3Arena
The 3Arena (originally The O2) is an indoor amphitheatre located at North Wall Quay in the Dublin Docklands in Dublin, Ireland. The venue opened as The O2 on 16 December 2008 and was re-branded on 4 September 2014 due to the takeover of O2 Ireland by Three Ireland. The venue is owned by a Live Nation subsidiary, Apollo Leisure Group Ltd.[2] and is among the top ten busiest music arenas by ticket sales in the world.[3]
Former names
The Point, The O2 (2008–2014)
Apollo Leisure Group, Ltd
9,300 (seated)
13,000 (with standing)[1]
2007–2008
16 December 2008
€80 million
DLPKS
Walls Construction
It was built on the site of the former Point Theatre,[4] a smaller music venue which operated from 1988 to 2007, retaining only some of the outer facade. The Point Theatre was branded as "The Point Depot", in recognition of its original role as a railway goods handling station.
Naming[edit]
Following its closure in 2007, the site underwent major redevelopment and was renamed The O2 after the telecommunication brand, O2, similar to The O2 in London.[5] In 2008, O2 paid €25 million for the naming rights for 10 years.[6] Following the sale of mobile network operator O2 Ireland to rival 3 Ireland in June 2014, the venue was renamed as the 3Arena on 4 September 2014.
Attendance[edit]
In 2011, the venue was named as the fifth busiest music arena in the world with ticket sales of 670,000 putting it behind The O2 Arena in London, the Manchester Arena, Antwerp's Sportpaleis and Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena.[9] In 2012 it rose to 4th place,[10] and in 2013 it dropped to 9th place.[11]
Transport[edit]
Patrons are advised to use public transport to get to the venue.[26] Parking services for the nearby Point Village are suggested. In addition to the ferry services and shuttle buses noted on the venue's website, Dublin Bus number 151 provides a scheduled public service to the venue.
Due to the high volume of pedestrian traffic leaving the venue after concerts, extensive traffic restrictions are put in place along the North Wall Quay after such events, which can cause both the North Wall Quay and the East-Link (Dublin) toll bridge to be restricted for vehicular traffic by the Gardaí.
A Luas light rail extension from the Red Line to the back of the venue opened on 8 December 2009, and links the DART train services at Connolly Station to the venue. It coincided with a performance by Lily Allen.[27] The Luas stop is called The Point.
Those travelling to the 3Arena from Dublin Airport can avail of either the public Dublin Bus route 747, or the Greystones or Dalkey Aircoach services that stop outside the venue, while several other private operators also call at the venue.