| SPENS | |
|---|---|
| Location | Sutjeska 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia |
| Opened | April 14, 1981 |
| Owner | JP SPC Vojvodina |
| Architect | Žika Janković Branko Bulić Duško Bogunović |
| Capacity | 11,500 |
| Tenants | |
| KK Vojvodina OK Vojvodina KK Novi Sad |
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SPC Vojvodina (Serbian: Спортски и пословни центар "Војводина", Sportski i poslovni centar "Vojvodina"[1]), commonly referred to as SPENS, is a multi-purpose venue located in Novi Sad, Serbia. It operates under publicly owned company JP "Sportski i poslovni centar Vojvodina", which in addition to SPENS also has "Sajmište Sports Center" under its umbrella. The capacity of the whole arena is 11,500.
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Sprawled over 85,000 m2, SPENS consists of main hall, 'small' hall, ice-hockey rink (which can house 1,623), bowling alley, shooting range, 3 training halls, swimming pool, 11 tennis courts, media center, 2 press centers, amphitheater, reception salon, conference hall, double-level garage, and 215 retail and business spaces that house banks, furniture stores, tourist agencies, jewelers, bookstores, pool halls, fitness clubs, boutiques, etc.
Its construction was completed in less than 2 years, and on April 14, 1981, SPENS opened its door for the first time, its inaugural event being the 9th Table Tennis European Championships in Novi Sad (Serbian: Stonotenisko prvenstvo Evrope Novi Sad – SPENS, hence the unofficial name of the venue).[2]
SPENS' most famous residents are basketball's KK Vojvodina (participating in Basketball League of Serbia) and volleyball's OK Vojvodina.
In 1987, Spens hosted basketball's European Cup Winners' Cup Final. Cibona Zagreb defeated Scavolini Pesaro 89–74.[2][3]
The venue received its biggest media exposure when it hosted round-robin action of Eurobasket 2005 in group D which consisted of Spain, Latvia, Israel and host country Serbia and Montenegro.[2] For this occasion SPENS received a major facelift that included improvements to building's technological capabilities, overhaul of its media center and addition of two video boards – one on each end of the main hall.
Since volleyball is very popular in Novi Sad, Serbia men's national volleyball team often plays its FIVB World League home matches in SPENS, as well as its friendly warm-up games.
In addition to sporting events, SPENS is often utilized as venue of choice for numerous concerts, film premieres, conventions, etc. The first ever concert held in the SPENS was by the group Sedmorica Mladih and it drew 5,000 people.
| Preceded by PalaMaggiò Castel Morrone |
Cup Winners' Cup Final Venue 1987 |
Succeeded by Palais des Sports Grenoble |
| Preceded by Alexandreio Melathron Thessaloniki |
FIBA U-19 World Championship Final Venue 2007 |
Succeeded by North Shore Events Centre Auckland |