The László Papp Budapest Sports Arena (Hungarian: Papp László Budapest Sportaréna), also known as Budapest Sports Arena or locally just Arena, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Budapest, Hungary. It is the second biggest sports complex in the country after MVM Dome, which is also in the capital, and it is named after Hungarian boxer László Papp. The venue can hold up to 12,500 people in its largest concert configuration, up to 11,390 for boxing and 9,479 for ice hockey. It was built as a replacement for the Budapest Sports Hall (Hungarian: Budapest Sportcsarnok, or BS for short) which stood in the same place and was destroyed in a fire in December 1999. A long-distance bus station is situated under the building.
Budapest Sports Aréna | |
 Budapest Sports Aréna in September 2016 | |
 | |
| Full name | Papp László Budapest Sportaréna |
|---|---|
| Location | Budapest, Hungary |
| Coordinates | 47°30′6.99″N 19°6′19.41″E / 47.5019417°N 19.1053917°E |
| Operator | BSÜ Bouygues |
| Capacity | 11,390 (boxing) 12,000 (handball) 9,479 (ice hockey) 12,500 (concerts) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 30 June 2001 |
| Opened | 13 March 2003 |
| Architect | KÖZTI Sport Concepts |
| Tenants | |
| Hungary men's national ice hockey team | |
| Website | |
| budapestarena | |
History
edit
Construction of the arena began on 30 June 2001, after the original, the Budapest Sportcsarnok, built in 1982, burnt to the ground on 15 December 1999. The hall was finished quickly, within a year and a half, and the opening ceremony was held on 13 March 2003. Since 28 May 2004, the arena wears the name of Hungarian boxing great László Papp and is officially known as Papp László Budapest Sports Arena.[1]
The building has a total weight of 200,000 tons and contains 50,000 tons of concrete, 2,300 tons of steel structure, more than 11,000,000 bolts and several kilometres of cable.[1]
The state-of-the-art multifunctional plaza is capable of hosting almost any sort of sporting or civic event, such as basketball, gymnastics, ice skating and ice hockey, and other athletics events. It can also host extreme or thrilling events like monster trucks, motocross, jet-skiing or indoor wave surfing competitions.[2] The arena also is the top venue in the area for touring international musicians and performers, as well as dance recitals, operas, dramas, circuses, musicals and a variety of other special events.[2]
Sporting events
editThe first major international event held in the arena was the 2003 IIHF World Championship Division I, in which the hosts finished third. Next year the 2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships was organized in the hall between 5 and 7 March, followed by the final rounds and placement matches of the 2004 European Women's Handball Championship in December. A year later, Budapest Sports Arena hosted the 2005 World Wrestling Championships.
In 2007, the Hungarian Ice Hockey Federation celebrated its 80th anniversary with a friendly match against defending Olympic and World champions Sweden, played at the arena. In a closely fought battle, Hungary finally triumphed 2–1 in overtime against the Scandinavians to the delight of their 8,000 fans.[3]
Starting from 2008, every year in the Budapest Sports Arena takes place the Tennis Classics, an exhibition tennis tournament with participation of former and current tennis aces. During the years, Budapest welcomed players like Stefan Edberg, Mats Wilander, Ivan Lendl or Thomas Muster and reigning stars, such as Robin Söderling and Tomáš Berdych.[4] In addition, beside the Főnix Hall in Debrecen, Budapest Sports Arena was the other host venue of the 2010 UEFA Futsal Championship.[5]
Between 17 and 23 April 2011, the arena was the home of the 2011 IIHF World Championship Division I. The event enjoyed particular attention by the fans throughout the week and the number of 8700 spectators that attended on the decisive last-round match between Hungary and Italy is close to equal to the figures produced by the top division World Championship final, held a week later in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Following the decision of the European Handball Federation Executive Committee, the organization rights of the 2014 European Women's Handball Championship were awarded to Croatia and Hungary. Budapest Sports Arena was set to host the conclusive stage of the tournament, including the semifinals, the bronze medal match and final.[6][7]
The Final Four of the Women's EHF Champions League has been annually taking place in the arena since 2014.[8]
The 2017 World Judo Championships was also held in the Arena.
At the 2022 European Men's Handball Championship and for the next main handball events in Hungary, the arena is replaced by the New Budapest Arena.
Fire system
editThe building is protected by several fire safety systems. One of these is the protection alarm system, which in the event of a fire gives off the alarm within three seconds. The Budapest Sports Arena is also equipped with a fire hydrant system that, in the case of a catastrophe, can be used at more than sixty positions in the building. Every point of the arena can be reached with the help of the fire hoses. As a unique feature in Hungary, the building also contains three high-output water cannons. All three are positioned in the auditorium protecting the area that caused the destruction of the arena's predecessor. The Arena also has numerous fire doors that automatically lock in the case of a fire, so preventing the further spreading of a fire.
Entertainment events
editThis section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2017) |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Our history". Budapest Sports Arena Official Website. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ a b "Event types". Budapest Sports Arena Official Website. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "Legyőzte az olimpia- és világbajnokot a magyar hokiválogatott". Origo.hu (in Hungarian). 29 March 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "Tennis Classics Official Website" (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "Hungary awarded next finals". Union of European Football Associations. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "Women's EHF EURO 2014 goes to Hungary and Croatia". European Handball Federation. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "Magyar-horvát Európa-bajnokság lesz!" (in Hungarian). Handball.hu. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "Női kézi BL: további három évig Budapesten a final four – hivatalos". NSO.hu. 27 September 2016.
- ^ "Budapest Aréna". www.budapestarena.hu.
- ^ "Egyen megváltás: AC/DC, Budapest 2009.03.23. Papp László Sportaréna". hardrock.hu. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ "Mon. 23 Mar. 2009 : Budapest, Hungary (Papp Laszlo Sportarena)". ac-dc.net. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ "Beyoncé koncert Budapest képek + egy kis beszámoló". poprocks. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ "MICHAEL BUBLÉ CONCERT IN BUDAPEST SPORTARÉNA". Hungary Today. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ "ONE REPUBLIC KONCERT BUDAPEST - Jegyek a Jegyáruháztól". jegyaruhaz.hu. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "One Republic Aréna koncert 2015". jegytrafik.hu. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "SCORPIONS KONCERT BUDAPEST". SCORPIONS KONCERT BUDAPEST. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "BLACK SABBATH ANNOUNCE EUROPEAN DATES AS PART OF 'THE END' – THE FINAL TOUR". Budapest Arena. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "A RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS 20 ÉV UTÁN". Budapest Arena. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "ELMARAD - NICKELBACK". BudapestArena. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "NICKELBACK KONCERT BUDAPEST 2016 - Papp László Sportaréna". jegyaruhaz.hu. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "Budapestre jön a Green Day 2017-ben". Origo. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ "Tour | System Of A Down". systemofadown.com. 21 May 2017.
External links
edit
- Official website (in Hungarian)
- Budapest Sports Arena on KÖZTI website
- Budapest Sports Arena on Sport Concepts website
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics Venue 2004 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | European Women's Handball Championship Final venue 2004 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | FILA Wrestling World Championships Venue 2005 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | European Judo Championships Venue 2013 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | FILA Wrestling World Championships Venue 2013 |
Succeeded by |