O2 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.

O2 Arena
O2 Arena in July 2018
Map
Former namesSazka Arena (2004 – March 2008)
LocationOcelářská 460/2, 190 00 Prague 9 – Libeň, Czech Republic
Coordinates50°6′17.14″N 14°29′36.59″E / 50.1047611°N 14.4934972°E / 50.1047611; 14.4934972
OperatorBESTSPORT akciová společnost
CapacityConcerts: 20,000
Ice hockey:17,383
Basketball:16,805[2]
Tennis:14,000
Construction
Broke groundSeptember 2002
Built2004
Opened27 March 2004[1]
Construction cost17 billion CZK
630 Million
ArchitectATIP, a.s. – Vladimír Vokatý, Martin Vokatý, Jiří Vít
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)

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

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Czech Extraliga match, Sparta Praha vs Rytíři Kladno
 
Imagine Dragons concert in 2018
 
During the EuroBasket 2022

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,[citation needed] 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 as Sazka Arena, 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.[8]

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, which stood until being surpassed in 2024 with the tournament held in the same two cities.[9]

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.[10]

Notable events

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Music

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Sport

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Technical facts

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Panorama of O2 Arena (March 2007)
  • 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: 30,000[22]
  • Parking: 280 places
  • Population of its catchment area: 1.5 to 1.8 million people

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Sazka Arena – the most modern multipurpose arena in the world". Prague.net. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Belgrade 2018 - Welcome to EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL". Euroleague.net. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  3. ^ Cameron, Rob (29 March 2004). "Sazka sports arena opened amid bitter political dispute over money". Radio Prague. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  4. ^ "Praha přijde o Sazka Arenu. Stane se z ní O2 Arena". Aktuálně.cz (in Czech). 2008-02-05. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  5. ^ "Czech lottery firm Sazka files for insolvency". Reuters. 2011-03-26. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  6. ^ "FT.com / Mergermarket - Balls up: Czech lottery ruled insolvent". Archived from the original on 2011-04-10. Retrieved 2011-04-15. Balls up: Czech lottery ruled insolvent
  7. ^ "Mike Keenan guides Metallurg Magnitogorsk to Game 7 Gagarin Cup win and record-setting KHL championship". The Hockey News. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  8. ^ "Hokejová Sparta bude hrát v O2 areně, Slavia naopak míří do Edenu". Czech Television (in Czech). 24 June 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  9. ^ Schram, Carol (26 May 2024). "David Pastrnak Lifts Czechia To 2024 World Hockey Championship Win". Forbes. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  10. ^ "FIBA EuroBasket draw to be held behind closed doors due to COVID-19". Insidethegames.biz. 2021-04-08. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  11. ^ "O2 arena - O2 arena has a record of attendance - concert of band Metallica was seen by 20 174 fans". Archived from the original on 2019-12-14.
  12. ^ Kaufman, Gil (2023-05-04). "50 Cent Announces 2023 'Final Lap' Global Tour with Busta Rhymes, Jeremih". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  13. ^ "Iron Maiden rocked arena" (in Czech). ireport.cz. 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  14. ^ "Rangers Please Crowd and Satisfy Themselves". The New York Times. 5 October 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  15. ^ "BRUINS BEAT;IDENTITY FOUND;TEAM RETURNS TO STYLE THAT WORKED IN 2009". Fox Sports. 11 October 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  16. ^ "O2 Arena se chystá na florbal. Speciální povrch bleskově přesunuli z Ostravy". idnes.cz (in Czech). 11 December 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Davis Cup final: Czech Republic edge out Spain in Prague". BBC Sport. 18 November 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Czechs hoping to clinch historic first Fed and Davis Cup double". Radio Prague. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Czechs Celebrate Commitment to Team Success". The New York Times. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Sharapova eyes first Fed Cup final against Czechs". Sports Illustrated. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Czechs Make Quick Work of U.S. in Fed Cup Final". Sports Illustrated. 11 November 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  22. ^ "Pivovod O2 areny dokáže za čtvrt hodiny "opít" pivem malé město". iDnes.cz.
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  Media related to O2 Arena (Prague) at Wikimedia Commons

Events and tenants
Preceded by HC Slavia Praha
Home Arena

2004 – 2015
Succeeded by
Zimní Stadion Eden
Preceded by Euroleague
Final Four
Venue

2006
Succeeded by
Preceded by IFF World Championships
Finals Venue

2008
Succeeded by
TBD
Preceded by CEV Champions League
Final Venue

2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by Fed Cup
Final Venue

2011
2014, 2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by Davis Cup
Final venue

2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by European Athletics Indoor Championships
Venue

2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by HC Sparta Praha
Home Arena

2015 –
Succeeded by
current