Menora Mivtachim Arena
Menora Mivtachim Arena (Hebrew: היכל מנורה מבטחים) is a large multi-purpose sports indoor arena that is located in southern Tel Aviv, Israel. The arena is primarily used to host tennis matches, basketball games, and concerts. It is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Tel Aviv Area. The arena is owned by the municipality of Tel Aviv, and is managed by Sports Palaces Ltd., a company also fully owned by the municipality (which also manages Bloomfield Stadium and Drive in Arena). On January 1, 2015, the arena changed its name to Menora Mivtachim Arena.
 Menora Mivtachim Arena's exterior. | |
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| Former names | Yad Eliyahu Arena (1963–2003) Nokia Arena (2003–2014) |
|---|---|
| Location | 51 Yigal Alon Street, Yad Eliyahu Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Coordinates | 32°3′39.41″N 34°47′28.80″E |
| Owner | Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality |
| Operator | Sport Palaces Tel Aviv Yafo Ltd. |
| Capacity | 10,383[1] Basketball: 10,728 Concerts: 5,941[2] |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 17 September 1963 |
| Renovated | 1968-1971, 2005–2007 |
| Expanded | 1971, 2007 |
| Tenants | |
| Maccabi Tel Aviv (1964-present) Israeli national basketball team EuroBasket 2017 | |
The arena is home to the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball club, a member of the Maccabi Tel Aviv sports club. It has hosted the Israeli Super League final four, the Israeli State Cup final four, and most of the senior Israeli national basketball team's home games. It also hosted the 1994 FIBA European League Final Four and the 2004 Euroleague Final Four. In other sports, it has also hosted a 1989 Davis Cup World Group match, between Israel and France, and the 2009 Davis Cup quarterfinals between Israel and Russia, in July 2009.
History
The arena was opened on 17 September 1963, with a game between the national basketball teams of Israel and Yugoslavia, in which the latter won, by a score of 69–64.
In its early years, the arena held a capacity of 5,000 spectators, with just concrete stands, without any seats, and without a roof. In 1972, a second floor of tiers was built, increasing the capacity to 10,000 spectators. The concrete stands were covered by seats, and the arena was covered with a roof. Further renovations through the years 2005–2007 modernized the arena further, added commercial facilities, and increased its capacity to 10,383 with permanent seating, 10,823 for basketball games, and 5,941 for concerts.
The arena hosted the FIBA EuroStars all-star game in 1997, the FIBA European Champions Cup (now called EuroLeague) Finals game of the 1971–72 season, and the EuroLeague Final Four in 1994 and 2004. The arena was also used to host one of the group stages of EuroBasket 2017.
Entertainment
The arena has hosted various musical acts, such as: Teen Angels, Lali, Scorpions, Paul Anka, Take That, Rod Stewart, Neil Sedaka, Cyndi Lauper, LMFAO, Westlife, Five, Philipp Kirkorov, Juan Luis Guerra, Natalia Oreiro, Alicia Keys, Charles Aznavour, Sean Paul, and Julio and Enrique Iglesias.
The Mamma Mia! international tour played 24 shows at the venue as well. The arena also hosted shows of the international tour Alegría, of Cirque du Soleil. On December 19 and 20, 2015, the arena hosted comedian, Jerry Seinfeld, in his first live performance in Israel. All four shows of the comedian were sold out.
Grease The Musical UK tour Played for 1 week
See also
References
External links
Media related to Menora Mivtachim Arena at Wikimedia Commons
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sporthal Arena Antwerp |
FIBA European Champions Cup Final Venue 1972 |
Succeeded by Country Hall du Sart Tilman Liège |
| Preceded by Peace and Friendship Stadium Athens |
FIBA European League Final Four Venue 1994 |
Succeeded by Pabellón Príncipe Felipe Zaragoza |
| Preceded by Abdi İpekçi Arena Istanbul |
FIBA EuroStars All-Star Game Venue 1997 |
Succeeded by Max Schmeling Halle Berlin |
| Preceded by Palau Sant Jordi Barcelona |
EuroLeague Final Four Venue 2004 |
Succeeded by Olimpiisky Arena Moscow |