ayanamikun
February 27th, 2012, 09:51 PM
http://i47.tinypic.com/2d8h01w.jpg
Helleniko is the name of Athens old airport, used as the second main site of the 2004 venues. The two large old aircraft hangars belonging to Olympic Airlines there were converted to the Helliniko Fencing Hall (5,000) and the Hellenic Olympic arena. Michaniki and EllisDon Construction Corporation completed them on May 31, 2004, at a cost 48,992,055 euro, very low for the size of the venues.
http://www.michaniki.gr/newsite/Images/new_erga/114_el_big.jpg
http://www.stadia.gr/hellinikon/hellinikon6.jpg
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22632/25459/301630/0/Hellenikon+Basketball+Stadium++-+Outside+view.JPG
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22632/25459/301636/0/Indoor+Arena+Foyer.JPG
The indoor hall is very compact for its size unlike the other cavernous halls in Athens, built in the previous decades, with a low ceiling, restricted from the dimensions of the hangar's skeleton, making it the most NBA like basketball hall in Greece.....
http://www.dcgreeks.com/images/athens2004/20040817_athens_2004_mbb_greece_vs_usa_warmups.jpg
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22632/25459/301642/0/Hellenic+Team+and+Inside+of+Arena.JPG
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22632/25459/301641/0/Russian+Team+and+Inside+of+Arena.JPG
After the Games, the arena got many tenants and became the home court of Panionios BC, Panellinios BCm AEK Athens BC and since 2005 hosts every year the finals of the Greek Cup.
Unfortunately the large capacity and the big distance from the city center as well as the huge delays with metro line expansion to Helleniko make the use of the arena highly problematic. All 3 tenant teams suffered from low attendances, and gradually left for smaller halls, unable to support their expenses there. AEK Athens was the last one to leave, in early 2011. Initially, in order to deal with the problem, the second tier seats were to be reduced / not sold... Some were covered, others were removed from behind the screens.... In the last couple of cup finals though, most seem to be in place, but the tier is still not sold
Note the police and the limited allowed number of fans in the finals last year...
http://vstatic.doldigital.net/vimawebstatic/EDFB04F605724782D5593E0B7A85D04D.jpg
The reason why this is worthy of a thread is because a few months ago during the summer of 2011, Olympiakos owners (Angelopoulos brothers) are thinking of moving from the vintage SEF to Helleniko. the most important thing is that the Helleniko metro station, after years of delays, will be ready within a few months, in 2012, increasing exponentially the accessibility to the site.
http://www.ametro.gr/files/constructionathens/AM_Elliniko_progress_May10_LG.JPG
With no tenants left this year, and with the coastal site getting more and more popular for investors, plus the metro, the chances of Olympiakos moving next season are high, rearranging the arena and recommissioning all tiers.
Helleniko is the name of Athens old airport, used as the second main site of the 2004 venues. The two large old aircraft hangars belonging to Olympic Airlines there were converted to the Helliniko Fencing Hall (5,000) and the Hellenic Olympic arena. Michaniki and EllisDon Construction Corporation completed them on May 31, 2004, at a cost 48,992,055 euro, very low for the size of the venues.
http://www.michaniki.gr/newsite/Images/new_erga/114_el_big.jpg
http://www.stadia.gr/hellinikon/hellinikon6.jpg
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22632/25459/301630/0/Hellenikon+Basketball+Stadium++-+Outside+view.JPG
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22632/25459/301636/0/Indoor+Arena+Foyer.JPG
The indoor hall is very compact for its size unlike the other cavernous halls in Athens, built in the previous decades, with a low ceiling, restricted from the dimensions of the hangar's skeleton, making it the most NBA like basketball hall in Greece.....
http://www.dcgreeks.com/images/athens2004/20040817_athens_2004_mbb_greece_vs_usa_warmups.jpg
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22632/25459/301642/0/Hellenic+Team+and+Inside+of+Arena.JPG
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22632/25459/301641/0/Russian+Team+and+Inside+of+Arena.JPG
After the Games, the arena got many tenants and became the home court of Panionios BC, Panellinios BCm AEK Athens BC and since 2005 hosts every year the finals of the Greek Cup.
Unfortunately the large capacity and the big distance from the city center as well as the huge delays with metro line expansion to Helleniko make the use of the arena highly problematic. All 3 tenant teams suffered from low attendances, and gradually left for smaller halls, unable to support their expenses there. AEK Athens was the last one to leave, in early 2011. Initially, in order to deal with the problem, the second tier seats were to be reduced / not sold... Some were covered, others were removed from behind the screens.... In the last couple of cup finals though, most seem to be in place, but the tier is still not sold
Note the police and the limited allowed number of fans in the finals last year...
http://vstatic.doldigital.net/vimawebstatic/EDFB04F605724782D5593E0B7A85D04D.jpg
The reason why this is worthy of a thread is because a few months ago during the summer of 2011, Olympiakos owners (Angelopoulos brothers) are thinking of moving from the vintage SEF to Helleniko. the most important thing is that the Helleniko metro station, after years of delays, will be ready within a few months, in 2012, increasing exponentially the accessibility to the site.
http://www.ametro.gr/files/constructionathens/AM_Elliniko_progress_May10_LG.JPG
With no tenants left this year, and with the coastal site getting more and more popular for investors, plus the metro, the chances of Olympiakos moving next season are high, rearranging the arena and recommissioning all tiers.