iginally constructed to house the Millennium Experience, a major exhibition to celebrate the start of the third millennium. The exhibition was open to the public from 1 January to 31 December 2000.
After the closure of the Millennium Experience at the end of 2000, the Millennium Dome was leased to Meridian Delta Ltd. for redevelopment as an entertainment complex. This included plans for an indoor arena.
The O2: A New Era
The O2 Arena was designed by Richard Rogers and opened its doors in 2007 after developers saw a need for a large entertainment centre. Today, The O2 is a world-class entertainment venue that includes an indoor arena, a music club, a Cineworld cinema, an exhibition space, piazzas, bars and restaurants.
Some do live in social housing in the Docklands, but their conditions may not have improved much and many feel that the redevelopment plans ignored their needs.