Plans have been revealed for the London Colosseum — a huge new 25,000-seat indoor arena in east London that could transform the capital’s place on the global sporting stage.
The venue, if built, would become the biggest indoor arena in the UK, overtaking Manchester’s 23,500-capacity Co-op Live and London’s 20,000-capacity O2 Arena.
The ambitious project is being developed by Jericho Estates, Peacock Gym, Torch Sports and architects Chybik + Kristof, with the proposed site located in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
However, there has been no agreement made between the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) — the landowner of Queen Elizabeth Park — and the developer to build the arena in the park. And no formal plans or designs have been submitted.
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The arena would sit close to the former London 2012 Olympic Stadium, now home to Premier League side West Ham United, and is being pitched as a major destination for sport and entertainment alike.
It could become the home of a future London franchise in the NBA’s planned European competition, while also hosting world championship boxing, UFC events and international esports tournaments.
Ondrej Chybik of Chybik + Kristof said: “The London Colosseum’s bowl design allows the arena floor to effortlessly adapt to accommodate 18,000 and up to 25,000 spectators across diverse sporting and entertainment events.
“By prioritising genuine multi-functionality, the arena and its surrounding public spaces are built to evolve, actively combating the inefficiency of traditional, single-use stadiums.
“A key component of the proposal is a multifunctional tower, featuring a hotel, residences and community facilities, that brings together hospitality, residential, and community uses, extending the life of the site beyond event-based programming and embedding it within the everyday rhythm of the city.”
It remains unclear whether the plans are connected to the separate project backed by the London Lions basketball team and Mayor Sadiq Khan, which is searching for a new 20,000-capacity basketball arena within the M25.
“With the NBA planning a new Europe-based league expected to launch in 2027 or 2028,” a statement read, “London and Manchester have been identified as flagship cities.
“While the London franchise bidding is yet to conclude, plans for this new large-scale venue in London are being announced.”
Plans for the wider development also include a second site featuring two smaller 3,000-seat venues, creating a larger sports and entertainment campus in east London which would be called the London Colosseum Academy.
This would include a dedicated basketball school, the Peacock Boxing Gym & Academy, and an international esports training centre created in partnership with a leading London sports university.
Developers also hope the site can stay active year-round rather than only on event days.
Alongside the arena, proposals include a mixed-use tower with hotel rooms, residential apartments and community spaces.
The planning process is still in the early stages, as the designs have only just been made public.
No construction timeline has yet been released.
