HISTORY OF DOME BUILDING “The 02”

Key dates in Millennium Dome's history, now known as “The 02”:
:: October 1993 - Millennium Commission created.
:: March 1995 - Commission says a proposed national exhibition centre should be created to mark the millennium.
:: February 1996 - Greenwich Peninsula chosen as the site.
:: June 1997 - Newly elected Labour Government approves the plan and work begins on the site.
:: July 1997 - The Commission awards a National Lottery grant of £449 million to Dome organisers the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC).
:: June 1999 - NMEC announces that sponsorship reaches £150 million target.
:: December 31, 1999 - Queen attends opening night party at the Dome, but many VIPs are stuck for hours at Stratford in east London due to administrative problems.
:: February 2000 - With attendances far short of the 12 million annual target figure, NMEC chief executive Jenny Page is ousted and replaced with former Disneyland Paris chief PY Gerbeau. NMEC gets a further £60 million of lottery money.
:: May - Dome gets a further £29 million of lottery money and NMEC chairman Bob Ayling resigns.
:: August - NMEC given a further £43 million from the lottery.
:: September - Another £47 million from lottery set aside for Dome as David James is appointed NMEC executive chairman.
:: November 7 - What would have been the biggest robbery in UK history - the planned snatch of £200 million worth of diamonds from the Millennium Dome - is foiled by armed police.
:: December 31 - Dome closes to public with 6.5 million having attended.
:: February 2001 - The Legacy consortium, which also planned a business city, has its preferred bidder status withdrawn by the Government.
:: December 2001 - The Meridian Delta consortium and its entertainment arm AEG - owned by American billionaire - Philip Anschutz chosen by the Government to develop the Dome and the surrounding area.
:: May 2002 - Plans unveiled to redevelop the site including turning the Dome into an 20,000 seater arena.
:: December 2002 - Meridian Delta submits planning application for its development plans to Greenwich Council.
:: February 2004 - Planning permission granted.
:: July 2006: Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott denies any conflict of interest in his accepting hospitality from Mr Anschutz after details of a stay at his ranch emerge.
:: July 2006: It emerges that Government regeneration agency English Partnerships is still spending £30,000 a month on maintenance, security and insurance.
:: June 2007 - Dome reopens as “The 02” arena.