Arena Banreservas Virgilio Travieso Soto is a multi-purpose indoor arena located on Centro Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Was built in 1974 for the 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games and is operated by the Arena Banreservas management committee.Since 2026,the arena is sponsored by the Bank of Reserves of the Dominican Republic (BanReservas) following a long-term right name rights deal with the management committee.
This venue hosts local sporting events and concerts, having held the basketball games during the 2003 Pan American Games and the 2010 World Youth Women's Handball Championship. It is known as The Half Orange () for its characteristic domed orange roof.
Description It houses the Baskeball National Federation, the National League, Special Olympics office, National District Basketball Association, two gyms and storage facilities.
History 1974 The Mexican Contratos de Obras y Agrícolas C. por A., CONTROBAS and Dominican Construcciones y Pavimentos S.A. were in charge of the design and construction of the Arena. The cost on the opening day of the Arena, 17 February 1974, was RD$ 3,454,178.00. The three levels building is circular in the outside and elliptical in the inside, with a total height of 37 meters and 106 meters wide. The domed shape roof is from reinforced concrete, metal framed and wood with orange waterproof resin cover, giving the look of a half orange. The playing area is 700 m2 made of parquet floor.
The Palacio de los Deportes, served as the venue for the basketball competitions and volleyball finals for 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games.
1979-1998 The venue was recovered after the damage caused by Category 5 Hurricane David that made landfall in Santo Domingo on 31 August 1979 and harmed the roof, but its strong structure survived and was able to host displaced people.
Law 75-87 stated that the Palacio de los Deportes bears the name Virgilio Travieso Soto, former basketball player, delegate, technical director of the 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games and Dominican Sports Hall of Fame 1980 inductee.
It was remodeled for Centrobasket in 1987 and 1995, and a RD$25 million renovation in 1998 with Morrison Ingenieros which included roof repairs and fixing leaks, new seating and air conditioner. But on 22 September 1998, the Hurricane Georges damaged the recently repaired roof and the contractor reinstall it at its own expense, fulfilling the warranty.
2002-2013 In time for the 2002 NBA exhibition game game between Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves on 11 October 2002, that included the local NBA player Felipe López from the Timberwolves; another important remodeling took place before the 2003 Pan American Games held in Santo Domingo. and the 2005 FIBA Americas Championship, a 2006 FIBA World Championship qualifier.
The government of the Dominican Republic spent 9 million on remodeling the venue before 2010 Centrobasket, but the air conditioning failed during the tournament one of the game was suspendended and the organizer had to rent mobile air conditionated units. The 2011 Liga Nacional de Baloncesto season had to be relocated to the Volleyball Pavilion due to the deplorable state of the facility, including the poor state of the bathrooms, lighting system and dressing rooms. But in early 2011, a government official revealed that there was a remodeling proposal that included the demolition of the stadium and the construction of a new one, similar to Gran Arena del Cibao. But later, a private RD$900 millions proposal for a multi purpose venue, similar to the Madison Square Garden whithout demolishing the existing building was delivered to the government for consideration. It included the improvement of the acoustic system and modification the roof. The Dominican Republic Baskeball Federation, Frank Herasme said that the 20 years service life of the Palacio de los Deportes ended and it can't handle any more remodeling. He complained about the lack of maintenaince and considered the venue to be dysfunctional and its structure to be outdated. But a new renovation was done in 2011 and in 2013 the president of the national federation, Rafael Uribe and men's team general manager Eduardo Najri agreed that the Palacio de los Deportes should be demolished in order to have a top-leve venue
2017-2019 The stadium still unusable when the 2017 National District Superior Basketball Tournament have to be moved again to the Volleyball Pavillion and Club San Carlos because of the terrible state of the stadium. The National District Basketball Association president, journalist José P. Monegro proposed that money from the Odebrecht case in the Dominican Republic should be used for the reconstruction of the multi-purpose indoor arena. The national federation president requested a modernization of the arena, at a time when the national team could not neither train nor play official matches at the Palacio de los Deportes.
A new renovation costing RD$40 million intended to turn the Palacio de los Deportes like new started in May 2019, including bringing back the orange color of the roof stained by mold, installation of surveillance cameras, new interior lighting, adding a new changing room and new flooring. This renewal, before the new season of the National District Basketball Superior Tournament, ended up costing RD$60 million.
2022-2026 The Palacio de los Deportes held 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup qualifying matches on 13 and 14 of February 2022, when controversy sparked when Russia could not travel to the United States because the U.S. does not consider the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to meet its entry requirements and FIBA decided to relocate the games involving Russia to a bubble in the Dominican Republic, with Russia defeating Belgium and Puerto Rico and winning the berth to the World Cup. The 524-23 Luis Abinader presidential decree, named the Palacio de los Deportes management committee, is chaired by businessman Rafael Hasbún, and the members are Fernando Langa, businessman Eduardo Najri, former basketball player Alfred Cari Von Leschhorn Ariza (Aldo Leschhorn) and 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games organizing committee president José P. Monegro.
In 2024, Hasbún announced that an sponsorship agreement was reached with BanReservas, that would be in charge of the remodeling of the complex, including the first naming rights agreement ever held in the Dominican Republic that renamed the venue as Arena BanReservas. The renovation was necessary to host the basketball games of the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games,
The RD$1,000 million renovation wrapped up in 2026, introducing a top-tier FIBA-certified basketball court with Level 1 hoops and professional broadcast lighting. Fans will enjoy an immersive experience thanks to a high-definition 360-degree central LED screen, perimeter displays, and a premium sound system. The venue also offers versatile fixed and retractable seating, plus fully accessible restrooms for individuals with disabilities. Included four modern locker rooms with individual lockers for the players, screens, and bathrooms with 14 showers. The domed roof and the exterior were restored, there is a modern press room; seven suites, including one for the press, a presidential and one VIP suite now featuring a new seating capacity of 8,270 spectators. It hosted qualification games for the 2027 FIBA World Cup after the new opening.
