- This article is about the location in The Legend of Korra television series, for the board game, see The Legend of Korra: Pro-bending Arena.
The Pro-bending Arena is the venue that hosts official pro-bending matches in Republic City. A golden building located at the end of a long causeway, the stadium is a prominent city landmark. Much of the arena was damaged following an Equalist attack in 170 AG,[1] and it was shut down soon after by the authorities.[2] The arena reopened within the six months following the Anti-bending Revolution, continuing to host pro-bending matches[3] and other events, such as the finale of Varrick's propaganda mover, The Adventures of Nuktuk: Hero of the South.[4]
History[]
After the founding of Republic City, the Pro-bending Arena was built, becoming the first ever establishment to host pro-bending matches.[5]
During Mako and Bolin's street life following the loss of their parents, Toza, a former pro-bender, discovered the brothers fighting in town and offered them a place to live in his attic while letting them work odd jobs to pay rent, which allowed them to form a pro-bending team, the Fire Ferrets.[6]
When Avatar Korra moved to Republic City to start her airbending training under the tutelage of Tenzin, pro-bending immediately called her attention. She asked Tenzin if she could attend a match at the arena, to which the airbender categorically refused. One night, however, the Avatar secretly left Air Temple Island and infiltrated the arena, accidentally stumbling into the gym, where Toza caught her and told her to leave immediately, thinking she was trying to sneak in without paying. Bolin appeared and pretended they were together in order to get her out of trouble, before showing Korra the arena from one of the locker rooms, which left the Avatar amazed.[7]
The United Republic Council was later threatened by Amon to shut down the arena for the championship match, or "severe consequences" would follow. The Council initially agreed to do so; however, Chief Lin Beifong subsequently intervened, stating that she would protect the arena and the spectators with her metalbending officers, making the majority of the Councilors change their opinion on the matter.
The Pro-bending Arena was badly damaged after the Equalists' attack.
When the White Falls Wolfbats deceptively won the match, Equalists who had infiltrated as spectators proceeded to stun the police officers, Lin, and Tenzin with their electrified gloves while Amon and some of his men entered the ring, overpowering the members of the victorious team and removing their bending. At their escape through the arena's glass ceiling via airship, a bomb was detonated in the ring, destroying a large part of it. Avatar Korra and Lin tried to stop the Equalists by pursuing them, and a battle subsequently ensued on the roof. However, after knocking the Lieutenant off of the dome rooftop, the glass beneath Korra broke and she began to fall, forcing Lin to abort her chase and save the young Avatar.[1]
After this attack, the Pro-bending Arena was closed down, forcing Mako and Bolin to leave their home and move to the Sato estate at Asami's invitation.[2]
The arena was decorated in Equalist propaganda for the Equalist victory rally.
After the Equalists' success during the battle for Republic City, the Pro-bending Arena was covered in Equalist banners and was the chosen location for the Equalist victory rally. As Amon was speaking to the crowd at the rally, however, he was exposed as a waterbender by Avatar Korra, to which the crowd did not believe. An intense battle ensued, with Korra eventually blasting Amon into the harbor via airbending. Amon began to waterbend to prevent himself from drowning, much to the shock of his former supporters, and fled the scene.[8]
Six months after the Anti-bending Revolution, the arena was rebuilt and pro-bending matches resumed at the venue.[3] The arena was later used to air the finale of The Adventures of Nuktuk: Hero of the South, with sound amplification systems on the playing field and a screen above it. During the airing, Varrick attempted to kidnap President Raiko and his wife using gangsters disguised as Northerners, hoping to force him into supporting the Southern Water Tribe in the Water Tribe Civil War. This attempt was thwarted by Bolin, and a battle between him and the gangsters ensued on the ring. After the waterbender revealed Varrick to be the mastermind, Lin Beifong and her officers surrounded Varrick and had him arrested along with his assistant, Zhu Li.[4]
A week after the Unalaq Crisis, the arena was used to hold a special tournament to sponsor the rebuilding of the city.[9]
Description[]
External layout[]
The Pro-bending Arena is a colossal, glass-domed structure located on a man-made platform in Yue Bay; a causeway connects the building entrance to the mainland. As a testament to the sport's popularity, the arena's exterior has a golden appearance and is lit at night. The building consists of a rectangular structure with four tall pillars at each corner and a quaint entrance in the side facing the city. Most of the arena sits underneath an intricate glass-domed ceiling. Two inlets come out from the sides of the main platform that supports the building over the sea; two small pavilions are located at their ends.
The arena is spacious enough to hold the ring, a large pool of water below it, seating for spectators, and at least one practice gym.[10] It also has an impressive sound amplification system, as announcers use microphones to transmit their voice throughout the entire arena.
Playing field[]
The arena's interior features a vast ring of seating above the playing field.
The playing field consists of a ring and a water pit. Located at the center of the arena, the pro-bending ring is a hexagonal platform where the teams compete in matches. It is separated into two equal sides, one red and one blue, with each split into three zones. Raised at a considerable height, the ring is supported by thick columns that erect out of a water pit below. In addition, twenty-one small discs made of earth are available on each side, recessed into the arena itself, for earthbenders to utilize during competition, while grates run along the lines between zones allowing waterbenders to access water from troughs under the ring. There are also flexible, bouncy ropes on the peripheral sides of the ring, while the two opposing ends are open to a long drop to the water below.
The playing field also has several mobile platforms that allow players to enter the ring. Referees monitor the ring from raised stands at its sides.
Seats[]
The arena has a great number of seats available for spectators. The bleachers are arranged in a staggered manner, forming long, tiered rows of seats with stairs that provide access to the chairs. There are also more private and exclusive balconies and boxes for particularly powerful or wealthy citizens and guests that include comfortable and elegant red seats, which were installed after Amon's attacks on the stadium. There is a Presidential Box destined to the President of the United Republic of Nations and their guests, such as the First Gentleman.[11][12]
Radio booth[]
There is a centered, rectangular shaped booth on one side of the arena that has a complete view of the playing field. Radio broadcasters such as Shiro Shinobi sit in the booth and provide their take on the match to the radio audience.
Toza's gym[]
Toza's gym can serve as a practice area for pro-benders.
Within the building lies Toza's gym, where the Fire Ferrets often practiced. Its attic was formerly Mako and Bolin's home.
The gym is a large place where teams can train for matches. It includes the necessary tools for practice: earth disks, nets, weights, punching bags, etc.[7]
Attic[]
The attic of Toza's gym is the former home of Mako, Bolin, and Pabu. The attic has a small hatch door in the floor for entering and exiting, a loft area, and even a small kitchen-like area for cooking. The attic also provides great views of the surrounding area from its many windows.
Notable figures[]
Trivia[]
- The design of the Pro-bending Arena was inspired by the Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, in the city of Amritsar in northwestern India. Both the Golden Temple and the Pro-bending Arena have a distinctive golden appearance on the upper floors and are surrounded by bodies of water. The arena was also influenced by the Saltair Pavilion on the Great Salt Lake of the late 1800s,[13] and the design for the arena's glass-dome ceiling drew inspiration from early 20th century French cast-iron architecture.[14]
- A pro-bending team known as the Golden Temple Tigerdillos competed in the official Championship Tournament in 170 AG.
- The playing field and water pool below were removed for the Equalist victory rally.