The Filoil EcoOil Centre, formerly Filoil Flying V Centre, Filoil Flying V Arena, The Arena in San Juan, and San Juan Sports Arena is an indoor sporting arena located along Bonny Serrano Avenue, Barangay Corazon de Jesus, San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is also known as the Entertainment and Recreational Arena of the People, with the initials in reference to former mayor and president Joseph Estrada's nickname Erap.

Filoil EcoOil Centre
Entertainment and Recreational Arena of the People
The arena exterior in 2022.
Map
Former namesSan Juan Sports Arena
The Arena in San Juan
Filoil Flying V Arena
Filoil Flying V Centre
LocationSantolan Road, Corazon de Jesus, San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines
Coordinates14°36′20″N 121°01′58″E / 14.605574°N 121.032914°E / 14.605574; 121.032914
OwnerSan Juan city government
OperatorHomegrown Olympic Management Enterprises
Capacity6,000[1]
Construction
Opened2006
ArchitectEdgar C. Lee[citation needed]
Tenants
Leagues and events:
Philippine Basketball Association
Premier Volleyball League
Philippine Super Liga (formerly)
UAAP (2009–present)
NCAA (2007–present)
Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup (2007–present)
Philippine Collegiate Champions League
Teams:
San Miguel Alab Pilipinas (ABL) (2018–2019)
San Juan Knights (MPBL/PSL) (2018–present)

Tenants

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The arena has been used by numerous leagues across the country. In basketball, the Philippine Basketball Association, University Athletic Association of the Philippines (since 2009), National Collegiate Athletic Association (since 2007) are among the leagues that have used the venue for their games. It has also hosted basketball games of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League and Pilipinas Super League as the home venue of the San Juan Knights franchise since 2018. Alab Pilipinas also used the arena as one of its home venues during their time in the ASEAN Basketball League. The Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup (since 2007) and Philippine Collegiate Champions League are among the events that take place in the Centre.

The arena has also become known as the country's "volleyball central", having also hosted its share of volleyball leagues such as the Premier Volleyball League and the defunct Philippine Super Liga. The UAAP and NCAA also use the venue for their respective volleyball tournaments. The Centre was also used as a main venue for the San Juan Mayor's Cup, a basketball and volleyball tournament for the San Juan government employees.

Naming rights and operations

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Filoil Flying V entered in a naming rights agreement with the San Juan city government, changing the arena's name into "Filoil Flying V Arena" (renamed into Filoil Flying V Centre in 2016).[2] It was the first such agreement in the Philippines since the San Andres Gym in Malate, Manila lent naming rights to FedEx's sister company Mail And More in 2000. Currently, it is one of two sporting venues in the Philippines to named after an external naming rights partner, the other being the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

In 2015, the San Juan government signed a 15-year deal with Homegrown Olympic Management Enterprises (Filoil EcoOil Sports), the organizer of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup that which be helmed the day-by-day operations and management of the centre. Among the HOME's plans is to convert the Centre into a complete events venue and add a new structure for restaurants and business establishments.[3]

In July 2022, the venue was renamed as the Filoil EcoOil Center. The venue's new logo was unveiled at the start of the 15th FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup.

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References

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  1. ^ Agcaoili, Lance (March 24, 2022). "PVL to welcome back fans at full capacity starting Monday". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  2. ^ "UP takes over La Salle's V-League spot". GMANews.tv. April 5, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
  3. ^ Terrado, Reuben (April 30, 2015). "Filoil Flying V Arena operator plans upgrade from sports center to complete events venue". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
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