Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Drive in Arena

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Location
  
Tel Aviv, Israel

Surface
  
Parquet

Opened
  
November 2014

Phone
  
+972 3-628-8070

Team
  
Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C.

Operator
  
City of Tel Aviv

Broke ground
  
March 2013

Capacity
  
3,420

Owner
  
Tel Aviv

Drive in Arena

Public transit
  
Tel Aviv University Station (Israel Railways)

Construction cost
  
NIS 92 million EUR € 20 million

Address
  
Isaac Remba St 7, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

Similar
  
Menora Mivtachim Arena, Ashkelon Sports Arena, Holon Toto Hall, Pais Arena Jerusalem, Romema Arena

The Drive In Arena (Hebrew: היכל דרייב אין‎‎), officially named Shlomo Group Arena (Hebrew: היכל קבוצת שלמה‎‎)due to commercial sponsorship, is a multi-purpose hall in the northern part of Tel Aviv. Built on the grounds of what was once Israel's only Drive-in theater and opened in November 2014, it is used primarily as the home arena for the basketball team Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Contents

Features

The building has an area about of 6,600 square metres (71,000 sq ft) and is accessible for the disabled. The hall has 3,504 seats, 300 of which are collapsible to allow the facility to host volleyball and handball games.

The hall also accommodates concerts and conferences. It features red and white chairs and blue plaid pattern. Besides the hall of the building, there are four dressing rooms, a gym, a dressing room for officials, press rooms, a VIP lounge and an entryway with glass fronts. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Drive_In_Arena.JPG#/media/File:Drive_In_Arena.JPG

Background

In July 2007, the mayor of Tel Aviv decided to demolish the arena of Hapoel Tel Aviv basketball team. Despite fans' protest and struggle to save it, the Ussishkin arena was eventually demolished.

Hapoel fell apart, and was re-established by its fans and was in the lowest league, playing in the replacement arena. When Hapoel returned to the first league, the mayor decided to build a new arena, so that Hapoel would not have to travel every year. Increased excitement among fans, and on January 4, 2015, Hapoel played for the first time in its new arena against Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. and won 81-67.

References

Drive in Arena Wikipedia