24-hour bus service will ease exit from the O2

Concert-goers will benefit from the first round-the-clock service from the former Dome following criticism of existing transport links once the Tube has closed for the night.

The 472 bus will run halfhourly in the early hours from the O2 to other parts of southeast London, while daytime services on the route are also being stepped up to cope with demand for transport to the arena.

The move was announced by Transport for London as the O2 arena prepares to host topclass ice hockey featuring two of America's leading teams.

A sell-out crowd of 17,500 fans will pack the arena on Saturday and Sunday evening for back-toback games between the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings. It will be the first time the NHL season has kicked off in Europe.

The teams will compete on a 1,200 square metre purpose-built ice rink at the arena. It took five days to construct, using 13.5 miles of underfloor pipes to freeze the surface.

Once frozen the two centimetre thick ice is kept at a constant temperature of minus 9C to ensure play remains fast and furious. Both games sold out within weeks of tickets becoming available.

David Campbell, chief executive of AEG Europe, said: "We're thrilled to welcome the NHL to London. The arena has already seen world-class music concerts, and now it has been transformed into a rink for the opening game of the NHL season, a real coup for the O2."

AEG, which runs and redeveloped the former Dome, also owns the Kings franchise and the Staples Center where the team play.

The organisers say the crowd will be made up of American expats, fans who have flown over from the US and British enthusiasts keen to get a taste of world-class ice hockey.

Anaheim Ducks general manager Brian Burke said: "This a great honour for us.

"Showcasing a great rivalry between two clubs from the Southern California market will be terrific for the NHL."

Anaheim will be defending the NHL championship they won in June, when they beat Ottawa to win the Stanley Cup for the first time in their history. The London games will mean a homecoming for the trophy, the most prestigious in ice hockey.

The Stanley Cup was bought from a Regent Street silversmith 115 years ago by Lord Stanley, who gave his name to the trophy.

The matches launch an autumn of American sporting events in the capital.

The O2 hosts US basketball on 10 October with a game between the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves, while on 28 October, American football comes to Wembley Stadium with a match between Miami Dolphins and New York Giants.

www.nhl.com www.theo2.co.uk