Copper Box Arena (London)

The Copper Box Arena is a multi-sport venue built for the 2012 Summer Olympics, located in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, England.

General information

Official website: copperboxarena.org.uk

Arena capacity: 7,500 spectators

Address: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 3HB, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 51°32′39.84″N 0°1′12.36″W

Year of construction: 2009–11

Construction cost: £44 million

Seating plan of Copper Box Arena

The Copper Box has 7,000 seats. It was used for handball preliminaries and modern pentathlon fencing during the Olympic Games, and for goalball during the Paralympic Games. The handball men’s quarter-finals, all semi-finals and both finals were held at the larger Basketball Arena.

The Copper Box was praised for its loud, exciting atmosphere during handball games. For the Paralympics goalball events the crowd in the Box must be quiet.

Where to buy tickets?

London Lions home game tickets are sold online through Ticketmaster. Tickets bought at the venue cost more and can only be paid for in cash. (Note: there is no ATM.) The ticket desk is found just inside the entrance (not the main reception downstairs). Tickets cost more for a side view than behind the baskets, but all offer excellent sightlines.

Packages are available as standard if you’re attending as a family, birthday celebration, school or group, and courtside seats are also available to individuals (through Ticketmaster) or parties.

Special offers are often available through the club’s social media channels and Groupon. If you know a Lions season ticket holder, they’re also able to acquire tickets for friends at special rates through Ticketmaster.

How to get there?

Public transport is the best and easiest way to get to and from the Park – by train, underground, bus or bicycle.

The Park has some of the best transport links in London:

• Ten tube and train links including the Elizabeth line (Served by the 24 hour night tube on the Central and Jubilee lines);
• Numerous bus and coach routes;
• Less than 40 minutes to all of London’s major railway stations;
• Seven minutes to St Pancras International;
• 30 minutes to the M25;
• Less than an hour to all London international airports from Stratford station.

The nearest train, tube and bus stops are at Stratford, Stratford International, Hackney Wick, Pudding Mill and Leyton stations.

If you are exiting out of Stratford Underground Station – take the escalator or lift up to ‘The Street’ (which is the outdoor part of Westfield Shopping Centre) – follow it along, and turn left at Fountain Square towards the restaurants. Head to the road, then cross into the Park.

Tube and train

The nearest stations are Stratford station and Stratford International station, both of which are in Zone 2/3 and provide step-free access from entrance to platform:

Stratford station is served by:

• Docklands Light Railway (DLR);
• Jubilee, Central and Elizabeth lines;
• National Rail services operated by Greater Anglia and c2c;
• London Overground services;
• TfL Rail;
• Stansted Express;
• Stratford Station will also be a key stop on the future Elizabeth Line.

Stratford International station is served by:

• Docklands Light Railway (DLR);
• Southeastern High Speed 1 services.

You can also enter the Park via Hackney Wick station which is on the London Overground.

More information is available at www.tfl.gov.uk.

Bus

The 388 bus runs between London Bridge and Stratford City near the station entrance, going through the Park and stopping at the Copper Box Arena and Here East.

The 308 bus runs between Wanstead and the Lea Bridge Roundabout near the Stratford station entrance Chobham Academy and Lee Valley VeloPark.

The 339 bus runs between Leytonstone and Shadwell, with stops at Stratford City near the Stratford station entrance, the London Aquatics Centre at White Post Lane.

The 108 bus runs between Lewisham and Stratford City and Stratford International bus stations, going through the Park including Warton Road and Pool Street (by the London Aquatics Centre).

Stratford bus station and Stratford City bus station are both located in close proximity to Stratford station. Buses that run to these stations are:

• 25 from Oxford Street to Ilford;
• 69 from Canning Town to Walthamstow;
• 86 from Romford to Stratford;
• 97 from Chingford to Stratford;
• 104 Manor Park to Stratford;
• 108 from Lewisham to Stratford
• 158 from Chingford Mount to Stratford;
• 238 from Barking to Stratford;
• 241 from Canning Town to Stratford;
• 257 from Walthamstow to Stratford;
• 262 from Becton to Stratford;
• 276 from Stoke Newington to Newham University Hospital;
• 308 from Clapton to Wanstead;
• 339 from Leytonstone to Shadwell;
• 425 from Clapton to Stratford;
• 473 from North Woolwich to Stratford;
• D8 from Crossharbour to Stratford International.

