HaKiriya Arena

HaKiriya Arena does not pretend to be a cathedral.

The venue sits on Independence Street in the Kirya neighbourhood, a place where the city council and a management company keep the lights on. Maccabi Ashdod B.C. runs the show on the court, dragging their season through the Israeli Basketball Premier League (Ligat Ha'al) and the State Cup. The women’s side, Maccabi Bnot Ashdod, also play their matches under the same roof. When the league reaches the Quarterfinals or Round of 16, the arena holds 2,200 people for basketball, though the numbers drop when the tennis nets go up.

What remains on the walls are the banners and the scoreboard, which have not changed much since the doors opened in 2000. The Israeli flag and local crests hang alongside the ones brought in for international ties, such as the match against South Africa in 2022.