“Is this it?” someone whispers. “It’s smaller than I imagined.”
Welcome to the Lido Indoor Hall. It is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Heraklion. Locals often just call it Lido Hall. It might not look like much but it has stories to tell.
The Lido Indoor Hall was built in 1986. In 1995 it was renovated. This upgrade prepared it for Irakleio B.C. who had just been promoted. They were joining the Greek A1 Basketball League. For years, Lido was Heraklion’s only indoor arena. Then came the TEI Indoor Sports Hall in 2004. In 2007, the Heraklion Indoor Sports Arena opened.
Lido Indoor Hall is part of the Heraklion National Sports Centre. You will find it right next to the Pankritio Stadium.
The arena can seat 1400 people. It hosts various sports. Think volleyball, boxing and wrestling. It’s mainly used for basketball games. Today, it is home to Ergotelis B.C.. They are part of the Greek C Basket League.
Oddly enough, Lido hosted the 2005 Greek Basketball Cup final. The teams were Panathinaikos and Aris. Despite its small size, it has seen some action.
The Lido Indoor Hall is owned by the General Secretariat of Sports. It stands as a testament to Heraklion’s sporting history.