.jpg) The Copper Box Arena in September 2013 | |
 Interactive map of Copper Box Arena | |
| Former names | Handball Arena (2011–12) |
|---|---|
| Location | Hackney Wick,London |
| Coordinates | 51°32′39.84″N0°1′12.36″W / 51.5444000°N 0.0201000°W /51.5444000; -0.0201000 |
| Public transit |      StratfordStratford InternationalHackney Wick |
| Owner | London Legacy Development Corporation |
| Operator | Greenwich Leisure Limited |
| Capacity | Concerts: 7,481 Basketball: 6,000[3] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | October 2009 |
| Built | 2009–11 |
| Opened | May 2011 (2011-05) |
| Construction cost | £44 million[1] (£74.5 million in 2024 sterling[2]) |
| Architect | Make Architects,Populous,PTW Architects,ARUP |
| Tenants | |
| London Lions(BBL) (2013–present) London Lions Women(WBBL) (2017–present) London GD Handball Club(EHA) (2013–present) London Pulse(EN/NS) (2018–present) London Royal Ravens(CODL) (2020–2023) | |
TheCopper Box Arena is a multi-sport venue built for the2012 Summer Olympics, located in theQueen Elizabeth Olympic Park inLondon, England.
Previously known as theHandball Arena, it was renamed because, aside fromhandball, it hostedmodern pentathlon (fencing, shooting, swimming, horse jumping and running) during the Olympics and was thegoalball venue for the2012 Summer Paralympics.[4]
London's Olympic bid proposed that there would be four indoor arenas in the Olympic Park, in addition to other main venues, but the revised masterplan published in 2006 reduced this to three, with the volleyball being moved toEarls Court Exhibition Centre.[5] The fencing arena was also cancelled, and the fencing took place atExCeL. Construction of the building was completed on time in early 2011 and came in under budget.[6] The design incorporateslight pipes andrainwater collectors to reduce both energy and water use by 40%.[7] Test events were successfully hosted at the venue ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.
In January 2012, the venue was renamed the Copper Box from the Handball Arena, thus reflecting the look of the building and the fact that it would not just be used for Handball.[8]British Handball campaigned for the rebrand to be reversed.[4]
The Copper Box has 7,000 seats. It was used forhandball preliminaries andmodern pentathlon fencing during the Olympic Games, and forgoalball during theParalympic Games. The handball men's quarter-finals, all semi-finals and both finals were held at the largerBasketball Arena.
The Copper Box was praised for its loud, exciting atmosphere during handball games.[9] For the Paralympics goalball events the crowd in the Box were required to be quiet.[10]
The venue has been adapted into a multi-sport arena for community use, athlete training and major events.
British Basketball League sideLondon Lions relocated to the Copper Box for the2013–14 season.[11] They played their first game there on 14 August 2013 in front of a sell-out crowd, losing 72–107 to theIowa Hawkeyes American college basketball team in an exhibition match.[12] TheLions' women's team, playing in theWBBL, moved to the venue in 2017.
The venue played host to the2015 Netball Superleague Grand Final,[13] which saw theSurrey Storm win their first Netball Superleague title, defeating theHertfordshire Mavericks, 56–39. The venue is the home arena for theLondon Pulse, who since 2018 have played in the Superleague. It has also hosted several home test matches for theEngland national team.[citation needed]
The Copper Box hosted theLondon Grand Prixbadminton tournament on 1–6 October 2013. The London Grand Prix forms part of theBadminton World Federation's Grand Prix Gold series.
TheWheelchair Rugby event at the 2014Invictus Games was held at the venue in September 2014, as was the BT World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge in October 2015.[citation needed]
London GD Handball Club, one of the oldest handball clubs in the country, used the venue for its home matches.[14]
The floor was badly damaged during a mass fitness event in January 2014, resulting in several netball internationals having to be played elsewhere at the last minute.[15]
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive andSuper Smash Bros. MeleeDreamHack London 2015 took place at the Copper Box on 19–20 September.[16]
On 3 February 2018, the Copper Box hosted the amateur boxing fight betweenYouTubersKSI and Joe Weller.[17] It has also hostedIBF boxing.[18]
From 22 to 25 February 2018, the venue played host to theITTF Team World Cup table tennis competition.[19]
TheRocket League Championship Series Season 5 World Championship, an Esports event sponsored byPsyonix, the video game company who createdRocket League, was hosted there on 8–10 June 2018.[20] The event was notable for "The Shot", in which Justin "jstn." Morales, a player onNRG, scored a last-second goal that forced overtime in game 7 of the World Championship Grand Final Bracket Reset. The RLCS would return to the Copper Box for the 2021–2022 season Spring Major on 29 June–3 July 2022, with crowds only being present on the final two days.Moist Esports won that Major's Grand Final 4–3 in series 1 and 4–0 in the Bracket Reset.[21]
Great Britain played Kazakhstan at the arena in April 2019, in the tennisFed Cup World Group II play-offs.[22]
On 31 August 2019, the venue was used forNew Japan Pro-Wrestling's show in theUnited Kingdom,Royal Quest.[23] NJPW returned to the Copper Box forRoyal Quest III on 13 October 2023.[citation needed]
From 14 to 16 November 2019 the venue hostedX0, an annual event presented byXbox.[24]
Between January and July 2020, the Copper Box Arena was used as the home venue for theLondon Royal Ravens, aneSports team taking part in the inauguralCall of Duty League.[citation needed]
TheApex Legends Global Series Year 3 Split 1 finals, was hosted there on 2-5 Feb 2023.[25]
The arena was one of the three venues selected to host matches in the2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup.[26]
The arena hosted theLeague of Legends MSI 2023 tournament between 2-21 May 2023.[27]
Revolution Pro Wrestling (Otherwise known as RevPro) hosted their11th and12th anniversary shows at the venue on 26 August 2023 and 24 August 2024, each one day beforeAll Elite Wrestling'sAll In 2023 and2024 events atWembley Stadium.
In November 2023, the arena was used for the2023 Billie Jean King Cup play-offs betweenGreat Britain andSweden, which determine which team is relegated below the qualifying rounds in 2024.[28]
On 24th March 2025, the arena hosted the UK's inauguralBaller League fixture.
Beginning in August 2025 the arena hosted the London residency for the bandGorillaz.
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