The O2 Arena facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The O2 Arena

The O2 entertainment complex, which houses the arena
The O2 Arena Location in Royal Borough of Greenwich
Full name	The O2 Arena
Former names	North Greenwich Arena (during the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics)
Location	Greenwich, London, SE10
Coordinates	51°30′10″N 0°00′12″E / 51.5029°N 0.0032°E / 51.5029; 0.0032
Public transit	North Greenwich
Owner	Homes England
Operator	Ansco Arena Limited (AEG Live) Europe
Capacity	20,000
Surface	Versatile
Construction
Built	2003–2007
Opened	24 June 2007
Architect	HOK Sport Now POPULOUS
Structural engineer	Buro Happold
Services engineer	M-E Engineers Ltd.
General contractor	Sir Robert McAlpine
Tenants
2012 Summer Olympics (2012) 2012 Summer Paralympics (2012) ATP Finals (2009–2020)

The O2 Arena, often called The O2, is a huge indoor stadium in London, England. It's located in the The O2 entertainment area on the Greenwich Peninsula. This amazing venue opened its doors in 2007.

The O2 Arena is one of the biggest indoor places in the United Kingdom. It has a large seating capacity for many events. In 2008, it was the busiest music arena in the world. It's also one of the largest buildings globally by its sheer size.

The arena was built inside the Millennium Dome. This dome is a famous landmark that was created for a big exhibition. Many people still call the entire venue "The Dome." The O2 Arena gets its name from its main sponsor, the phone company O2.

You can easily get to The O2 Arena by public transport. The closest subway station is North Greenwich. It is on the Jubilee line.

History of The O2 Arena

After the Millennium Dome's exhibition closed in 2000, plans were made to turn it into a fun entertainment complex. Building the arena started in 2003. It was completed and ready by 2007.

One interesting fact about its construction is how the roof was built. Cranes couldn't fit inside the dome. So, the arena's roof was built on the ground first. Then, it was carefully lifted into place. The rest of the building was constructed around this roof.

The O2 Arena building is separate from other parts of The O2 complex. It has all its own facilities. The arena building itself takes up about 40% of the huge dome structure.

Flexible Design for Events

The O2 Arena is very flexible. Its seating can be changed for different events. The floor can also be transformed. It can become an ice rink for skating. It can be a basketball court for games. It can also be used for exhibitions, conferences, or concerts.

The arena was designed to have great sound. It helps reduce echoes, which can be a problem in older venues. This makes music concerts sound much better.

Damage to the O2's tent, above the roof of the O2 Arena, caused by Storm Eunice (2022)

Storm Eunice Damage and Quick Repairs

In February 2022, a big storm called Storm Eunice hit London. Strong winds damaged parts of the arena's fabric roof. About 1,000 people had to leave the venue.

The O2 Arena closed for a short time for repairs. Workers fixed the roof quickly. The arena reopened just a few days later for a concert.

Exciting Events at The O2 Arena

The O2 Arena has hosted many different kinds of events. These include sports, concerts, music festivals, and comedy shows. It even hosted events for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Prince's stage for his sold-out 21-night residency The Earth Tour, 2007

Famous Music Concerts

Many famous music artists have performed at The O2 Arena. Stars like Beyoncé, Prince, Ariana Grande, JoJo Siwa, Billie Eilish, and Katy Perry have all played there.

In 2009, American singer Michael Jackson planned to do 50 shows at the arena. This special series of concerts was called "This Is It." Sadly, he passed away before the first show.

Sports and Other Major Events

During the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, the arena had a different name. It was called the North Greenwich Arena. This was because of rules about company sponsors during the Olympics.

The arena was home to the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament for many years. This big event took place there from 2009 to 2020.

O2 Arena hosting a tennis match at the ATP World Tour Finals

Since 2013, The O2 has hosted C2C: Country to Country. This is Europe's largest country music festival. Thousands of fans come to enjoy the music every year.

In October 2022, a historic boxing match happened at The O2. It was between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall. This was the first time two female boxers were the main event at a major UK venue.

The O2 Arena has also hosted big wrestling events. In July 2023, it held WWE Money In The Bank. It also hosted Friday Night SmackDown the day before.

In November 2024, the arena hosted the finals of the 2024 League of Legends World Championship. This is a huge event for video game fans.

In May 2025, the Japanese heavy metal band Babymetal made history. They were the first Japanese artists to headline and sell out a show at The O2 Arena.

In August 2025, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) held its Forbidden Door event at The O2. It set a new record for the most fans at a professional wrestling event there.

Ticket Sales Records

New Jersey Nets v Miami Heat, an NBA game in the O2 Arena

Even though The O2 Arena is open for only about 200 days a year, it sells many tickets. In 2007, it sold over 1.2 million tickets. This made it one of the most popular venues in the world for concerts.

As of 2023, The O2 Arena was the third busiest music arena globally. This is based on how many tickets it sold.

Awards and Recognition

The O2 Arena has won many awards for being a top venue. Some of these include:

• 2016 Pollstar International Venue of the Year
• 2016 Billboard Touring Awards: Top Arena
• 2016 The London Venue Awards: Best Music Venue
• 2016 The Drum UK Event Awards: Large Venue of the Year
• 2017 Pollstar International Venue of the Year

See also

In Spanish: The O2 Arena para niños

• The O2
• Millennium Dome
• List of tennis stadiums by capacity