In addition to the 25 which runs a 24-hour service, night buses to/from Stratford are:

• N8 from Oxford Street to Hainault;
• N86 from Stratford to Harold Hill.

More information is available at www.tfl.gov.uk.

Pedestrian and cycle access

If you’re travelling to the north of the Park, including the Copper Box Arena, Timber Lodge Café, Tumbling Bay playground and the northern parklands, please read this important information:

• It can take between 15-20 minutes to walk from Stratford regional station or Stratford International station to the northern Park entrance (walking distance is approximately 800m).
• There is pedestrian access to the north of the Park from Hackney Wick via White Post Lane, Leyton and Stratford.
• Follow the link and get your prediction before the match starts.

Cyclists can make use of the extended Barclays Cycle Superhighway from central London (Aldgate) to Stratford City.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has 310 docking points for London’s cycle hire scheme, Santander Cycles.

The docking points are spread across seven docking stations in and around the Park, including:

• Lee Valley VeloPark;
• Timber Lodge Café;
• East Village;
• Here East;
• Copper Box Arena;
• London Aquatics Centre;
• Monier Road;
• The Podium;
• Stratford Station.

Coaches

If you are bringing a coach to the Park, there are drop-off coach bays at Copper Box Arena, London Aquatics Centre, Lee Valley VeloPark and Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre however there is no parking available at the venues.

The Multi Storey Car Park at Here East (Marked with a P on Lesney Avenue on our Park Map) has spaces for up to 20 coaches who are visiting Copper Box Arena, London Aquatics Centre and Lee Valley VeloPark.

If you are coming to a large event at the Stadium or other Park venue it is advisable to pre-book any coach parking as there are limited spaces.

There is also coach parking in Westfield Stratford City, which can be booked online here: http://uk.westfield.com/uk/tourists/stratfordcity/directions

If you are looking for a long distance coach travelling to the Park, please visit www.nationalexpress.com.

Venue Parking

The Park is a public transport destination, and there are no car parks for general visits to the Park.

Blue Badge parking spaces are available at the Copper Box Arena and the London Aquatics Centre.

1. London Stadium. There is no general parking at the London Stadium. West Ham United will offer spaces to 49 blue badge holders at every home game. To apply for a space, email [email protected]. The designated blue badge car park, known as Car Park 1A, is stewarded and located in the south west corner of the Stadium. Six spaces will be allocated to blue badge holders from the visiting team at every match. For more information, visit london-stadium.com/accessibility.
2. London Aquatics Centre. The car park is for venue users only and has 90 standard bays, 15 blue badge bays and a 15-space motorcycle pool. There is parking charge of £45 for non-venue users.
• Find out which bookmaker you can get a sign-up bonus from.
3. Copper Box Arena. The car park is for venue users only and has 40 standard bays at the rear of the building, with 10 blue badge bays, and motorcycle spaces near the main entrance. There is a parking charge of £45 for non-venue users. The car park may be closed on major event days, when the Multi-Storey Car Park can be used.
4. Multi-Storey Car Park. There are 30 coach bays on the ground floor. Level 1 has 300 standard bays and 70 disabled bays. Excluding coach bays, all other bays are for Here East, Copper Box Arena and Lee Valley VeloPark users only.
• We make dozens of free sports predictions every day.
5. Lee Valley VeloPark. A car park is available at the entrance to Lee Valley VeloPark for venue users only. Blue Badge holder parking is also available. If there are no spaces available, visitors can also use the Multi Story Car Park at Here East (no. 18 on Park Map). Please be aware that Lee Valley car parks are not operated by Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
6. Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. A large car park is available at the entrance to Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre for facility users only. Blue Badge holder parking is also available. Please be aware that Lee Valley car parks are not operated by Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
• Find the best odds for sports betting.
7. Timber Lodge Cafe. The nearby Olympic Park Avenue has on-street pay and display spaces and Blue Badge spaces with easy access to the Park.

They operate a ticketless automated number plate recognition (ANPR) system across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The car parks are located moments from the London Aquatics Centre, Copper Box Arena and Here East and are for venue users only – please do not park here if you are not visiting a venue.

