The O2: Powering Sustainable Entertainment with digiLED ZEUS® & Custom Engineered LED Screens
As the Thames snakes its way through Greenwich, few buildings stand out quite like The O2. Originally built to mark the dawn of a new century and formerly referred to as the “White Elephant”, it is now one of the world’s most recognisable entertainment venues.
Under the stewardship of AEG, The O2 has undergone a transformation few could have predicted. In 2024, The O2 welcomed over 10 million visitors – a record-breaking figure that includes not only ticketed eventgoers, but also shoppers, diners, cinema audiences and leisure seekers.
This 12% increase in footfall from the previous year reflects its growing role as a multi-functional cultural hub, far beyond its original remit as an events venue.
The Challenge: Scale, Sustainability & Smarter Operations
This growing popularity has been mirrored by an expansion in both digital infrastructure and AV scale. Yet, as with any venue of this magnitude, The O2 faced a mounting challenge: how to deliver visually rich experiences without escalating operating costs and environmental impact at the same pace.
Large-format LED displays have long played a central role in engaging visitors, from the mid-tier ribbon wrapping the arena bowl to digital signage scattered across the entertainment district and retail areas.
But behind the vibrant visuals sat a silent problem: power consumption. The more screens went up, the more complex and costly they became to manage and run.
It raised an uncomfortable question: how could The O2 continue expanding its digital footprint without also scaling waste?
“We’ve always seen LED as the perfect medium for delivering high-impact, reliable visuals across the venue, but as we scaled, standby energy costs rose sharply. The pandemic laid this bare. Even with no guests in the building, our screens were drawing significant power, even when they weren’t visibly on.”
– Stuart Edwards, Technology Director – The O2