Ah, welcome to the Riverbank Arena! This place used to be quite the hotspot during the 2012 Summer Olympics. It was like the coolest hangout spot for field hockey enthusiasts!
Picture this: a stadium filled with water-based astroturf, ready for some intense competitions. The Riverbank Arena was actually built with not one, but two venues for field hockey. One could fit a whopping 15,000 people, while the other was a bit cozier with a capacity of 5,000.
But here's the twist! This place wasn't just for field hockey. Nope, it also hosted the football 7-a-side and football 5-a-side competitions during the 2012 Summer Paralympics. Talk about versatility, right?
Now, when it comes to money, the budget for this stadium was quite impressive. It amounted to a cool £19 million. That's a lot of zeros!
After the Olympics, plans were made to scale down the venue. They turned it into a 5,000-seat arena and a training pitch in Eton Manor. It's like the Riverbank Arena got a little remodeling makeover.
And get this, Leyton Orient F. C., a local football club, actually expressed an interest in moving into the stadium after the games. Can you imagine cheering for your favorite team right here?
In May 2012, the Riverbank Arena opened its doors with a test event, a men's and women's invitational hockey tournament. Talk about a grand opening! People were excited to see this place in action.
After the conclusion of the 2012 Games, the Riverbank Arena was dismantled. But don't worry, the legacy didn't end there. The Eton Manor venue on the Olympic Park, now known as the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, took over the hosting duties for some awesome hockey tournaments.
And guess what? The Riverbank Arena's facility reopened in June 2014 and now serves as the current ground for the Wapping Hockey Club. So, even though it's not the same exact stadium anymore, its spirit lives on!
Now, let's move on to our next stop on this epic tour!
