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| Derided Dome reborn as 02 Arena | Derided Dome reborn as 02 Arena |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Millennium Dome, once dubbed New Labour's white elephant, reopens as an entertainment arena this weekend. | The Millennium Dome, once dubbed New Labour's white elephant, reopens as an entertainment arena this weekend. |
| Re-christened the 02 Arena, the venue, in Greenwich, south-east London, has undergone a £350m refit after years of argument over its future use. | |
| The centrepiece of the arena is a 20,000-seat auditorium which will host concerts and sporting events such as ice hockey and basketball. | The centrepiece of the arena is a 20,000-seat auditorium which will host concerts and sporting events such as ice hockey and basketball. |
| US rockers Bon Jovi will be the first act to perform at the arena on 24 June. | US rockers Bon Jovi will be the first act to perform at the arena on 24 June. |
| Clean break | Clean break |
| The arena, the largest single-roofed structure in the world, was originally built to hold a year-long exhibition to celebrate the new millennium. | The arena, the largest single-roofed structure in the world, was originally built to hold a year-long exhibition to celebrate the new millennium. |
| We're not guaranteed success but I think we've got a better chance than most David CampbellAEG | We're not guaranteed success but I think we've got a better chance than most David CampbellAEG |
| But the project was dogged by controversy and cynicism, especially as it attracted just over half of its projected number of visitors. | But the project was dogged by controversy and cynicism, especially as it attracted just over half of its projected number of visitors. |
| After a failed joint venture, US-based Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), took sole responsibility for the venue. | After a failed joint venture, US-based Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), took sole responsibility for the venue. |
| It was due to reopen in 2004 but deadlines were missed and the saga dragged on. | It was due to reopen in 2004 but deadlines were missed and the saga dragged on. |
| More recently, the arena missed out on the chance to host a super-casino as the licence was handed to Manchester instead. | More recently, the arena missed out on the chance to host a super-casino as the licence was handed to Manchester instead. |
| Its chances of success will be helped by the fact that AEG is the world's largest owner of sports teams and sports events. | Its chances of success will be helped by the fact that AEG is the world's largest owner of sports teams and sports events. |
| Part of US billionaire Philip Anschutz's business empire, it owns five ice hockey teams in the US and Europe, three US football teams. | Part of US billionaire Philip Anschutz's business empire, it owns five ice hockey teams in the US and Europe, three US football teams. |
| "We're not guaranteed success but I think we've got a better chance than most," said David Campbell, chief executive of AEG Europe. | "We're not guaranteed success but I think we've got a better chance than most," said David Campbell, chief executive of AEG Europe. |
| He said the word "dome" had left out intentionally from the new name so as to make a clean break with the past. | He said the word "dome" had left out intentionally from the new name so as to make a clean break with the past. |