HC Slavia Prague
Who occupied O2 Arena (Prague) between Nov 2004 and May 2009?
O2 Arena ( Prague ) O2 Arena ( formerly Sazka Arena , stylised as O arena ) is a multi-purpose arena , in Prague , Czech Republic . It is home to HC Sparta Prague of the Czech Extraliga and is the second-largest ice hockey arena in Europe . It has hosted important sporting events such as the two Ice Hockey World Championships ( 2004 and 2015 ) , first edition of prestigious tennis Laver Cup , the European Athletics Indoor Championships , the Euroleague Final Four 2006 , the World Floorball Championship , the Davis Cup finals , as well as a handful of NHL and KHL games , including a 2014 Gagarin Cup final . It can also host stage shows , such as concerts , and other large-scale events . History . The idea of building a new arena in Prague came on the heels of the golden era of Czech ice hockey : winning the gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics and three gold medals in a row at the Ice Hockey World Championships . The arena was proposed to be built in time to host the 2003 Mens World Ice Hockey Championships , but due to unforeseen complications with the investors , the ice hockey governing body had to switch that tournament to Finland . The arenas main backer then became Sazka a.s. , a Czech betting company . The construction of the arena ( which began in September 2002 ) was not without problems , but it was finally finished in time to host the 2004 tournament , the 2004 Mens World Ice Hockey Championships . In March 2008 , the building was renamed O2 Arena . In March 2011 , Sazka filed for insolvency due to debts from building the arena . From its opening until 2015 , it was home to HC Slavia Prague of the Czech Extraliga . Slavia won the national championship on home ice in Game 7 of the 2008 Extraliga finals against HC Karlovy Vary 4-0 in front of a then-league-record crowd of 17,117 . In 2015 , Slavia was relegated to the 1.liga , and the club chose to move back to the smaller Zimní stadion Eden , the teams former home and current training centre . In its place , O2 Arena reached an agreement with cross-town rivals Sparta Prague on 24 June 2015 . Sparta ownership cited the need for significant renovations at Tipsport Arena as the main reason for the move . For two seasons , 2012–13 and 2013–14 , O2 Arena also hosted occasional home games of HC Lev Prague of the Kontinental Hockey League . The club played its home games of the 2014 Gagarin Cup Finals at O2 Arena , attracting the three largest crowds in league history . In 2015 , O2 Arena co-hosted the IIHF World Championship with ČEZ Aréna in Ostrava for the second time . This time , the tournament re-established the record for World Championship attendance . In 2017 , it hosted the 1st edition of Laver Cup international indoor hard court mens tennis tournament between Europe and Team World . In 2021 , the venue will host some group phase matches at the FIBA EuroBasket 2021 which the country will play host alongside Georgia in Tbilisi , Germany in Berlin/Cologne and Italy in Milan . Notable events . - On 6 & 7 September 2006 Madonna performed there during her Confessions Tour , which was attended by 18,628 spectators , the biggest number of spectators in the arenas history . She performed again at the arena on 7 & 8 November 2015 as part of her Rebel Heart Tour selling out crowds of over 16,000 patrons . - On 12 May 2008 , Kylie Minogue performed there as part of her KylieX2008 . She performed again at the arena on 2 March 2011 as part of her Aphrodite World Tour . On 21 October 2014 Minogue performed again as part of her Kiss Me Once Tour . - On 5 June , 2008 Céline Dion performed there during Taking Chances World Tour . - In October 2008 , the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning opened the 2008–09 NHL season at O2 Arena with two games . Two years later , the NHL returned , with the Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes playing twice . - In November 2008 , the French electronica pioneer Jean Michel Jarre performed his Oxygène album live at the arena , as part of the second leg of the Oxygène 30th anniversary tour . - In December 2008 , the arena played host to the playoff matches of the 2008 Mens World Floorball Championships , including Finlands 7-6 victory over Sweden in the final . - Sting performed during his Symphonicities Tour on 22 September 2010 , along with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra . - In November 2010 , Lady Gaga performed there during her Monster Ball Tour.On 7 December 2011 , Rihanna performed there during her Loud Tour . - The Czech Republic Davis Cup Team defeated Spain in the 2012 Davis Cup Final . - On 26 October 2012 , Jennifer Lopez performed a sold-out show during her Dance Again World Tour . - On 22 November 2012 , Muse performed there during their The 2nd Law World Tour . - On 5 October 2014 , Lady Gaga performed there as part of tour . - On 9 November 2014 , the Czech Fed Cup team defeated the German Fed Cup team in the final of the 2014 Fed Cup . - On 17 February 2015 , Queen + Adam Lambert performed there as part of their Queen + Adam Lambert Tour 2014-2015 . The group returned to the arena on November 1 , 2017 to kick off their 2017 European tour . - On 23 February 2015 , Katy Perry performed there as part of Prismatic World Tour . - On January 30 , 2016 , Ellie Goulding performed there as part of Delirium World Tour . - On November 12 , 2016 , Justin Bieber performed a sold-out show during his Purpose World Tour . - Gorillaz performed at the arena on 14 November 2017 , as part of their Humanz Tour . - On 2 April 2018 , Metallica performed there as part of WorldWired Tour . - On 16 April 2018 Imagine Dragons performed here as a part of their Evolve World Tour . - On 7 & 8 May 2018 , Enrique Iglesias performed there as part of Enrique Iglesias Live . - On 1 July 2018 Pearl Jam performed there as part of Pearl Jam 2018 Tour . - On 10 October 2018 , Shania Twain performed there as part of Shania Now Tour . - On 7 May 2019 , Elton John performed there as part of Farewell Yellow Brick Road - On 4 September 2019 , Ariana Grande performed there as part of Sweetener World Tour . - On 16 February 2020 , Twenty One Pilots performed there as part of The Bandito Tour . - On 29 May 2020 , Eric Clapton will start his Summer European Tour 2020 at the arena . - On 23 February 2021 , Harry Styles will perform here as a part of his Love on Tour . - On 5 May 2021 , 5 Seconds of Summer will perform here as a part of their No Shame Tour . - On May 24 , 2021 , Canadian singer Céline Dion will return to the arena during her Courage World Tour - The arena is also the home of Transmission ( festival ) since 2007 . Technical facts . - Number of floors : 6 - Floor space : 35,000 m² - Capacity : up to 18,000 spectators ( depends on event ) - Club and Luxury seats : 2,460 - Sky boxes : 66 - Party Boxes : 4 - Seats in bars , restaurants and cafés : 2,900 - Beers that can be tapped in one break : 10,00 - Parking : 280 places - Population of its catchment area : 1.5 to 1.8 million people