Altice Arena

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Updated On :08 Apr, 2021

Full Name
Altice Arena

Capacity
20,100

Type
Indoor

Location
Portugal

Altice Arena, formerly known as MEO Arena, is a multi-purpose indoor arena, located in Lisbon of Portugal. It has been considered amongst the largest indoor arenas in the European Union and is also the largest indoor arena in Portugal with a capacity to hold around 20,100 spectators. The stadium was built in 1988, mainly for the 1998 Lisbon World Exposition. It was constructed by architect Regino Cruz and named after its sponsor MEO (mobile and fixed telecommunications service and brand from Portugal Telecom). The arena is also referred as the Pavilhao Atlantico. The arena was sold to Arena Atlântico S.A. for 21.2 million euros in July 2012. Portugal Telecom acquired the naming rights to the facility in May 2013, renaming it MEO Arena. In October 2017, after Altice acquired Portugal Telecom, the facility was renamed Altice Arena.

Trivia

A decade ago from the Expo '98, Lisbon lacked a proper versatile facility to host concerts and sporting events to an enormous scale. This lack of an appropriate facility gave rise to the MEO Arena in Lisbon.

Significance

MEO Arena was the final venue of the FIBA U-19 World Championship where the final match was played between Spain and USA. Spain won the match.
The 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards was one of the most remarkable events in the history of the arena.
The arena hosted its first World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) event on 4th December 2006 which was also the first WWE event in Portugal.
MEO Arena is well known for hosting concerts by eminent musical artists. Over the years, it has hosted prominent artists and bands such as Hardwell, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, One Direction, Beyonce, Backstreet Boys, Green day, Lady Gaga, The Eagles, Jennifer Lopez, etc.