Stratford’s Olympic basketball arena up for sale for £2.5m

Melissa York, Reporter Friday, February 15, 2013
3:13 PM

The London 2012 basketball arena in Stratford’s Olympic Park is up for sale for £2.5million.

The temporary arena, with its distinctive rippled outer skin, is being dismantled next month and sold off by venue owners Barr Construction.

Barr kept ownership of the arena shell in a deal struck with the Olympic Delivery Authority, which was in charge of the Olympic build and infrastructure.

With an 11,000 sqm footprint, the arena was the largest single temporary structure ever created in Olympic history.

Commercial property consultancy BTWShiells and chartered accountants Ernst & Young are handling the sale and formal bids will be requested from the shortlisted bidders by April 30.

Barclay Chalmers, Barr Construction’s managing director, said: “The basketball arena was one of the showpiece structures of the Games, but it was clear there would be no legacy use for a permanent basketball venue, hence the decision to create this temporary building.

“We see this facility being suitable for a range of different uses.

“Sport is obvious, it is big enough to house between 15 and 20 tennis courts, for example.

“It could also be reconfigured to become a conference, exhibition and events venue similar to the O2 in London, or even a film and TV studio.

“Despite the temporary nature of its design, we believe it can easily be reconstructed to offer excellent service for many, many years to come.”