SUNEL Arena

SUNEL Arena
Ano Liosia Olympic Hall
Map
LocationAno Liosia, Athens, Greece
Coordinates38°04′54″N 23°41′12″E / 38.08167°N 23.68667°E / 38.08167; 23.68667
Public transitAthens Suburban Railway Line A2  at Ano Liosia
OwnerAEK B.C.
Capacity9,327 (collapsible)
8,327 (permanent)[1][2]
SurfaceParquet
Construction
Broke ground2001
Opened2004
Renovated2021
Construction cost€84 million euros
(2004 money)
Tenants
AEK B.C. (2021–present)

SUNEL Arena, also known as the Ano Liosia Olympic Hall, is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Ano Liosia, in the western section of Athens, Greece. Originally built to host martial arts events during the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, the arena has since been adapted for various uses. In 2021, the arena became the home for AEK B.C., for their games in the Greek Basket League and the Basketball Champions League.

The arena can accommodate 8,327 spectators for sports events, with fixed tiered seating. This number rises to 9,327 when the retractable seating is fully extended, allowing for a versatile setup that suits sports events, concerts, and other large-scale gatherings. It ranks as the third-largest basketball arena in Greece, behind O.A.C.A. Olympic Indoor Hall and Peace and Friendship Stadium.[3]

History

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Athens 2004 and the years after

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Ano Liosia Olympic Hall was opened in 2004. The arena was used to host the judo and wrestling events at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics.[4]

After the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, the venue became the site of various television productions, including the Greek version of the reality show So You Think You Can Dance. From 19 May to 6 June 2010, the arena hosted the Greek Ice Hockey Championship, for both men and women. At one point in time, the arena was scheduled to be the home of the Hellenic Academy of Culture and Hellenic Digital Archive.[5][6]

Basketball

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AEK B.C.

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On May 13, 2019, the Greek Government decided to cede the venue to the General Secretariat of Sports, with the aim of subsequently ceding it to AEK B.C..[7] On June 22, 2020, it was announced that the arena's use until the year 2040, was granted to the professional basketball club A.E.K., of the Greek Basket League, in order for the arena to host the home games of the club.[8]

The club began using the arena for the 2021–22 season. AEK made its unofficial debut at the facilities in a victorious (102-81) friendly match against the London Lions, and its official debut in the context of the Basket League in a victorious (81-69) match against Larisa.[9] The strategic goal is to create a new cultural identity and brand name for the wider region, with the long-term aim being the redevelopment of the surrounding area of the Olympic Center.

Serbian player Stevan Jelovac, who played for AEK Athens before his sudden death, was honored by the club with a gesture meant to stand the test of time. The gym of the arena was renamed "Stevan Jelovac Gymnasium" (Greek: «ΓΥΜΝΑΣΤΗΡΙΟ STEVAN JELOVAC»). Jelovac's number 13 jersey was retired by the club during a ceremony on December 14, 2021.[10]

Naming rights

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AEK BC and SUNEL Group, on September 18, 2024, announced a major partnership renaming their home arena to "SUNEL Arena". This historic collaboration marks the first time a Greek basketball team has sold the naming rights to its home arena. The arena, a former Olympic facility, is set to become the first in Greece to achieve a zero carbon footprint as part of a long-term sustainability project.The five-year agreement, running through 2029, reflects AEK's environmental commitment, with an option to extend the deal for an additional 10 years until 2039. SUNEL, an energy group operating in 12 countries, specializes in renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions.[11]

Greece men's national basketball team

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The SUNEL Arena hosted two crucial FIBA World Cup 2023 qualifying matches for Greece's men's national basketball team. On February 25, 2022, Greece secured a thrilling 72-71 victory against Turkey.[12] A year later, on February 24, 2023, Greece triumphed over Serbia with a 97-92 win in overtime, led by stellar performances from Nikos Rogkavopoulos (28 points) and Dimitris Moraitis (23 points). Despite trailing by 13 points, Greece rallied in the final period and overtime, but could not surpass the point difference from their previous loss to Serbia.[13]

Elite League Final 4

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The Ano Liosia Olympic Hall hosted the Elite League Final Four from May 17-19, 2024.[14] Milonas claimed the championship after defeating Panionios 87-79 in a thrilling final, securing promotion to the Basket League for the third time in their history. Iraklis beat Ermis Schimatariou 80-73 to face Panionios for the second promotion spot.[15] Panionios claimed the second promotion spot with a 75-70 victory over Iraklis. The match was intense, with Panionios pulling ahead in the final moments thanks to key plays by Milintejevic, Gikas, and Kaklamanakis.[16]

Other uses

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Tennis

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Stefanos Tsitsipas during the Davis Cup game at Ano Liosia Olympic Hall

In February 2024, Greece faced Romania in the Davis Cup World Group I playoffs at the Ano Liosia Olympic Hall, marking a critical match for the Greek team.[17] Led by Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek team secured a decisive 3-0 victory. Tsitsipas won his singles match on the first day, while his brother, Petros Tsitsipas, teamed up with him for a thrilling doubles victory against Romania’s Marius Copil and Victor Vlad Cornea. The Tsitsipas brothers overcame an initial set loss to win the match 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4, sealing Greece’s spot in the World Group I for only the second time in its history.[18]

