Nicos Solomonides Arena
To klouvi (The Cage)
(Greek: Το κλουβί)
Full name"Nicos Solomonides Arena"
(Greek: Αίθουσα Νίκος Σολωμονίδης)[1]
Former namesMelford Arena
LocationLimassol, Cyprus
Coordinates34°40′11.65″N 33°01′35.59″E / 34.6699028°N 33.0265528°E / 34.6699028; 33.0265528
OwnerAEL Limassol
Capacity2,500
Construction
Built2005
OpenedOctober 26, 2005
Tenants
AEL BC

Nicos Solomonides Arena is an indoor arena in Limassol, Cyprus. It is the home venue of AEL Limassol B.C. and has a capacity of 2,500 seats.[2][3] The arena was named after club co-founder and president Nicos Solomonides.[4]

The stadium has been renamed on occasion for sponsorship reasons. It was initially named "Melford Arena" and subsequently rebranded as "Limassol Cooperative Bank Arena", until finally the stadium reverted to being called "Nicos Solomonides Arena". Colloquially however, the stadium is referred to by basketball fans and officials alike as "To Klouvi" (Greek: Το κλουβί, lit. 'The cage'"), which refers to the claustrophobic atmosphere produced when the stadium is at maximum attendance.[5] Various critics have asserted that the atmosphere created in the Arena leaves opponent teams at an unfair disadvantage due to the close proximity between themselves and AEL's supporters.[6][7][8]

At the moment, the Arena features the club's offices, official club shop, a cafe-restaurant named "Yellow Pride Cafe", a workout area and 12 VIP boxes. The arena also houses official club offices for AEL's other sports departments.

Commencing in 2022, construction has already broken ground to build an AEL Limassol Museum, which will include amongst others, the Club's trophy cabinet with the trophies won by each of AEL's sports departments, as well as framed photographs from historic events/game, a display collection featuring historic basketball jerseys worn by AEL B.C. as well as the jerseys worn by their European opponents during the club's second golden age.[9] As of 25th September 2023, the museum is under construction.

The stadium is also used by AEL's women's basketball and volleyball clubs.


References

  1. ↑ "Κυπριακή Ομοσπονδία Καλαθοσφαίρισης".
  2. ↑ "FIBA Europe Secretary General Opens Lemesos Arena | FIBA Europe".
  3. ↑ "Λεμεσός". ΑΡΧΗ ΑΔΕΙΟΔΟΤΗΣΗΣ ΣΤΑΔΙΩΝ (in Greek). 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  4. ↑ "FIBA Europe Secretary General Opens Lemesos Arena | FIBA Europe".
  5. ↑ Cyprusbasket (2023-01-08). "ΑΕΛ: Με τον 6ο της παίκτη". Cyprus Basket. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  6. ↑ Cyprusbasket (2021-12-21). "Όταν η κερκίδα της ΑΕΛ έπαιρνε... φωτιά (vid)". Cyprus Basket. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  7. ↑ Κόκκινος, Ανδρέας (2021-10-25). "Στην ΑΝΤΕΠΙΘΕΣΗ η ΑΕΛ - «Ανεπιθύμητοι ΟΛΟΙ οι διαιτητές…»". Cyprus Basket. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  8. ↑ "PAYABL EKA AEL Limassol joins Delasport Balkan League". balkanleague.net. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  9. ↑ "Αποκτά το δικό της μουσείο η ΑΕΛ | AlphaNews.Live". www.alphanews.live (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-09-26.
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