The British professional basketball team London Lions have completed the first phase of a feasibility study into a new, custom-built multipurpose arena in London (UK) – a project which would give a major boost to basketball, sport and culture across the capital.
‘LONDON LIONS’ stated that the study follows the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s announcement in July backing the Lions’ ambition to build a permanent home for basketball in the City supported by the City Hall’s technical expertise and strategic guidance.
The London Lions are a British professional basketball team based in Stratford, East London, England (UK) and compete in the Super League Basketball (SLB), the top-level Men’s basketball competition in Great Britain.
The 6,000-capacity Copper Box Arena is a multisport venue built for the 2012 Summer Olympics located in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, England (UK). It serves as the home of the London Lions.
‘LONDON LIONS’ further stated that conducted with The Sports Consultancy and Trivandi the study marks the completion of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stage 1 and confirms the viability and demand for a new large arena in London of at least 15,000-seat capacity – appropriate for basketball and multipurpose events alongside a 3,500-seat secondary community arena.
The development would provide the London Lions with a permanent home while delivering substantial benefits to London and the wider United Kingdom. Independent analysis projects a total economic impact exceeding £3.4 billion over 13 years, the creation of around 1,000 full- time equivalent jobs and significant regeneration potential.
The main arena would host approximately 40 basketball games each year including the London Lions fixtures and major international events alongside more than 100 sports and cultural performances – ensuring year-round activity and financial sustainability.
The community arena would become home to the London Lions women’s team, a training facility and a dedicated hub for grassroots basketball, creating opportunities for the young people and the local residents to access the sport in a professional environment.
Stated Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, “London is the sporting capital of the world and I am pleased to support the London Lions as they pursue their ambitious vision to establish a new, multipurpose arena in our City. We will continue to harness the huge popularity of basketball to create positive opportunities for the young people, attract new fans to the sport and host even more major events which will provide a significant boost to the economy and help build a better, healthier and more prosperous London for everyone.”
Remarked Lenz Balan, London Lions head honcho, “This is a significant moment for the London Lions and British basketball. We’ve always known we need a true home for the game in London – somewhere that brings people together and gives the young people a place to belong. This study shows it’s not only possible but that the impact on the City would be substantial.”
Tomas Okmanas, Co-Founder of Tesonet (one of the largest and fastest-growing venture builders and investors in the Baltic States), the Lions’ ownership group, pledges its full backing for the arena project and points out that Tesonet joining the London Lions marked the return of the London name to European basketball, a proud achievement both for the company and the club’s supporters – “It took a major commitment from us to get here. It’s almost eight million euros each year over the past two seasons with the same planned for the ones ahead. And this is only the beginning of our shared vision for the club and for the future of basketball in London. We’re grateful to Mayor Sadiq Khan and his office for supporting this bold vision of building a lasting basketball legacy for London. Together, we’re focused on what’s next: Finding the right place for a new world-class arena, building it and creating opportunities for the young Londoners to grow through basketball.”
With Phase 1 complete, the project moves into the second stage of feasibility in partnership with Legends, the global premium experiences company. This will explore detailed site options, planning and delivery strategies, and engage partners across London to identify where the arena can best serve both sport and the local communities. The next phase will also examine funding approaches and delivery models to ensure long-term sustainability.
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