Plans revealed for London Colosseum basketball arena

Image: CHYBIK + KRISTOF Architects

Plans have been unveiled for the 25,000-capacity NBA-style London Colosseum basketball arena to be built in the Olympic Park in Stratford.

City AM said Jericho Estates, Peacock Gym, Torch Sports and architects Chybik + Kristof have partnered to produce plans for the stadium, which would be built near West Ham’s London Stadium.

The London Colosseum basketball arena is a proposed multifunctional arena and mixed-use development, designed to accommodate basketball, boxing and international esports events.

The arena’s adaptable bowl configuration would allow capacities ranging from 18,000 to 25,000 spectators, enabling the venue to support different sporting and entertainment formats while addressing the limitations of conventional single-purpose arenas.

Conceived as part of a broader urban framework, the proposal combines sports and entertainment functions with training facilities, educational programmes, public space, hospitality, residential uses and community infrastructure.

Image: CHYBIK + KRISTOF Architects

The project aims to support activity throughout the day and beyond event schedules, strengthening its relationship with the surrounding neighbourhood and wider public life of the East London.

The London Colosseum basketball arena scheme also includes a multifunctional tower containing hotel, residential and community spaces, together with a dedicated training academy.

Guided by circular economy principles, the design emphasises low-carbon construction approaches, the use of timber, natural daylight and renewable energy technologies throughout.

A statement from the design group said, “With the NBA planning a new Europe-based league expected to launch in 2027 or 2028, London and Manchester have been identified as flagship cities.

“While the London franchise bidding is yet to conclude, plans for this new large-scale venue in London are being announced.”

The project will see London gain the biggest indoor arena in the country, beating the 23,500-capacity Co-op Live in Manchester, the 23,000-capacity AO Arena and Greenwich’s O2 Arena.

The arena’s masterminds envisage the stadium becoming home of the NBA Europe franchise, while the indoor venue will also stage world championship boxing and global esports events.

Ondrej Chybik of Chybik + Kristof Architects said: “The London Colosseum’s bowl design allows the arena floor to effortlessly adapt to accommodate 18,000 and up to 25,000 spectators across diverse sporting and entertainment events.

“By prioritising genuine multifunctionality, the arena and its surrounding public spaces are built to evolve, actively combating the inefficiency of traditional, single-use stadiums.

“A key component of the proposal is a multifunctional tower, featuring a hotel, residences and community facilities, that brings together hospitality, residential, and community uses, extending the life of the site beyond event-based programming and embedding it within the everyday rhythm of the city.”

The same area of London saw plans for a large sphere akin to the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas denied at the planning stage, while this 25,000-capacity London Colosseum could be seen as a threat to the O2 Arena, which this year hosted NBA basketball when the Orlando Magic took on the Memphis Grizzlies.

It is unknown whether the project is different to the scheme led by the capital’s existing basketball team, the London Lions, and Mayor Sadiq Khan to find land for a new 20,000-capacity court within the M25.

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