Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

[[Latin]] ''harena'', ''arena'' sand, sand strewn place of [[combat]]

[[Latin]] ''harena'', ''arena'' sand, sand strewn place of [[combat]]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century 1600]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century 1600]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1:  an area in a Roman [[amphitheater]] for gladiatorial combats

*1:  an area in a Roman [[amphitheater]] for gladiatorial combats

:b :  a place or situation for [[controversy]] <in the public arena>  

:b :  a place or situation for [[controversy]] <in the public arena>  

==Description==

==Description==

An '''arena''' is an enclosed area, often [[circular]] or oval-shaped, designed to showcase [[theater]], musical performances, or sporting [[events]]. The word derives from [[Latin]] ''harena'', a particularly fine/smooth sand used to absorb [[blood]] in ancient arenas such as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum Colosseum in Rome]. It is composed of a large open space [[surrounded]] on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the lowest point, allowing for maximum visibility. Arenas are usually designed to accommodate a large number of spectators.

An '''arena''' is an enclosed area, often [[circular]] or oval-shaped, designed to showcase [[theater]], musical performances, or sporting [[events]]. The word derives from [[Latin]] ''harena'', a particularly fine/smooth sand used to absorb [[blood]] in ancient arenas such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum Colosseum in Rome]. It is composed of a large open space [[surrounded]] on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the lowest point, allowing for maximum visibility. Arenas are usually designed to accommodate a large number of spectators.

The term arena is sometimes used as a synonym for a very large venue such as Pasadena's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Bowl_stadium Rose Bowl], but such a facility is typically called a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadium stadium], especially if it does not have a roof. The use of one term over the other has mostly to do with the type of [[event]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football Football] (be it association, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_football rugby], or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gridiron_football gridiron]) is typically played in a stadium while basketball and ice hockey are typically played in an arena, although many of the larger arenas hold more spectators than do the stadiums of smaller [[colleges]] or high schools. There are exceptions. The [[home]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_University Duke University] basketball team would qualify as an arena, but the facility is called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameron_Indoor_Stadium Cameron Indoor Stadium]. Domed stadiums, which, like arenas, are enclosed but have the larger playing surfaces and seating capacities found in stadiums, are generally not referred to as arenas in North America. There is also the sport of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoor_American_football indoor American football] (one variant of which is explicitly known as arena football), a variant of the gridiron-based game that is designed for the usual smaller playing surface of most arenas; variants of other traditionally outdoor sports, including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_lacrosse box lacrosse] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futsal futsal]/indoor soccer, also exist.

The term arena is sometimes used as a synonym for a very large venue such as Pasadena's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Bowl_stadium Rose Bowl], but such a facility is typically called a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadium stadium], especially if it does not have a roof. The use of one term over the other has mostly to do with the type of [[event]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football Football] (be it association, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_football rugby], or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gridiron_football gridiron]) is typically played in a stadium while basketball and ice hockey are typically played in an arena, although many of the larger arenas hold more spectators than do the stadiums of smaller [[colleges]] or high schools. There are exceptions. The [[home]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_University Duke University] basketball team would qualify as an arena, but the facility is called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameron_Indoor_Stadium Cameron Indoor Stadium]. Domed stadiums, which, like arenas, are enclosed but have the larger playing surfaces and seating capacities found in stadiums, are generally not referred to as arenas in North America. There is also the sport of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoor_American_football indoor American football] (one variant of which is explicitly known as arena football), a variant of the gridiron-based game that is designed for the usual smaller playing surface of most arenas; variants of other traditionally outdoor sports, including [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_lacrosse box lacrosse] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futsal futsal]/indoor soccer, also exist.

The term "arena" is also used loosely to refer to any [[event]] or type of event which either literally or [[metaphorically]] takes place in such a location, often with the specific [[intent]] of comparing an idea to a sporting event. Such examples of these would be terms such as "the arena of [[war]]" or "the arena of [[love]]" or "the political arena". In many [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_game fighting games], the stage that opponents are fought in is also called an arena.

The term "arena" is also used loosely to refer to any [[event]] or type of event which either literally or [[metaphorically]] takes place in such a location, often with the specific [[intent]] of comparing an idea to a sporting event. Such examples of these would be terms such as "the arena of [[war]]" or "the arena of [[love]]" or "the political arena". In many [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_game fighting games], the stage that opponents are fought in is also called an arena.

==See also==

==See also==

*'''''[[Mind Arena of Choice]]'''''

*'''''[[Mind Arena of Choice]]'''''

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]