The O2 Arena

From Millennium Dome to Entertainment Powerhouse

The story of The O2 Arena is one of remarkable transformation. The site on the Greenwich Peninsula was originally developed for the Millennium Dome, a vast dome-shaped structure designed by architect Richard Rogers to house the Millennium Experience — a major exhibition celebrating the year 2000. While the Millennium Experience attracted millions of visitors, it became a subject of political controversy, and the dome sat largely unused after closing in December 2000.

The turning point came in 2005 when Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) secured the rights to redevelop the interior of the dome as an entertainment district. The O2 Arena — a purpose-built, 20,000-capacity indoor arena — was constructed within the dome's shell, along with smaller venues, restaurants, bars, a cinema, and an exhibition space. The result was a complete reinvention of a controversial landmark into one of the world's most successful entertainment complexes.

The arena officially opened on 24 June 2007 with a concert by Bon Jovi, followed immediately by an extraordinary 21-night residency by Prince. From its very first weeks, The O2 established itself as a venue capable of attracting the biggest names in entertainment and drawing audiences at a scale unprecedented for a London indoor venue.

Record-Breaking Concerts

Since its opening, The O2 Arena has consistently ranked as the world's busiest entertainment venue by ticket sales, regularly topping the annual Pollstar rankings of global arenas. The venue's combination of modern facilities, excellent transport links (North Greenwich station provides direct Jubilee line access), and the sheer scale of its 20,000-seat capacity has made it the default choice for major touring artists performing in London.

Prince: The Inaugural Residency

Prince's 21-night “Earth Tour” residency in August and September 2007 was a masterstroke that immediately defined The O2 as a venue of the highest calibre. The shows sold out rapidly, with Prince performing to over 350,000 fans across the run. The residency set the template for the extended-stay concert model that would become a defining feature of The O2's programming.

Michael Jackson: This Is It

In March 2009, Michael Jackson announced “This Is It” — a planned series of 50 concerts at The O2 Arena. The announcement was one of the biggest music events of the decade, with tickets selling in extraordinary quantities. Jackson's untimely death in June 2009 meant the concerts never took place, but the planned residency cemented The O2's status as the definitive London venue for once-in-a-generation concert events.

A Parade of Superstars

The list of artists who have performed major residencies and tours at The O2 reads like a complete catalogue of modern music's biggest names. Beyoncé has performed multiple dates at the venue across several world tours. Drake set an O2 record with his extended residency in 2019. Ed Sheeran, Adele, The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, U2, Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga have all performed landmark shows at the arena. For many artists, a sold-out run at The O2 represents the pinnacle of achievement in live performance.

The BRIT Awards: Britain's Biggest Music Night

Since 2011, The O2 Arena has been the home of the BRIT Awards, the United Kingdom's premier annual music ceremony and one of the most-watched music events globally. The ceremony moved to The O2 from Earls Court, taking advantage of the arena's modern infrastructure and vast capacity.

The BRIT Awards at The O2 have produced some of the most memorable moments in the ceremony's history. Live performances by Adele, Stormzy, Dave, Dua Lipa, and Harry Styles have become cultural talking points. The red carpet arrivals, broadcast pre-shows, and after-parties have made BRIT Awards night one of the most concentrated celebrity events on the London calendar, with the arena and its surrounding entertainment district buzzing with industry figures, artists, and media.

The arena has also hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards on multiple occasions, the MOBO Awards, and various other music industry ceremonies, reinforcing its position as London's premier venue for televised entertainment events.

Sporting Spectacles

The O2 Arena has established itself as one of London's most important sporting venues, hosting a diverse programme of world-class athletic competition.

The 2012 London Olympics

During the 2012 Olympic Games, the arena (known for the duration as the “North Greenwich Arena”) hosted artistic gymnastics, trampoline gymnastics, and the basketball finals. The venue's Olympic role brought it global television exposure and associated it with some of the Games' most dramatic moments, including the performances of the British and American gymnastics teams.

ATP Finals and Tennis

From 2009 to 2020, The O2 was the home of the ATP Finals (formerly the ATP World Tour Finals), the season-ending championship for the world's top male tennis players. The event brought Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray to Greenwich annually, creating a unique indoor tennis atmosphere and a marquee event on London's sporting calendar.

Boxing, UFC, and Combat Sports

The O2 has hosted numerous major boxing events, with world title fights drawing packed houses and high-profile ringside celebrity attendance. Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and other marquee names in boxing have headlined cards at the venue. UFC events at The O2 have also attracted significant celebrity interest, with the arena's atmosphere for combat sports considered among the best in Europe.

NBA London Games

The NBA London Games, which brought regular-season NBA basketball to The O2, became a popular fixture on the London sporting calendar. The games attracted celebrity courtside attendance from both the entertainment and sporting worlds, bringing an unmistakably American sports entertainment experience to Greenwich.

The O2 Complex: Beyond the Arena

The O2 is more than just the arena. The wider entertainment district within the dome includes the smaller Indigo venue (capacity 2,800), which hosts intimate concerts and comedy shows; a multiplex cinema; a range of restaurants and bars; and Up at The O2 — a guided walk across the exterior of the dome that has itself become a popular attraction. This ecosystem creates a comprehensive entertainment destination that extends the celebrity and cultural activity beyond the arena floor.

“The O2 Arena transformed a symbol of millennial ambition into London's undisputed entertainment throne — a venue where every concert is an event and every event is a spectacle.”