this time, famous Partizan players like Dragan Kićanović, Dražen Dalipagić, Vlade Divac, Aleksandar Sasha Đorđević, Predrag Danilović and Žarko Paspalj graced Hala's floor.

Their finest Hala hour came in the second leg of 1989 Korac Cup final. Playing Pallacanestro Cantù (Viva Vismar), Partizan came back from the first leg with a 13 point deficit. However, a heroic performance on Hala floor saw them overturn the Italians' lead and win the Cup in high style with a splendid 19-point victory.

Hala has also been home to basketball's KK Novi Beograd, known throughout its history of sponsorships as IMT, Infos-RTM, and Beopetrol while now playing as Atlas. Another current resident is KK Lavovi.

Other former basketball occupants included now defunct KK Beobanka (during the 1990s) and occasionally even nomadic KK Radnicki which at one time or another played its home games in just about every spot within Belgrade city limits that has two hoops and a roof.

In addition to basketball, various handball, boxing, karate, aikido, and judo teams trained and hosted matches and events in Hala.

[edit] Concerts

Along with sports, Hala has played host to many shows by a variety of musical acts. They include:

Bryan Adams - November 28, 2006
Kool & The Gang - November 7, 2006
Viki Miljković - December 18, 2005
Indira Radić - April 27, 2004
Faithless - April 18, 2004
Fun Lovin' Criminals - March 10, 2004
The Stranglers - February 13, 2004
Blondie - December 3, 2003
Placebo - September 2, 2003

Image:Soulfly in BG Feb23 2003.jpg

Soulfly rocks Hala, Feb. 23, 2003

Urban Experience level 10 (DJ Bob Sinclar, DJ Dave Lee, DJ Terry Farley + dancers from Miss Moneypenny's) - September 1, 2003
Public Enemy - June 5, 2003
Roni Size - May 17, 2003
Soulfly - February 23, 2003
Urban Experience level 7 (X-Press 2, DJ Josh Wink, Audio Soul Project, DJ Vlada Janjic, DJ Gordan Paunovic) - May 10, 2002
Kosheen - January 11, 2002
Stereo MCs - December 7, 2001
Psihomodo Pop - March 30, 2001
Reprazent (Roni Size, Krust, MC Dynamite) - December 23, 2000
Darko Rundek - December 22, 2000
KUD Idijoti - December 10, 2000
Darkwood Dub - February 2000
Van Gogh - December 24, 1999