Arena 3
For the Games
- Handball preliminaries and quarter-finals for Olympic Games
- Will also host Modern Pentathlon Fencing
- Goalball for Paralympic Games
- Up to 7,000 spectator capacity
- Building work due to finish in 2011 in time for test events prior to 2012 Games
After the Games
- 6,000 seat capacity
- Equivalent space of 12 badminton court sized hall (2,717sq.m)
- Multi-sports venue with permanent and retractable seating for 6,000 spectators, plus up to a further 1,500 seats on field of play for specific events taking the total capacity to 7,500
- The venue will be used for all levels of sports participation, from events to high performance training to community use
- Sport uses will include basketball, handball, football, volleyball, badminton and netball, amongst others
- The venue will also host cultural, entertainment and business events
This international sport and entertainment arena will be capable of hosting up to 7,500 spectators for a multitude of activities and events. The Arena has been designed to be flexible in its uses, and will be able to accommodate all levels of sporting use from community, high performance training and international fixtures and events. Its flexibility also makes it the ideal venue to combine sporting uses with cultural, entertainment and business events.
The Arena will be one of the first legacy venues open following a period of transformation after the Games and is located on the West of the Park close to Hackney Wick station and near to the IBC/MPC site.
Buckingham Group Contracting has been appointed to build the Arena. The contractor has a wealth of experience delivering sports venues including football stadia, training facilities and racing circuits. Building on their successful delivery together of the MK Dons stadium in Milton Keynes, Buckingham Group Contracting will be working with Populous (formerly HOK Sport) on the detailed design and construction of the Arena. The designers that created the sustainable and flexible design for the venue, Make Architects, will oversee the detailed design process.
The venue has been designed to be simple, efficient and flexible. Its features include external copper cladding to give it a distinctive appearance that will develop a rich natural colour as it ages. The concourse level features glazing which encircles the building, enabling visitors to the Park to view sport taking place inside, and illuminating the venue when lit at night. The venue also has a vibrant and multi-coloured interior, with retractable seating to create a flexible space.
Other provision within the venue includes a 50 station fitness suite, aerobic studios, meeting rooms, crèche, café and tenant offices.