Handball

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The final of the Greek Men's Handball Cup took place on March 19, 2014, at the Ano Liosia Olympic Hall.[19] It was AEK's first match in this venue, where they defeated Diomidis Argous 18–16 to win their third Greek Cup.[20] Since then, AEK's handball team has played several games for the Greek Men's Handball Championship and the EHF European Cup at the SUNEL Arena.[21][22]

Karate

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The Ano Liosia Olympic Hall has hosted the WKF Karate 1 Series A twice, in January 2023 and 2024.[23] These events attracted over 1,100 athletes from more than 70 countries each year. The tournaments marked significant milestones for Greek Karate.[24]

Accessibility and transportation

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To access the SUNEL Arena fans have several transportation options. Those using public transport can take the suburban railway (Proastiakos) to Ano Liosia Station and then transfer to bus line 749 that stops outside the Olympic Hall. Additionally, metro users can take bus line B12 from the Attiki Metro Station and disembark at the 23rd stop on Fylis Street (Greek: 23η ΦΥΛΗΣ), which is a 15 minutes walk to the venue. For those driving, exit 5 on the Attiki Odos highway provides easy access to the arena, with parking available.[25]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "AEK BC Official Website (in Greek)". Archived from the original on 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
  2. ^ ESAKE Official Website (in Greek)
  3. ^ "List of indoor arenas in Greece", Wikipedia, 2024-09-17, retrieved 2024-09-19
  4. ^ 2004 Summer Olympics official report. Archived 2008-08-19 at the Wayback Machine Volume 2. pp. 357-8, 433.
  5. ^ "contents_gr.asp?id=266 www.olympicproperties.gr". Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
  6. ^ "IOC News - Olympic Updates, Articles and Press Releases". 17 July 2021.
  7. ^ gazzetta.gr (in Greek)
  8. ^ "Το "Παλάτι", που της αξίζει..." aekbc.gr.
  9. ^ "Αγωνιστική Έδρα". AEK BC (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  10. ^ "«ΓΥΜΝΑΣΤΗΡΙΟ STEVAN JELOVAC»". AEK BC (in Greek). 2022-11-01. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  11. ^ "Και το όνομα αυτής… SUNEL Arena!". AEK BC (in Greek). 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  12. ^ "Ελλάδα - Τουρκία 72-71: Λύτρωση στα 3 με Παπανικολάου". www.sport24.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  13. ^ "Ελλάδα – Σερβία 97-92: "Ρογκ" εντ ρολ στα Άνω Λιόσια! (videos)". Eurohoops (in Greek). 2023-02-24. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  14. ^ "Στα Λιόσια το Final Four της Elite League - Αυτό είναι το πρόγραμμα". www.sport24.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  15. ^ "Final 4: Πρωταθλητής της Elite League Ερρίκος Ντυνάν ο Μίλωνας". Elite League - Ερρίκος Ντυνάν (in Greek). 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  16. ^ "Final 4 Εlite League Ερρίκος Ντυνάν: Επιστροφή για τον Πανιώνιο στην Basket League με νίκη (75-70)". Elite League - Ερρίκος Ντυνάν (in Greek). 2024-05-19. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  17. ^ "Davis Cup 2024: ΕΛΛΑΔΑ vs ΡΟΥΜΑΝΙΑ. Στο «Ολυμπιακό Κέντρο Άνω Λιοσίων» η συνάντηση με τη Ρουμανία στο World Group 1 του Davis Cup στις 3 και 4 Φεβρουαρίου 2024". efoa.gr (in Greek). 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  18. ^ "Tsitsipas Brothers Team Up To Seal The Win For Greece At Davis Cup". tennis-infinity.com. 2024-02-04. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  19. ^ "Στα Άνω Λιόσια ο τελικός του Κυπέλλου". www.sport24.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  20. ^ "Greek Men's Handball Cup", Wikipedia, 2024-06-20, retrieved 2024-09-18
  21. ^ "Στα Ανω Λιόσια το ντέρμπι ΑΕΚ -Ολυμπιακός". e-HandBall.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  22. ^ "ΑΕΚ: Έτοιμη για τη "μάχη" με την Κρίενς στα Άνω Λιόσια". Apex Sports (in Greek). 2023-10-24. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  23. ^ "Στην Αθήνα η πρώτη Παγκόσμια διοργάνωση Καράτε του 2023". ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΟΜΟΣΠΟΝΔΙΑ ΚΑΡΑΤΕ (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  24. ^ "K1 Athens 2024-Αρχίζει η γιορτή!". ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΟΜΟΣΠΟΝΔΙΑ ΚΑΡΑΤΕ (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  25. ^ "DAVIS CUP 2024: Εύκολη η πρόσβαση στο Κλειστό των Άνω Λιοσίων". efoa.gr (in Greek). 2024-02-02. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
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