Editing Millennium Dome (section)

== Redevelopment and rebranding as The O2 ==
[[File:BRIT Awards 2020 Red Carpet.jpg|thumb|The entrance of the O2 Arena prior to the [[Brit Awards 2020]]]]
[[File:O2 arena.jpg|right|thumb|The interior of The O2 in 2007]]
By late 2000, a proposal had been made for a high-tech business park to be erected under the tent area, creating an "indoor city" complete with streets, parks, and buildings. The business park was actually the original 1996 proposal for the site of the peninsula before the plans for the Millennium Dome were proposed.

A suggestion was also made that the entire Dome be relocated to [[Swindon]] to serve as a research centre and extension of the [[Science Museum, London|Science Museum]]; this proposal only came to light when released by [[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]] in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=National Archives: Swindon move for Millennium Dome proposed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64116797 |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=30 January 2023 |date=30 December 2022}}</ref>

In December 2001, it was announced that Meridian Delta Ltd had been chosen by the government to develop the Dome as a sports and entertainment centre, and to develop housing, shops and offices on {{convert|150|acre|km2}} of surrounding land. It also hoped to relocate some of London's tertiary education establishments to the site.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/dec/18/dome.politics|title=Done to become sports venue|last=Staff and Agencies|date=18 December 2001|work=The Guardian|access-date=6 June 2019}}</ref> Meridian Delta is backed by the American billionaire [[Philip Anschutz]], who has interests in oil, railways, and telecommunications, as well as a string of sports-related investments.

A report in 2005 by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee found that the cost of the process of selling the Dome and surrounding land (which increased to 170 acres from the initial offering of the 48 acres enclosed by the Dome) and managing the Dome until the deal was closed was £28.7 million. £33 million were expected to be returned to the taxpayer by 2009. The value of the 48 acres occupied by the Dome was estimated at £48 million, which could have been realised by demolishing the structure, but it was considered preferable to preserve the Dome.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmpubacc/409/409.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmpubacc/409/409.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts: The regeneration of the Millennium Dome and associated land; Second Report of Session 2005–06, 18 July 2005|website=parliament.uk}}</ref>

The dome was publicly renamed as [[The O2]] on 31 May 2005, in a £6 million-per-year deal with telecommunications company O2 plc, now a subsidiary of [[Telefónica Europe]]. This announcement, which presaged a major redevelopment of the site that retained little beyond the shell of the dome, gave publicity to the dome's transition into an entertainment district including an indoor arena, a music club, a cinema, an exhibition space and bars and restaurants. This redevelopment was undertaken by the dome's new owners, the [[Anschutz Entertainment Group]], to a design by [[Populous (architects)|HOK SVE]] and [[Buro Happold]]. It cost £600 million, and the resulting venue opened to the public on 24 June 2007, with a concert by rock band [[Bon Jovi]].<ref>[http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/entertainment/music/bon-jovi-open-new-o2-venue-$1103128.htm Bon Jovi open new O2 venue] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124162411/http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/entertainment/music/bon-jovi-open-new-o2-venue-%241103128.htm |date=24 November 2010 }} inthenews.co.uk, 25 June 2007.</ref>

During the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], the artistic gymnastics events, along with the medal rounds of basketball, were held at The O2. It also held wheelchair basketball events during the [[2012 Summer Paralympics]]. For sponsorship reasons, during those times the arena was temporarily renamed the North Greenwich Arena.

The O2 now contains multiple VR theme park rides, a trampoline park, and an attraction called "Up at The O2," offering guided climbs on the O2 arena.