Menora Mivtachim Arena

Menora Mivtachim Arena
Former names Sports Palace at Yad Eliyahu, Nokia Arena
Location 51 Yigal Allon Street
Tel Aviv, Israel
Coordinates 32°3′39.41″N 34°47′28.80″E / 32.0609472°N 34.7913333°E / 32.0609472; 34.7913333Coordinates: 32°3′39.41″N 34°47′28.80″E / 32.0609472°N 34.7913333°E / 32.0609472; 34.7913333
Owner Tel Aviv Municipality
Operator Sport Palaces Limited
Capacity Basketball: 11,768
Concerts: 8,000
Construction
Opened 1963
Renovated 1972, 2005
Expanded 2005
Tenants
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Israeli national basketball team

Menora Mivtachim Arena (Hebrew: היכל מנורה מבטחים) is a large multi-purpose sports arena in southern Tel Aviv, Israel. It is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Tel Aviv Area.

The arena is home to the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball club, a member of the Maccabi Tel Aviv sports club. It hosted the Israeli Super League final four, the State Cup final four and most of the Israeli national basketball team home games. It also hosted the European Basketball Champions Cup Final Four in 1994 and the Euroleague Final Four in 2004. In other sports, it has hosted a Davis Cup World Group match between Israel and France in 1989, and the Davis Cup quarterfinals between Israel and Russia in July 2009.

The arena is owned by the municipality of Tel Aviv, and is managed by Sports Palaces Ltd., a company also fully owned by the municipality (which also manages Bloomfield Stadium).

On January 1, 2015 the arena changed its name to Menora Mivtachim Arena (Hebrew: היכל מנורה מבטחים).

History

The arena was opened on 17 September 1963 with a game between the national basketball teams of Israel and Yugoslavia, in which the latter won 69-64.

In its early years, the arena held a capacity of 5,000 spectators, with just concrete stands, without any seats, and without a roof. In 1972, a second floor of tiers was built, increasing the capacity to 10,000 spectators. The concrete stands were covered by seats and the arena was covered with a roof. Further renovations through the years 2006–2008 modernized the arena further, added commercial facilities, and increased its capacity to 11,700.

The arena hosted the FIBA European All star game in 1997, the FIBA European Champions Cup final game in 1972, and the Euroleague Final four in 1994 and 2004.

Entertainment

The arena has hosted musical acts such as Teen Angels, Lali Espósito, Scorpions, Paul Anka, Rod Stewart, Oasis, Cyndi Lauper, LMFAO, Westlife, Five, Philipp Kirkorov, Natalia Oreiro, Alicia Keys, Sean Paul, Julio and Enrique Iglesias.

The Mamma Mia! international tour played 24 shows at the venue as well. and international tour Alegría of Cirque du Soleil.

On December 19 and 20 2015 has hosted comedian Jerry Seinfeld in his first live performance in Israel. four times, sold out the four events.

Gallery

See also

References

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nokia Arena.
    Preceded by
    Sporthal Arena
    Antwerp
    FIBA European Champions Cup
    Final Venue

    1972
    Succeeded by
    Country Hall du Sart Tilman
    Liège
    Preceded by
    Peace and Friendship Stadium
    Athens
    FIBA European Championships
    Final Four
    Venue

    1994
    Succeeded by
    Pabellón Príncipe Felipe
    Zaragoza
    Preceded by
    Abdi İpekçi Arena
    Istanbul
    FIBA Euro All star game
    Venue

    1997
    Succeeded by
    Max Schmeling Halle
    Berlin
    Preceded by
    Palau Sant Jordi
    Barcelona
    Euroleague
    Final Four
    Venue

    2004
    Succeeded by
    Olimpiisky Arena
    Moscow
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