The O2 - a blueprint for the modern entertainment arena (The O2 (formerly the Millennium Dome))

Member Name: mrjoegoodwin

Product:	The O2 (formerly the Millennium Dome)
Date:	13/07/09 (327 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great views in lower tier, sound quality mainly good, plenty of things on offer in main complex

Disadvantages: Vertigo inducing seats on level 4, pricey food & drink, transport away from the venue afterwwards

London's O2 Arena is situated south of the river Thames, near to Greenwich, and was formally the site of the ill-fated Millennium dome, a symbol of the New Labour party in its peak years, but an underused white elephant for many more in the years since then.

The regeneration of the site into arguably Europe's premier concert venue is quite astonishing, and it is becoming increasingly clear why the O2 is rapidly becoming one of the most popular venues for touring artists, shows and one off events.

Arrival at the O2 is easiest by tube, taking the Jubilee line to the North Greenwich stop, and from here, the main entrance is a short 5 minute walk around the corner. You can't miss it, signposts are everywhere and the crowds of people are a very good indicator of where the action is. An interesting thing to note for regular concert goers is the complete lack of ticket touts on the approach to the venue, or outside the main gates. I believe this is due to the entire complex being privately owned land, and AEG Live (the owners of the venue) having successfully secured a 'no touts' policy in the surrounding area. A good start then, but what lies inside the complex?

Upon entering the dome, you will see signs for the arena immediately ahead of you, but if you are a first time visitor, have a stroll around the outside before going into the arena itself. There are plenty of bars, restaurants, shops a cinema and much more to keep you entertained (and out of pocket!) whilst you wait for your event to begin. A word of warning - book in advance if you plan to eat in the restaurants, queues begin to grow in the hours before big events.

Inside the arena itself, and you can't help but be impressed by the job that the regeneration team have done. Everything about the place makes it feel brand new, which of course, it is! Elevators guide you to the relevant section for your seats (Level 1 for lower tier seats and standing, Level 4 for upper tier seats) and whilst the experience is far too sanitised to be considered 'rock and roll', sometimes it's nice to not worry about standing outside a venue in the rain, waiting for doors to open. Once on your level, the concourses around the arena are open for you to explore, and if you want to part with your hard earned money in exchange for an overpriced burger or bottle of lager, then there are numerous places that will be more than happy to meet your needs. In fairness, there are quite a few stands offering different styles of food, and although it's not restaurant quality, what do you expect? Again, it beats a greasy burger van on the streets outside some venues.

Inside the arena, and you can see why the commissioner of the NBA (America's National Basketball Association) David Stern described it as the best venue outside of the United States. The volume of the building is huge, and whilst the venue does not provide 360 degree seating (like the MEN Arena in Manchester for example), it can still seat 20,000 people, and the building itself feels a lot bigger than its northern rival. Such is the versatility of the venue, bands like Metallica can stage 'in the round' concerts (with the stage in the centre of the arena), a live production of 'Ben Hur' complete with full chariot race, an NBA basketball game, NHL ice hockey games and much more can be hosted, with various seating layouts to suit each kind of event.

For concerts (my main experience at the O2 so far), most shows have the standard end stage set up, with blocks in the lower tier offering the best view of the action, and standing tickets (for certain artists) allowing you a chance to get on the barrier. Some people (Bruce Springsteen) have also sold the seats behind the stage, playing to a complete capacity crowd, but most bands tend to stick to the 'End Stage' layout - check the O2 website for a full seating plan.

If you have seats in the upper tier...make sure you aren't scared of heights! The seats here are the steepest I've ever encountered at an indoor arena, and aren't for the faint hearted! Sound quality is hit and miss up here, but views are still good and offer plenty of leg room for those blessed with above average height. I've sat in the upper tier seats as well for the aforementioned NBA and NHL fixtures, and whilst you are further away from the action, the near-aerial view offers a really good insight into the off-the-ball/puck action, and helps you appreciate the tactical side of the sports in more depth.

My main gripe with the O2 is getting away after the event. Because of the limited parking options (£20 a go? No thanks), your options are restricted to the Thames Clipper boat service (taking you north of the river on a short ferry crossing) or the North Greenwich tube stop. Neither is ideal, and the tube gets very congested. If you stay to the very end of your event (as you should do by the way), then don't expect to get out quickly. It's often better to hang around in the O2 complex, get a drink in one of the bars and let the crowds die down.

Overall however, the O2 is proving to be a hit with artists, productions and fans alike, with similar O2 branded venues being built/rebuilt in Dublin, Berlin and Prague, to name just 3 in Europe alone. It may be a sanitised future, but the O2 arena and complex does give you everything under one roof/dome.

Summary: Everything under one dome!