Following an unfortunate tragedy in December 1999 the Budapest Sportarena burnt to the ground. The catastrophe shook public opinion to the roots. The Sport Arena was the only building capable of holding several thousand people for both sports and cultural events.
So both the Hungarian public and Hungarian politicians determined to build a new sports complex as soon as possible.
After this the French building company, Bouygues, the world's largest construction company in 2002, won the opportunity to construct the new facility. The unique Budapest Sportarena was designed by Hungarian architects (KÖZTI) in conjunction with the Anglo American architects, Sport Concepts.
So then the construction of the Budapest Sportarena started on 30th June 2001. The building contains 50,000 tons of concrete, 2,300 tons of steel structure, more than 11,000,000 bolts and several kilometres of cable. The building complex is as heavy as the Erzsébet Bridge and Szabadság Bridge together. If you could pick it up and put it on some scales it would weight 200,000 tons. The pedestrian area of the complex is covered by Hungary's largest continuous granite surface, which is 25,000 m2.
The building was officially opened by the Ministry of Youth and Sports on 2003 March 13th.
On the same day the greatest stars of Hungarian popular music entertained the building's first audience.
The opening gala on 14th March was closed with a spectacular classical event: Beethoven Symphony No.9, as a symbol of Hungary's accession into the European Union.
The Budapest Sportaréna is holding Papp László's name from 2004. May 28th
The BudapestArena had been named after László Papp since 2004. May 28. He was born in 1926. March 25, in Budapest. His father had him study music, the violin, but he also took László to boxing matches, and even some trainings. After his father passed away, he gave up the violin, in which he proved to be quite talented, and started playing football. He also had some success there, but in the meanwhile he also went to a boxing paractice with friends. All of them got so harshly beaten, that they had gotten dissappointed with the sport.
After the end of WWII, Laszló Papp decided to try boxing one more time, and his new coach, István Fehér immediatelly realized that he had outstanding talent. Soon after, he was introduced to Zsigmond Adler, who had a great impact on his life and career. They became close friends and reached great results together.
His first couple of boxing matches were fought abroad, and most of them ended with him winning with knock outs. Then came 1945 October 6., when he beat the Hungarian national team member Bicsák, in the second round, and he started his way to become a world famous boxer.
Match after match he kept on winning, most of the times with knock outs, but during the early stage of his carrer, he also reecorded 9 ties and 2 losses. He ended up with over 300 matches, and most of them he won by knockout, or by the other party giving up. More information on his life and career can be found at www.papplaszlo.hu
The BudapesArena can be reached with the following means of public transport:
- Metro 2 Stadionok Station
- Tram 1 - Kerepesi úti station
- Buses: 35, 90
- Trolley buses: 75, 80
From Déli train station: Metro 2, Stadionok
From Nyugati train station: Metro 3 - Deák tér – Metro 2- Stadionok
From Keleti train station: Metro 2M2 - Stadionok
Népliget bus station: Tram 1 - Kerepesi út station
Árpád híd bus station:Tram 1 –Kerepesi út station
Stadion bus station: just a minute by foot
Main roads to reach Arena: Stefánia út, Kerepesi út, Dózsa György út, Hungária körút. (GPS: N47,50298; E19,10452). Parking (entrance from Ifjúság street):
During performences the parking fee is: 1 500 HUF/occasion
In case of exhibitions the parking fee is: 200 HUF/hour
For further information about parking fees on not event days please call the carpark operator mobile: +36 20 469 6047 /+36 1 422 2650
For our disabled guests the Arena provides the following access points to the Deck, from where they can access the main entrance:
By car, through the parking lot using the elevators at stairway nr 2. and 3.
From the public transport stops: the exit of the Metro on Hungária Krt. For guest arriving with the Metro, you can find an elevator at the exit at Ifjúság út, from there aproach the exit at Hungaria Krt. Please be informed that BudapestArena provides designated places for guests with wheelchairs. For details please contact info@budapestarena.hu
We use recups in the buffets, if you already have recup tokens, bring them with you for your next visit!
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