The ANPR cameras will record your vehicle upon entry and exit to make sure that you only pay for the time you stay with us. There is no need to display a ticket as your parking session is registered against your vehicle registration plate. Before leaving the venue car park, you will need to visit a pay machine – simply pop in your vehicle registration and the system will automatically calculate the fee to pay.

Once you arrive at the exit barrier, the system will check to see if your vehicle is registered as having paid the correct fee and that you are entitled to leave. Once confirmed, the barrier will automatically lift and allow your vehicle to exit.

There are two tariffs in use at the Park. The ANPR system automatically calculates and applies the correct tariff depending on the site. With the exception of the coach parking facilities, there is limited car parking available for visitors who are using the venue facilities. If you are planning on visiting the Park but do not intend to visit one of the venue car parks, the closest public car park is Westfield Stratford City with over 5000 spaces. Any vehicles using the car parks without visiting a venue will be subject to the full charge.

Membership at the London Aquatics Centre and Copper Box Arena entitles you to a member parking discount.

There is a five minute ‘grace period’ which will allow visitors to drop off their children for activities at London Aquatics Centre free of charge.

Accessibility

Blue badge parking is available at the following locations:

• London Aquatics Centre;
• Copper Box Arena;
• Lee Valley VeloPark;
• Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre;
• Timber Lodge Café (on-street parking only).

Blue Badge Holders are able to use all car parks without being limited to venues-only. All holders are exempt from the car parking charges on displaying a valid blue badge on exit. Once you arrive at the car park exit, simply press the intercom button and once the Parking Services Team have verified your blue badge, the barrier arm will lift up.

Where to eat and drink?

Concessions are available on each of the concourses running alongside the court. They’ve traditionally sold hot dogs and nachos but have since added burgers and a chilli dog to the offering. Carlsberg and Guinness are irregularly available on draught; mine’s a pint, Zaire! Bottled lagers (Carlsberg, Stella Artois), Magners cider, wine, spirits and soft drinks are always available.

All drinks can be enjoyed at your seat, unlike for a football match. Snacks including sweets, crisps and popcorn can be found. Expect the quality, prices, service and queues to be typical of modern day entertainment venues. Card payments are taken on some tills, but check which queue you’re in as some only take cash. On occasion, cart stands for draught Carlsberg and hot dogs are set up, which cut down the queues drastically.

Far greater choice is available at The Westfield shopping mall, half a mile’s walk away. Restaurants can be found on ‘The Street’ outside; personal favourites include New York burger bar Shake Shack, where you’ll often find the players after the game, and Busaba Eathai (get the calamari). Food courts are also available inside, including a Franco Manca sourdough pizzeria on the top floor which is worth checking out if it’s anything like its other London outlets, along with ‘market’ eateries downstairs and coffee shops including Pret A Manger, Caffe Nero, Costa Coffee and Starbucks. Cafeterias can be found inside John Lewis and Marks & Spencer. There’s also a Waitrose supermarket.

Westfield has a number of bars. In unlikely environs, Tap East at the Waitrose end of the lower ground floor by Stratford International is a microbrewery which sells domestic and world beers, ranging greatly in variety and price. The Cow, run by Geronimo Inns who have around 25 premises around London and describe themselves as ‘not a chain’, is on Chestnut Plaza outside. It certainly has the feel of a chain ‘gastropub’ and is on the expensive side. It has a couple of TVs showing live sport, as does Cafe Football a couple of doors down.

Bat & Ball on The Street accurately describes itself as Westfield’s ‘largest and liveliest bar’, with two floors, TVs, table tennis parties, and beer pong for those who require instruction to drink. It does also have a good offering of beers, cocktails and pizza.

You can also get a drink in All Star Lanes, Shake Shack sells its own ShackMeister Ale, go to the champagne bar, and of course the restaurants are also licensed.

Neighbourhood, a poorly thought out vacuum of a bar, and Sainsbury’s Local are just 100 yards from Stratford International along Celebration Avenue.

Here East is difficult to miss to the right of the Copper Box as you approach from Stratford. What’s there is more easily missed, but there are in fact a number of hipster bars and food joints including Four Quarters arcade bar, Mason & Company craft beer bar, Randy’s Wing Bar and The Breakfast Club.

