The Craiova Polyvalent Hall (Sala Polivalentă din Craiova) is a multipurpose indoor sports arena in Craiova, reopened in 2012 after an extensive reconstruction. With a capacity of 4,215 spectators for sporting events, it hosts basketball, handball, volleyball, and other indoor competitions, as well as concerts and cultural events.
The original hall was built between 1974 and 1978 as part of Craiova’s developing sports complex. It became an important venue for the city’s indoor sports teams, particularly in volleyball and handball, where local clubs competed successfully in Romania’s national championships. On November 19, 1994, a devastating fire destroyed the hall’s roof and much of its interior, leaving Craiova without its principal indoor arena.
Reconstruction began in 1997, but funding shortages, changes of contractor, and repeated delays interrupted the project for years. Progress accelerated after the Romanian government provided additional financing in 2007, allowing the roof to be installed the following year and work to proceed on the interior. The reconstructed hall finally opened on November 10, 2012, eighteen years after the fire, with a kickboxing gala. Basketball and handball matches followed shortly afterward, returning major indoor team competitions to the venue.
The modern arena has a central playing court surrounded by spectator stands, with changing rooms, training facilities, and areas for athletes, officials, and the press. It is used by Craiova’s professional indoor sports teams, including SCM Craiova, whose women’s handball team won the EHF Cup in 2018. The hall also accommodates other sporting competitions and large public events, with seating arrangements adjusted according to the occasion.
