The redeveloped O2 Dome was finally opened to the public today. Formerly known as the Millennium Dome, it has sat largely unused on the bank of the Thames since December 2000. At the time of its closure the Dome had cost £789 million to build and operate, of which £628 million had been covered by National Lottery grants. It bright white roof spans a diameter of 365 metres, rising to a height of 50 metres at its centre – making it the world’s largest single-roofed structure.
Since 2005 Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) has spent £350 million transforming the Dome’s interior into a large entertainment arena. In 2012, it will host the Summer Olympic gymnastics, seating 16,500 spectators. The basketball finals will seat 20,000. The arena is a self-contained building sitting in the centre of dome. Surrounding it is a dramatic circular pedestrian street lined by bars, restaurants and public plazas.
Bon Jovi is scheduled to perform tonight as the Dome’s opening act. However, earlier today the Greenwich & Docklands International Festival was hosting a series of eclectic street performances as part of public debut event. Garry and I dropped by mid-afternoon to see the Dome for ourselves and witness the colourful unfolding spectacle inside.
As we entered, we encountered Cirque Bijou’s day-glow hoop skirt stilt walkers and the blue-faced Osadia hairdressers crafting exotic hair styles on several nervous volunteers. The interior of the dome is spacious, with a soaring white ceiling that draws the eye skyward. As we wandered we encountered an aerial ballet soaring high above the crowd, along with a helium-filled zeppelin balloon propelled by man wearing giant orange paddles.
Other street performers that caught our eye included Acrojou, a couple performing stunts on two giant white wheel frames. As we left the Dome, Strange Fruit, a colourful Australian street theatre group was conducting a performance swirling through the air on flexible four-metre sway poles. The effect was electrifying.
Since 2005 Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) has spent £350 million transforming the Dome’s interior into a large entertainment arena. In 2012, it will host the Summer Olympic gymnastics, seating 16,500 spectators. The basketball finals will seat 20,000. The arena is a self-contained building sitting in the centre of dome. Surrounding it is a dramatic circular pedestrian street lined by bars, restaurants and public plazas.
Bon Jovi is scheduled to perform tonight as the Dome’s opening act. However, earlier today the Greenwich & Docklands International Festival was hosting a series of eclectic street performances as part of public debut event. Garry and I dropped by mid-afternoon to see the Dome for ourselves and witness the colourful unfolding spectacle inside.
As we entered, we encountered Cirque Bijou’s day-glow hoop skirt stilt walkers and the blue-faced Osadia hairdressers crafting exotic hair styles on several nervous volunteers. The interior of the dome is spacious, with a soaring white ceiling that draws the eye skyward. As we wandered we encountered an aerial ballet soaring high above the crowd, along with a helium-filled zeppelin balloon propelled by man wearing giant orange paddles.
Other street performers that caught our eye included Acrojou, a couple performing stunts on two giant white wheel frames. As we left the Dome, Strange Fruit, a colourful Australian street theatre group was conducting a performance swirling through the air on flexible four-metre sway poles. The effect was electrifying.
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