Events and concerts Band/ArtistEvent/TourDateAttendance1974 Central American and Caribbean Games1974The Producers1983Sold OutRamon OrlandoNo Hay Nadie mas Tour19912003 Pan American Games2003Chayanne2003David Bisbal2003Santo Domingo Reggaetón Festival 20039 December 20036,000Tego Calderon El Abayarde World Tour20 December 20038,000Merengazo del Verano20047,000Daddy YankeeBarrio Fino World Tour23 October 2004Erreway27 November 2004Sin Banderas3 February 200510,000SmackdownLive Tour 200630 June 2006Ricardo ArjonaAdentro Tour27 July 2006Paulina RubioAmor, Luz y Sonido Tour29 March 20075,000Jesus Andrian Romero9 December 2007Chayanne15 December 2007Alejandro Sanz9 February 200810,000RBDTour Emepezar desde cero 200811 April 2008Victor Manuel, Elvis Crespo, Los Rosario & Zone D`TamboraUna Noche Tropical7 June 2008Disney's High School Musical the Ice Tour 3–6 July 2008Don OmarUp & Closer23 February 2008Cristian Castro & Gibeltoo Santa Rosa`Encuentro de dos grandes23 August 2008Alejandro FernandezViento a Favor tour30 August 200810,000JuanesLa Vida World Tour15 November 2008Danilo Monterio & JulissaInagotable21 November 2008Daddy YankeeThe Big Boss World Tour18 December 20088,000Marco BarrientosAviva Tour28 March 20094,500Lilly Goodman, Daniel Calveti & Tercer Cielo3x130 May 20098,000Luis FonsiPalabras del Siliencio Tour8 August 2009Disney on ice El viaje Fantastico 20–23 August 2009Laura PausiniPrimavera Anticipada World Tour19 September 2009Pet Shop BoysPandemonium Tour24 October 2009Julio Iglesias5 November 2009Martha Heredia20 December 2009Chichi PeraltaDe Aquel Lado del Rio9 February 2010Cristian Castro, Martha Heredia, Reik & NoelInvasion Pop6 March 2010Joaquin SabinaTour Viña y rosas 201018 May 2010Raymond Pozo & Miguel CespedesTour 1624 July 2010Jonas BrothersLive in Concert16 October 2010David BisbalSin mirar atras tour23 October 2010Cosculluela Cosculluela Concert Party27 November 2010CamliaDejate Amar Tour5 March 2011Laura PausiniInedito World Tour12 February 20124,000Joaquin Sabina & Joan Manuel SerratDos Pajaros Contraatacan7 November 2012Cirque du SoleilSaltimbaco 22–25 November 2012Raymond Pozo & Miguel CepedesReyes del Humor27 December 2012Ruben BladesCuentos y Cantos Urbanos16 December 20133,000Andres CepedaLo mejor que hay en mi vida World Tour7 June 2014ChayanneEn todo estare World Tour2 May 2015Ricardo ArjonaViajer Tour 22, 23 & 29 August 2015 CamilaElypse World Tour5 December 2015Sin BanderaUna Ultima Vez World Tour6 April 2016Alejandro SanzSirope Tour 201621 May 2016ChayanneEn Todo Estare World Tour 201618 June 2016Nicky JamThe Ave Fenix Tour14 August 20166,000 / 6,700Camila + Ricardo Montaner24 September 2016Cirque du SoleilOvo 27–30 October 2016Ricardo Montaner + Sin BanderaSolo hits & Por Ultima Vez18 & 19 March 2017Miguel BoseEstare 20174 May 2017Franco de Vita & CamilaSolo hits Tour 20173 June 2017Ingrid Rosario27 July 2017Il VotoNotte Magica: A Tribute To The Three Tenors13 September 2017Prince Royce, Mozart La Para, IlegalesQuiereme Como Soy17 February 2018OzunaOdisea World Tour23 June 201811,000 (record)MalumaF.A.M.E Tour15 August 2018El Alfa10 años2 September 20188,000+Toño Rosario & Los Hermanos RosarioLa Disnatia Rosario6 October 20186,000+Jesus Adrian RomeroTour 201820 October 2018Zion & Lennox26 October 2018Ha Ash100 años tour27 October 2018Camila & Sin Banderas4 Latidos Tour8 March 2019ChayanneDesde el alma Tour 201925 May 2019J BalvinArcoiris Tour31 August 2019Raymond & MiguelLos Reyes Pa’l Palacio14 September 20197,000+GabrielMorisoñando Tour19 October 2019Ricardo MontanerMontaner Tour 201915 December 20198,000Camila and Sin Bandera4 Latidos Tour19 February 2022Myke TowersEl Young King The Tour 2022.12 March 2022Carlos VivesVives Tour14 May 2022Reik and Luis FonsiEn Cambio Tour y Noche Perfecta Tour23 July 20229,000+Marco Antonio SolisQue Ganas de Verte Tour30 September & 1 October 2022Dj AdonisDj Adonis y sus amigos17 December 2022Manny CruzDominicano de Corazón4 March 2023Ana GabrielPor Amor A Ustedes World Tour29, 30 April and 3 MaySold OutRochy RD12 August 2023Eladio CarrionThe Sauce Latam Tour1, 2 & 3 December 2023
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