Unipol Forum (formerly the FilaForum, DatchForum and Mediolanum Forum; known as the Forum di Milano in events where commercial naming rights are prohibited) is an indoor sports arena that is located in Assago, a small town 3 km outside Milan, Italy.[1] The arena has a seating capacity of 12,800[2] and is primarily used for basketball, ice hockey, tennis and live concerts.
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| Full name | Unipol Forum |
|---|---|
| Former names | Forum di Assago (1990–93) FilaForum (1993–2006) DatchForum (2006–08) Mediolanum Forum (2009–24) |
| Address | Via Giuseppe di Vittorio 6 20090 Assago, MI, Italy |
| Location | Grande Milano |
| Coordinates | 45°24′4″N 9°8′32″E |
| Owner | ForumNet Group |
| Capacity | 12,800 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1988 |
| Opened | 26 October 1990 |
| Renovated | 2014, 2017 |
| Architect | Giuseppe and Luca Cabassi |
| Main contractors | Cabassi Group |
| Tenants | |
| Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano (LBA) (1990–present) | |
| Website | |
| Venue Website | |
The venue is the home ground of the EuroLeague and Italian Serie A professional basketball team AX Armani Exchange Milan. In May 2024, the current sponsor, Unipol, took over naming rights in a deal that will run to 2027.[3]
History
The Forum of Assago was built by Giuseppe Cabassi and his son Luca in 1990. It was named in several different way due to different sponsorships during the years: from 1993 to 2006 it was named FilaForum, from 2006 to 2008 DatchForum and then, from 2009 to 2023, MediolanumForum.
The venue is located in the big Milanofiori complex and it covers an area of 40,000 sqm. The layout of the rooms is organized on 4 superimposed levels below the stands of the central arena. There are also private panoramic rooms (called "SkyBox") on the top floor. The Forum received the 1994 European Prize for Architecture for sports venues awarded by the Italian National Olympic Committee and the Council of Europe. It is also one of two facilities in Italy, along with Palazzo dello Sport in Rome, to be part of the European Arenas Association network.[4]
For the 2014 Euroleague Final Four the venue has been renovated and the capacity increased from 11,500 to 12,700. It was again renovated in 2017, with new internal signs and new colors in the corridors of the rings, also including the reconstruction of the floor.
Entertainment events
Sports
The arena has hosted the 1994 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships, the 2003 IIHF Continental Cup Superfinal of ice hockey (together with Lugano's Pista La Resega), WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown in 2007, and the 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships.
Since 2011, the Forum has also been home to La Grande Sfida, an annual tennis exhibition event played every Christmas. The arena also hosted the EuroLeague Final Four in 2014.[18]
The forum was the venue for 2018 World Figure Skating Championships.[19]
Some matches of the 2018 FIVB Volleyball World Championship were held at the venue. The venue also hosted some group phase matches of the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 which Italy hosted alongside Czech Republic in Prague, Georgia in Tbilisi and Germany in Berlin and Cologne.
In July 2024 the 19th World Kendo Championship was held at the forum.[20]
It will be the figure skating and short track venue during the 2026 Winter Olympics.
See also
References
External links
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