O2 Arena (Prague) Explained

O2 Arena
Location:Ocelářská 460/2, 190 00 Prague 9 – Libeň, Czech Republic
Pushpin Map:Czech Republic Prague
Coordinates:50.1048°N 14.4935°W
Broke Ground:September 2002
Built:2004
Opened:27 March 2004[1]
Operator:BESTSPORT akciová společnost
Construction Cost:17 billion CZK
630 Million
Architect:ATIP, a.s. – Vladimír Vokatý, Martin Vokatý, Jiří Vít
Former Names:Sazka Arena (2004 – March 2008)
Tenants:Czech Republic men's national ice hockey team (2004-present)
HC Slavia Praha (Czech Extraliga) (2004–2015)
HC Sparta Praha (Czech Extraliga) (2015–present)
HC Kladno (Czech Extraliga) (3 games) (2012)
HC Lev Praha (KHL) (occasional games) (2012–2014)
Capacity:Concerts: 20,000
Ice hockey:17,383
Basketball:16,805[2]
Tennis:14,000

O2 Arena (formerly Sazka Arena, stylised as O2 arena) is a multi-purpose arena, in Prague, Czech Republic. It is home to HC Sparta Prague of the Czech Extraliga and is the third-largest ice hockey arena in Europe.

It has hosted important sporting events such as three Ice Hockey World Championships (2004, 2015 and 2024), the first edition of the prestigious tennis Laver Cup, the European Athletics Indoor Championships, the Euroleague Final Four 2006, the World Floorball Championship, the 2012 Davis Cup finals, four Fed Cup finals, as well as a handful of NHL and KHL games, including a 2014 Gagarin Cup final. It can also host stage shows, such as concerts, and other large-scale events.

History

The idea of building a new arena in Prague came on the heels of the "golden era" of Czech ice hockey: winning the gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics and three gold medals in a row at the Ice Hockey World Championships from 1999 to 2001. 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 opened in March 2004, in time to host 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 and other problems.[5] [6] Sazka was then re-organized and financially stabilized.

From its opening until 2015, it was home to HC Slavia Prague of the Czech Extraliga. Slavia won the national championship on home ice in Game 7 of the 2008 Extraliga finals against HC Karlovy Vary 4–0 in front of a then-league-record crowd of 17,117. For two seasons, 2012–13 and 2013–14, O2 Arena also hosted occasional home games of HC Lev Prague of the Kontinental Hockey League. The club played its home games of the 2014 Gagarin Cup Finals at O2 Arena, attracting the three largest crowds in league history.[7] In 2015, Slavia was relegated to the 1.liga, and the club chose to move back to the smaller Zimní stadion Eden, the team's former home and current training centre. In its place, O2 Arena reached an agreement with cross-town rivals Sparta Prague on 24 June 2015. Sparta ownership cited the need for significant renovations at Tipsport Arena as the main reason for the move.

In 2015, O2 Arena co-hosted the IIHF World Championship with ČEZ Aréna in Ostrava for the second time. This time, the tournament re-established the record for World Championship attendance.

In 2017, it hosted the 1st edition of Laver Cup international indoor hard court men's tennis tournament between Europe and Team World.

In 2021, the venue was scheduled to host some group phase matches at the FIBA EuroBasket 2021, which the country was to cohost with Georgia in Tbilisi, Germany in Berlin/Cologne and Italy in Milan. The event was canceled.[8]

Notable events

Music

Sport

Technical facts

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sazka Arena – the most modern multipurpose arena in the world. Prague.net. 10 April 2018.
  2. Web site: Belgrade 2018 - Welcome to EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL. Euroleague.net. 10 April 2018.
  3. News: Rob. Cameron. Sazka sports arena opened amid bitter political dispute over money . . 29 March 2004 . 7 June 2011.
  4. Web site: 2008-02-05. Praha přijde o Sazka Arenu. Stane se z ní O2 Arena. 2021-12-10. Aktuálně.cz. cs.
  5. News: 2011-03-26. Czech lottery firm Sazka files for insolvency. Reuters. 2021-12-10.
  6. Web site: FT.com / Mergermarket - Balls up: Czech lottery ruled insolvent . 2011-04-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110410231947/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/ebc918b0-61ca-11e0-88f7-00144feab49a,dwp_uuid=e8477cc4-c820-11db-b0dc-000b5df10621.html . 2011-04-10 . Balls up: Czech lottery ruled insolvent
  7. Web site: Mike Keenan guides Metallurg Magnitogorsk to Game 7 Gagarin Cup win and record-setting KHL championship. 2021-12-10. The Hockey News. 30 April 2014 .
  8. Web site: 2021-04-08. FIBA EuroBasket draw to be held behind closed doors due to COVID-19. 2021-12-10. Insidethegames.biz.
  9. Web site: O2 arena - O2 arena has a record of attendance - concert of band Metallica was seen by 20 174 fans. https://web.archive.org/web/20191214073401/https://www.o2arena.cz/en/news/O2-arena-has-a-record-of-attendance-concert-of-band-Metallica-was-seen-by-20-174-fans_972.html. 2019-12-14.
  10. Kaufman . Gil . 2023-05-04 . 50 Cent Announces 2023 'Final Lap' Global Tour with Busta Rhymes, Jeremih . 2024-03-23 . Billboard . en-US.
  11. Web site: Iron Maiden rocked arena. ireport.cz. 2023-05-31. 2023-05-31. cs.
  12. Web site: Rangers Please Crowd and Satisfy Themselves. The New York Times. 5 October 2008. 11 October 2023.
  13. Web site: BRUINS BEAT;IDENTITY FOUND;TEAM RETURNS TO STYLE THAT WORKED IN 2009. Fox Sports. 11 October 2010. 11 October 2023.
  14. Web site: O2 Arena se chystá na florbal. Speciální povrch bleskově přesunuli z Ostravy. cs. idnes.cz. 11 December 2008. 11 October 2023.
  15. Web site: Davis Cup final: Czech Republic edge out Spain in Prague. BBC Sport. 18 November 2012. 11 October 2023.
  16. Web site: Czechs hoping to clinch historic first Fed and Davis Cup double. Radio Prague. 16 November 2012. 11 October 2023.
  17. Web site: Czechs Celebrate Commitment to Team Success. The New York Times. 10 November 2014. 11 October 2023.
  18. Sharapova eyes first Fed Cup final against Czechs. Sports Illustrated. 11 November 2015. 11 October 2023.
  19. Czechs Make Quick Work of U.S. in Fed Cup Final. Sports Illustrated. 11 November 2018. 11 October 2023.
  20. News: Pivovod O2 areny dokáže za čtvrt hodiny "opít" pivem malé město. iDnes.cz.