The O2 Belfast

The O2 Belfast stands in the Titanic Quarter of Belfast, beside the slipways where the great liner once took shape. It is a large entertainment complex with an arena that seats over eleven thousand, a science centre called W5, and a shopping mall with restaurants. The complex is run by a charity, the Odyssey Trust, though the name comes from the mobile phone company O2. The arena has been home to the Belfast Giants since it opened, the only professional ice hockey team in Ireland. It has hosted major sporting events like UFC 72 and Premier League Darts, and top boxers such as Carl Frampton have fought there. W5, designed with help from American and Canadian experts, offers around 250 interactive exhibits across eight zones. The shopping mall, once called the Odyssey Pavilion, now reopens as Odyssey Place with new cinemas and a bowling alley. Visitors find a busy arena hosting concerts and sports, a science centre where children can climb a twelve-metre structure called Climbit, and a shopping area with cafes and shops. The complex sits close to the Titanic Belfast building and the Harland & Wolff cranes, linking past and present. The O2 Blueroom VIP area in the arena adds a touch of luxury to events.