László Papp Budapest Sports Arena

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 biggest sports complex in the country 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 Sportaréna
Budapest Sports Aréna
Budapest Sports Aréna
Full namePapp László Budapest Sportaréna
LocationBudapest, Hungary
Coordinates47°30′6.99″N 19°6′19.41″E
OperatorBSÜ
Bouygues
Capacity11,390 (boxing)
12,000 (handball)
9,479 (ice hockey)
12,500 (concerts)
Construction
Broke ground30 June 2001
Opened13 March 2003
ArchitectKÖZTI
Sport Concepts
Tenants
Hungary men's national ice hockey team
Website
budapestarena.hu

History
The box office of the arena
Lady Gaga during a concert in the László Papp Budapest Sports Arena (7 November 2010)

Construction of the arena began on 30 June 2001, after the original Budapest Sportcsarnok, built in 1982, burnt to the ground on 15 December 1999. The sports hall was finished 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 to host almost all sort of sport events such as ball games, gymnastics competitions, ice hockey matches and athletics events, moreover spectacular and extreme sports events like motocross, jet-skiing or surfing competitions.[2]

The arena also has a leading role in the entertainment business with regularly welcoming the greatest international stars of the music industry, as well as dance shows, operas, dramas, circus arts, musicals and a variety of other special events.[2]

The 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.

The arena will be one of the venues of the 2022 European Men's Handball Championship.[9]

Fire system

The 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

References
  1. "Our history". Budapest Sports Arena Official Website. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  2. "Event types". Budapest Sports Arena Official Website. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  3. "Legyőzte az olimpia- és világbajnokot a magyar hokiválogatott". Origo.hu (in Hungarian). 29 March 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  4. "Tennis Classics Official Website" (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  5. "Hungary awarded next finals". Union of European Football Associations. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  6. "Women's EHF EURO 2014 goes to Hungary and Croatia". European Handball Federation. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  7. "Magyar-horvát Európa-bajnokság lesz!" (in Hungarian). Handball.hu. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  8. http://www.nemzetisport.hu/kezilabda/noi-kezi-bl-tovabbi-harom-evig-budapesten-a-final-four-hivatalos-2528039
  9. http://www.nemzetisport.hu/kezilabda/ferfi-kezilabda-magyarorszag-europa-bajnoksagot-rendez-2642439
  10. https://www.budapestarena.hu/programok
  11. "Egyen megváltás: AC/DC, Budapest 2009.03.23. Papp László Sportaréna". hardrock.hu. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  12. "Mon. 23 Mar. 2009 : Budapest, Hungary (Papp Laszlo Sportarena)". ac-dc.net. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  13. "Beyoncé koncert Budapest képek + egy kis beszámoló". poprocks. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  14. "MICHAEL BUBLÉ CONCERT IN BUDAPEST SPORTARÉNA". Hungary Today. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  15. "ONE REPUBLIC KONCERT BUDAPEST - Jegyek a Jegyáruháztól". jegyaruhaz.hu. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  16. "One Republic Aréna koncert 2015". jegytrafik.hu. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  17. "SCORPIONS KONCERT BUDAPEST". SCORPIONS KONCERT BUDAPEST. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  18. "BLACK SABBATH ANNOUNCE EUROPEAN DATES AS PART OF 'THE END' – THE FINAL TOUR". Budapest Arena. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  19. "A RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS 20 ÉV UTÁN". Budapest Arena. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  20. "ELMARAD - NICKELBACK". BudapestArena. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  21. "NICKELBACK KONCERT BUDAPEST 2016 - Papp László Sportaréna". jegyaruhaz.hu. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  22. "Budapestre jön a Green Day 2017-ben". Origo. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  23. https://systemofadown.com/tour/
Events and tenants
Preceded by
National Indoor Arena
Birmingham		 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics
Venue
2004		 Succeeded by
Olimpiysky Stadium
Moscow
Preceded by
Atletion
Aarhus		 European Women's Handball Championship
Final venue
2004		 Succeeded by
Hovet
Stockholm
Preceded by
Madison Square Garden
New York City
and
Palais des Sports Robert Oubron
Créteil		 FILA Wrestling World Championships
Venue
2005		 Succeeded by
Tianhe Sports Center
Guangzhou
Preceded by
Traktor Ice Arena
Chelyabinsk		 European Judo Championships
Venue
2013		 Succeeded by
Park&Suites Arena
Montpellier
Preceded by
Sinan Erdem Dome
Istanbul
and
Millennium Place
Strathcona County		 FILA Wrestling World Championships
Venue
2013		 Succeeded by
Tashkent
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