A powerhouse consortium today unveiled visionary plans for the "London Colosseum," a world-class, 25,000-seat indoor arena situated at the heart of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London. Poised to be the capital’s most ambitious multi-sport project since the 2012 London Olympics, the venue is strategically designed to enhance London’s status as the sporting capital of the world and to serve as a home for three major sports. The arena will serve as the permanent European home for a highly anticipated London NBA franchise, while being equally supported as a premier global destination for world championship boxing and international esports and gaming competitions. The proposals are drawing interest from major sports investors.

A Basketball-Led Anchor with Unmatched Multi-Sport Capacity

With the NBA planning a new Europe-based league expected to launch in 2027 or 2028, London and Manchester have been identified as flagship cities. Whilst the London franchise bidding is yet to conclude, plans for this new large-scale venue in London are being announced.

To achieve commercial advantage beyond NBA basketball, the London Colosseum is built on a dynamic multi-use model, strongly supported by two other massively influential global sports:

• World Championship Boxing: Capitalising on the East End's heritage as the historic home of boxing, the venue is being widely supported by global boxing promoters, including Queensberry Promotions and Matchroom. This purpose-built arena presents a unique opportunity to create a venue to surpass those in the United States and Saudi Arabia.

• Global Esports: Tapping into a market of over 1 billion spectators, the 25,000-seat arena is tailored to host major international tournament finals. By connecting London’s growing reputation as a gaming capital to the explosive gaming market in the Middle and Far East, the venue will become a central hub for the future of competitive gaming.

Sustainable, Groundbreaking Architecture

Designed by award-winning international architects CHYBIK + KRISTOF, the ground-breaking project features a flexible configuration to suit varying event capacities and requirements —from an intimate Esports setup to a 25,000-seat boxing layout. The environmentally ambitious development will integrate a striking multifunctional tower containing a hotel, residences, and community spaces. The scheme will maximise circular economy principles, low-carbon construction and operational technologies, including timber, natural daylighting systems and renewables.

A Seamless Link Between Elite Arenas and Grassroots Academies

The project establishes an integral link between elite professional competition and grassroots athlete development. The main 25,000-seat arena will be directly connected to a new London Colosseum Academy – a purpose-built, two 3,000-seat venue, secondary facility and training campus.

This secondary site will house a dedicated basketball School, the historic Peacock Boxing Gym & Academy, and an international esports training campus – developed in partnership with a leading London performance sport university. The partnershipwill provide elite athlete development pathways, educational support, and cutting-edge research, ensuring a continuous pipeline of sporting talent across all three disciplines.

Quotes from Key Partners:

Kevin Davis, Director of Jericho Estates: "As a global city with a track record for world-class venues, the London Colosseum will be the most ambitious multi-sport project since the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. We are in active talks with international partners who recognise that these three sports will drive significant economic and cultural impact and add significant growth to the UK economy."

Solomon Curtis, Torch Sports: "The NBA's London expansion requires a venue capable of supporting the capital’s franchise. The London Colosseum will fulfil this demand as an elite basketball anchor. At the same time, its integration of world-class boxing and esports – with the potential to programme other major arts and cultural events as demand dictates – ensures it serves the broader London community and guarantees year-round commercial success."

Tony Bowers, The Peacock Gym: “Since the 1970s, our gym has anchored the East End community, supporting world champions and local youth alike through education and skill-building. London needs new facilities, and the London Colosseum and its academy sites will extend the gym's legacy of hope and optimism to all Londoners.”

Ondrej Chybik, CHYBIK + KRISTOF: “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 multifunctionality, 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.”