Ondrej Nepela Arena

Zimný štadión Ondreja Nepelu
Former names	Samsung Aréna T-Com Aréna ST Aréna
Location	Odbojárov 9 Bratislava, Slovakia
Broke ground	October 28, 1939
Opened	December 14, 1940
Renovated	1958, 1990 - 1992, 2009 - 2011
Owner	Mesto Bratislava
Construction cost	$108 million ($118 million in 2014 dollars[ 1])
Capacity	10,055 (Ice hockey) 10,200 (concert)
Tenants
HC Slovan Bratislava (KHL)

Ondrej Nepela Arena (Slovak: Zimný štadión Ondreja Nepelu), known as Slovnaft Arena during the 2011 IIHF Championship, formerly Samsung Arena, also known as Slovnaft Arena, is an arena in Bratislava, Slovakia. It is primarily used for ice hockey and it is the home arena of HC Slovan Bratislava. It opened in 1940 and held 8,350 people until its full reconstruction started in 2009. The reconstructed arena opened in spring 2011 with one of the most advance game presentation, LED scoreboards and security systems ever built. The system was designed and constructed by Colosseo EAS, a Slovak company, which was part of MONOGRAM Technologies until 2013. It has increased capacity to 10,055 spectators. In the past Samsung arena was called ST Arena and T-Com Arena. So-called "reconstruction" under command of SZLH president's company costs 87 million €.^[1] Beside the reconstruction SZLH president built a new hotel next to arena, which was built without building permit in the beginning.^[2] Slovak and Czech ice-hockey players and team staff were accommodated in this hotel during the 2011 IIHF World Championship.

The Stadium is named in honour of Ondrej Nepela, Slovak figure skater who competed for Czechoslovakia in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and he is the 1972 Winter Olympics figure skating winner.

An NHL pre-season game was held at the Samsung Arena between HC Slovan Bratislava and the Tampa Bay Lightning on September 30, 2008. Tampa Bay won 3-2 in overtime. On October 2, 2011, the arena hosted another NHL pre-season game, this time between HC Slovan Bratislava and New York Rangers who beat the home team 4-1.^[3]

It was one of the two hosting venues for the 2011 IIHF World Championship. The stadium's name was temporarily changed to Orange Arena, only for the time of the World Championship being held from April 29, 2011 to May 15, 2011, while the other venue being the Steel Aréna in Košice.^[4]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ondrej Nepela Arena.

Beyoncé performed at Slovnaft Arena as part of The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour on April 19, 2013. ^[5]

Ice age live performed at Slovnaft Arena on January 25. - 26. 2014

Depeche Mode will performen at Slovnaft Arena as part of Delta Machine Tour on March 6. 2014.

Andrea Bocelli performed at Slovnaft Arena on December 29. 2013

Cirque du Soleil performed at Slovnaft Arena on September 11. - 15. 2012

References

Coordinates: 48°09′36″N 17°08′10″E / 48.16000°N 17.13611°E / 48.16000; 17.13611