Copper Box Arena to celebrate 10th anniversary with open day

The Copper Box Arena, in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, has announced its 10th anniversary celebration.

Since its grand public opening in 2013, following the site’s post-2012 Olympic Games transformation, the arena has become a symbol of sporting excellence, a hub for community engagement, and a source of inspiration for athletes and spectators alike.

Over the past decade, Copper Box Arena has welcomed 3,146,774 visitors through its doors, solidifying its position as a premier destination for sports and entertainment in the heart of London.

With an impressive number of events, Copper Box Arena, owned by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LDDC) and operated by Better, the charitable enterprise, has proven itself to be a thriving centre for entertainment.

It has hosted a wide array of sporting spectacles including numerous national, European and world championship covering a diverse range of sports from skateboarding, taekwondo, table tennis, badminton and the intense competition of the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup to Fed Cup Tennis, to thrilling boxing matches featuring stars such as George Groves, Daniel Dubois, Tommy Fury and YouTube star KSI.

The arena is also establishing itself as London’s go-to esports arena of choice with high-profile events such as X019, League of Legends, Rocket League, Clash Royale and Apex Legends being hosted.

The arena has also witnessed incredible performances from musical artists from Dizzee Rascal to Kirk Franklin.

In addition to the large-scale events, Copper Box Arena has always embraced the smaller, community-focused activities that bring people together. From grassroots sports programmes to local exhibitions and cultural showcases, the venue has actively contributed to the social fabric of the surrounding community.

The third largest arena in the capital, the Copper Box has been home to the London Lions basketball team, the reigning BBL champions, with the women’s team also being crowned champions, and the London Pulse netball team, who topped the SuperLeague just six years after formation.

To commemorate its 10th anniversary, which falls on July 27, Copper Box Arena will host an open day on Saturday, July 29 to allow the public to try classes for free and take part in various sports, including volleyball and badminton.

Stuart Hutchison, general manager at Copper Box Arena, said: “We are delighted to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Copper Box Arena, a venue that has become synonymous with sporting excellence and community engagement.

“Throughout the past decade, we have borne witness to awe-inspiring moments of triumph, witnessed the emergence of new sporting heroes, and experienced first-hand the unifying and inspirational power of sport. We’ve even watched sport become digitised as we have become a hub for esports in the UK.

“This anniversary serves as a testament to all the events and success that the ‘Box that Rocks’ has played host to and we are expecting plenty more major shows, games and tournaments in the future.”

Lyn Garner, chief executive of LLDC, added: “It’s inspiring to think the Copper Box Arena was used by Olympians and Paralympians during the London Games, and it’s now used by community groups and local people.

“It’s such a versatile venue – home to some of London’s best elite sports teams and is fast becoming the leading destination for esports in the UK.”

Find out more information about the Copper Box 10 year anniversary open day at: copperboxarena.org.uk/newsitems/celebrate-our-10th-anniversary-at-our-open-day