| O2 Arena | |
|---|---|
| Former names | Sazka Arena (2004 – March 2008) |
| Location | Ocelářská 460/2, 190 00 Prague 9 – Libeň, Czech Republic |
| Broke ground | September 2002 |
| Built | 2004 |
| Opened | 27 March 2004[1] |
| Operator | BESTSPORT akciová společnost |
| Construction cost | 8 billion CZK € 347 Million |
| Architect | ATIP, a.s. – Vladimír Vokatý, Martin Vokatý, Jiří Vít |
| Capacity | Concerts: 18,000 Ice hockey:17,360 basketball:16,805[2] |
| Tenants | |
| HC Slavia Praha (Czech Extraliga) (2004–Present) Euroleague 2005–06 (Basketball) (2006) Herbalife EMEA Etravaganza (2009) |
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O2 Arena (formerly Sazka Arena, stylised as O2 arena) is a multi-purpose arena, in Prague, Czech Republic.
It was built in time for the 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships.
O2 Arena is easily accessible by public transport, from line B metro station Českomoravská, tram stops and bus stops; a train station "Praha Libeň" is close to the O2 arena as well.
O2 Arena is the home of Czech Extraliga team HC Slavia Praha.
It hosted the Final Four, of the Euroleague, in 2006.
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In October 2008, the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning opened the 2008–09 NHL season at O2 Arena with two games.
In November 2008, the French electronica 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.
Sting performed during his Symphonicities Tour on September 22, 2010, along with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
In early October 2010, the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes played two back-to-back games there to start their regulation season play in the 2010-11 NHL season.
In November 2010 Lady Gaga performed there during her Monster Ball Tour
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 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships, but due to unforeseen complications with the investors, 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 was finally finished in time to host the 2004 tournament, the 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships.[3]
In March 2008, the building was renamed O2 Arena.[4]
In March 2011, Sazka filed for insolvency due to debts from building the arena. [5][6]
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Zimní Stadion Eden |
HC Slavia Praha Home Arena 2004 – present |
Succeeded by Current |
| Preceded by Olimpiisky Arena Moscow |
Euroleague Final Venue 2006 |
Succeeded by Olympic Indoor Hall Athens |
| Preceded by Globe Arena Stockholm |
IFF World Championships Finals Venue 2008 |
Succeeded by TBD |
| Preceded by Hala MOSiR Łódź |
CEV Champions League Final Venue 2009 |
Succeeded by Arena Łódź Łódź |
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