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 second-largest ice hockey arena in Europe.
It has hosted important sporting events such as the two Ice Hockey World Championships (2004 and 2015), first edition of prestigious tennis Laver Cup, the European Athletics Indoor Championships, the Euroleague Final Four 2006, the World Floorball Championship, the Davis 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.
Video O2 Arena (Prague)
Notable events
Visitor record held by Madonna concert in 2006, which was attended by 18,628 spectators. On September 6 and 7, 2006 Madonna performed there during her Confessions Tour. She performed again at the arena on November 7 and 8, 2015 as part of her Rebel Heart Tour selling out crowds of over 16,000 patrons.
On May 12, 2008, Kylie Minogue performed there as part of her KylieX2008. She performed again at the arena on March 2, 2011 as part of her Aphrodite World Tour. On October 21, 2014 Minogue performed again as part of her Kiss Me Once Tour.
In June 2008, Céline Dion performed there during Taking Chances World Tour.
In October 2008, the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning opened the 2008-09 NHL season at O2 Arena with two games. Two years later, the NHL returned, with the Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes playing twice.
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 Finland's 7-6 victory over Sweden in the final.
Sting performed during his Symphonicities Tour on September 22, 2010, along with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
In November 2010 Lady Gaga performed there during her Monster Ball Tour.
On December 7, 2011 Rihanna performed there during her Loud Tour
The Czech Republic Davis Cup Team defeated Spain in the 2012 Davis Cup Final.
On October 26, 2012 Jennifer Lopez performed a sold-out show during her Dance Again World Tour.
On November 22, 2012 Muse performed there during their The 2nd Law World Tour.
On October 5, 2014, Lady Gaga performed there as part of Artrave: The Artpop Ball tour.
On November 9, 2014 the Czech Fed Cup team defeated the German Fed Cup team in the final of the 2014 Fed Cup.
On February 17, 2015 Queen + Adam Lambert performed there as part of their Queen + Adam Lambert Tour 2014-2015. The group will return to the arena on November 1, 2017 to kick off their 2017 European tour.
On February 23, 2015 Katy Perry performed there as part of Prismatic World Tour.
On January 30, 2016 Ellie Goulding performed there as part of Delirium World Tour.
On November 12, 2016 Justin Bieber performed a sold-out show during his Purpose World Tour
Gorillaz performed at the arena on November 14, 2017, as part of their Humanz Tour
On 22 Septembmer, 2017 the Laver Cup (prestigious tennis tournament) 1st edition.
On 7 & 8 May 2018 Enrique Iglesias will perform there as part of Enrique Iglesias Live.
On October 6, 2018 Shania Twain will perform there as part of Shania Now Tour.
The arena is also home of Transmission (festival) since 2007.
Maps O2 Arena (Prague)
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. 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.
In March 2008, the building was renamed O2 Arena.
In March 2011, Sazka filed for insolvency due to debts from building the arena.
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. 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.
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.
In 2015, O2 Arena co-hosted the IIHF World Championship with ?EZ Aréna in Ostrava for the second time. This time, the tournament re-established the record for World Championship attendance.
In 2017 hosted the 1st edition of Laver Cup international indoor hard court men's tennis tournament between Europe and Team World.
Technical facts
- Number of floors: 6
- Floor space: 35,000 m²
- Capacity: up to 18,000 spectators (depends on event)
- Club and Luxury seats: 2,460
- Sky boxes: 66
- Party Boxes: 4
- Seats in bars, restaurants and cafés: 2,900
- Beers that can be tapped in one break: 10,00
- Parking: 280 places
- Population of its catchment area: 1.5 to 1.8 million people
See also
- List of European ice hockey arenas
- List of tennis stadiums by capacity
- The O2 Arena (London)
References
Gallery
External links
- Official website of the O2 arena
- O2 arena on Facebook
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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