The £43 million (€53 million/$70 million) 7,500 capacity Copper Box was completed in 2011 before it hosted handball and the modern pentathlon fencing discipline during the London 2012 Olympics and then goalball during the Paralympics.

The London Lions, formerly known as the Milton Keynes Lions before their move to the capital, secured the move to the Copper Box last year and will be the first professional sports team to move to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

As London's only professional basketball team, they currently play at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre with their first game at the Copper Box set for August this year.

The team had their first taste of the venue as they were granted exclusive access while it is being transformed for legacy use.

Leading scorer Orlan Jackman, who grew up in nearby Hackney, was ecstatic.

"It's one thing to play in my home city," he said.

"But this is really playing at home."

London Lions chief executive Vince Macaulay expressed his delight at the move and paid tribute to Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), who will now be operating the venue.

"GLL's legacy programme has made this happen," he said.

"We have sponsorship and advertising packages that will ensure that you can engage with us at these levels whilst giving exposure to you, your product and your services even before we begin to provide fantastic entertainment for the growing number of fans out there."

A key part of the London Lions permanent move to the Copper Box will be continuing this work with local people.

The Copper Box will be open from July 27 with a full programme of events and activities for the public to take part in and enjoy.

Once it reopens, the venue is expected to attract up to 500,000 visitors per year, and it is also being lined up to become the permanent home of United Kingdom-based World Series of Boxing (WSB) franchise British Lionhearts later this year.

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