Aleksandar Nikolić Hall

The Aleksandar Nikolić Hall (Serbian: Хала Александар Николић, romanized: Hala Aleksandar Nikolić), formerly known as Pionir Hall (Serbian: Хала Пионир, romanized: Hala Pionir), is an indoor sports arena located in Palilula, Belgrade, Serbia. The official seating capacity of the arena is 8,000.[3][4][5]

Aleksandar Nikolić Hall
Хала Александар Николић
Inside the Hall
Aleksandar Nikolić Hall
Location within Belgrade
Former namesHala Pionir (1973–2016)
LocationBelgrade, Serbia
Coordinates44°48′55.86″N 20°29′6.40″E
OwnerCity of Belgrade
OperatorTašmajdan SRC
Capacity8,000[1][2]
SurfaceHardwood
ScoreboardYes
Construction
Opened24 May 1973 (1973-05-24)
Renovated2019
Expanded2019
ArchitectLjiljana and Dragoljub Bakić
General contractorEnergoprojekt
Tenants
Crvena zvezda

It was renamed in 2016 in honour of Serbian basketball player and coach Aleksandar Nikolić. The hall is well known for its frequent matches between different basketball clubs, especially Partizan, Crvena zvezda (Red Star Belgrade), and foreign clubs.

Projected by Ljiljana and Dragoljub Bakić, the hall has been described as the "architectural icon of the postmodernist Belgrade".[6]

History

Constructed in 1973 by Ljiljana and Dragoljub Bakić under a tight deadline, the modernist building won the architects a "Grand Prix of the Belgrade Architecture Salon".[7] The structure was noted for its use of repeated elements and natural light.

Red Star Belgrade players practice under the command of head coach Svetislav Pešić in 2008

The arena hosted the final round of EuroBasket 1975, the final of the EuroLeague's 1976–77 season (in which Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Pallacanestro Varese), and the FIBA EuroCup's 1997–98 season final.[8] In October 1989, the 16th World Judo Championships took place in Pionir Hall.[9]

The arena hosted several preliminary round games of the EuroBasket 2005 and 2013 World Women's Handball Championship.

On 23 February 2016, the name of the arena was changed from Pionir Hall to Hall Aleksandar Nikolić, after the former basketball player and coach, Aleksandar "Aca" Nikolić.

In April 2017, the arena played host to the Davis Cup World Group Quarterfinal between Serbia and Spain, with Serbia winning the tie 4-1 to advance to the semifinals.[10]

In 2019, the hall was thoroughly renovated, at a cost of €2 million euros. The renovation included new seats, telescopic stands, a new hardwood court and screens, new lighting, modernization of the ventilation and air-conditioning systems, and an increased seating capacity.[11]

Concerts

List of Concerts
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s

See also

References

Preceded by
Palau dels Esports
Barcelona
EuroBasket
Final venue

1975
Succeeded by
Country Hall du Sart Tilman
Liège
Preceded by
Patinoire des Vernets
Geneva
FIBA European Champions Cup
Final venue

1977
Succeeded by
Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle
Munich
Preceded by
Eleftheria Indoor Hall
Nicosia
FIBA EuroCup
Final venue

1998
Succeeded by
Príncipe Felipe Arena
Zaragoza
Preceded by
None
Zvezde Granda
Final venue

2004
Succeeded by
Tašmajdan Stadium
Preceded by
Arena Łódź
Łódź
European Women's Volleyball Championship
Final venue

2011
Succeeded by
Max-Schmeling-Halle
Berlin
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