History
The arena was opened on 17 September 1963 with a game between the national basketball teams of Israel and Yugoslavia, in which the latter won 69-64.
In its early years it held a seating capacity 5,000 spectators, with just concrete stands, without any seats, and without a roof. In 1972, a second floor of tiers was built, increasing the capacity to 10,000 spectators. The concrete stands were covered by seats and the arena was covered with a roof. Further renovations through the years 2006 - 2008 modernized the arena further, added commercial facilities, and increased its capacity to 11,700.
The arena hosted the FIBA European All star game in 1997, the FIBA European Champions Cup final game in 1972, and the Euroleague final four in 1994 and 2004.
Read more about this topic: Yad Eliyahu Arena
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)