Over the river behind the Copper Box are a number of other bars alongside Hackney Wick station. Two bridges provide access to the venue. On one side of the tracks over the footbridge (with lift available) is the trendy Number 90 bar and restaurant (commonly referred to as ‘Bar 90’) and Grow, an ethical bar, kitchen and creative space with Slow Fire London in residence. On the other side, also accessible via White Post Lane and Clarnico Lane, find Crate Brewery & Pizzeria and Howling Hops brewery and tank bar, which also sells meaty Billy Smokes food.

Hot dog it is, then?

Vegan choice: The Pad Thai Jay at Busaba Eathai is a personal favourite, but their menu is very limited in other vegan options. Crate Brewery makes a tasty vegan pizza (no cheese) on request. Both places also cater for meat eaters and vegetarians. For other suggestions, visit HappyCow or download their app.

There are six hotels nearby: Holiday Inn Stratford City, Marlin Stratford, Staybridge Suites, The Westbridge Hotel, Premier Inn Stratford, Holiday Inn Express Stratford.

Facilities

It’s part of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which is where you’ll also find the imaginatively renamed London Stadium, now repurposed and rebranded for West Ham United’s benefit. The ArcelorMittal Orbit, the UK’s tallest sculpture, has also undergone a transformation since the Olympics and now doubles up as the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide. You can pay either to take in panoramic views of London or to ride the 178-metre slide.

The park is open to the public, and also contains the Aquatics Centre, waterways, playgrounds, food concessions, The Podium Bar & Kitchen and Timber Lodge cafe; worth walking through on your way from the station/Westfield. Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre and VeloPark are over the road.

Venue Hire

Home to handball, modern pentathlon, fencing and goalball during the 2012 Games, the Copper Box Arena is now London’s third-largest arena.

Located in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the venue is fast establishing itself as London’s most versatile entertainment and events venue.

Offering world-class facilities and unrivaled status, the Copper Box Arena can host a variety of events from across the world of music, comedy, entertainment, sport, conferences, and exhibitions.

Architectural Aspects

The primary objective for the Copper Box Arena was to construct a venue that would become a useful asset to the local community and an integral part of the legacy parkland. The venue is capable of hosting a variety of community sports with the additional flexibility to host concert and exhibition events. The building features a crèche, an independent cafe, a dance studio and a health and fitness club to support the day to day activities of basketball, handball, badminton, boxing, martial arts, netball, table tennis, wheelchair rugby, and volleyball.

With a Breeam ‘excellent’ rating, the concept of a simple distinctive copper box hovering over the landscape was carefully detailed to ensure a timeless appearance that will sit neatly within the park landscape. The essence of the building has been to create flexibility through the simplicity of design.

Many of the building’s innovative features relate to its lighting scheme. An open, glazed concourse brings natural light into the arena to improve the wellbeing of visitors. Eighty-eight light pipes also bring natural light into the arena ensuring that for 60% of the year no artificial lighting is needed. During the Games, built-in shutters allowed the pipes to be blacked out and replaced by artificial lighting to meet the needs of broadcasters.

Designing the Copper Box demanded technical expertise and an in-depth understanding of the unique requirements of the athletes, spectators and broadcasters who would make use of the stadium. The architects drew on their experience working on previous Olympic Games venues to assemble an international team of lighting, acoustics, fire and structural specialists from the UK, Australia and China to complete the project.

With its resilient design, the Copper Box has offered value beyond its original purpose as a facility for the Olympic Games. The venue was created with an adaptable design, which has since enabled it to accommodate a wide range of uses beyond handball, fencing, and goalball. Basketball, netball, badminton, boxing, e-sports, and even product launches are just some of the many uses that the facility now supports. This multi-purpose capability enables the Copperbox to provide people with a diverse range of events to enjoy, as well as offering new employment opportunities.

Interesting facts

Previously known as the Handball Arena, it was renamed because, aside from handball, it hosted modern pentathlon (fencing, shooting, swimming, horse jumping and running) during the Olympics and was the goalball venue for the 2012 Summer Paralympics.

History

London’s Olympic bid proposed that there would be four indoor arenas in the Olympic Park, in addition to other main venues, but the revised master plan published in 2006 reduced this to three, with the volleyball being moved to Earls Court Exhibition Centre. The fencing arena was also canceled, and the fencing took place at ExCeL. Construction of the building was completed on time in early 2011 and came in under budget. The design incorporates light pipes and rainwater collectors to reduce both energy and water use by 40%. Test events were successfully hosted at the venue ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.