The O2 Arena was built beneath the tattered remains of the failed Millennium Dome. The unusual dome, which sort of looks like a melting birthday cake was first conceived by John Major’s Tory administration back in 1994 to celebrate the upcoming millennium.
After two years they had decided where it would go and who would build it: the Greenwich Peninsula and Richard Rogers.
Like most huge structures, there were time delays, budget shortfalls, but on New Years Eve, 1999, the Millennium Experience was open and even the Queen showed up. There were attractions, exhibits and Peter Gabriel created a whole multimedia deal for the 6.5 million people who visited the Dome in 2000.
Unfortunately about twice as many attendees were expected, so after merely a year the Millennium Dome was considered a bust.
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