⏳🔙 Ready to travel back in time? Discover the origins of the Hanging Gardens! 

The Hanging Gardens was one of the first purpose-built Arenas. It wasn’t a site that started off as something else, it was made from scratch. The risk was huge. No-one knew if Mech sports had mass appeal, and this stadium had to regularly fill its 70,000 seats just to break even. One only needs to see the current 18 month waiting list to see that the gamble paid off. Within the stands, visitors can shop for themed merch, including branded togas, laurel crowns and refresh themselves with the stadium’s snack of choice - garum-topped pizza. 

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You’ll find the Hanging Gardens Arena on Italy’s west coast, and its architecture takes inspiration from the classical world. For a moment, it’s easy to get lost in time - there’s a roaring brazier at its center, a sandpit fit for gladiator brawling, and ivy-wrapped marble pillars. But that feeling quickly disappears when a high-tech Mech sporting the latest Weapon turns its opponent into scrap metal. Spectators are expected to cheer loudly. Recordings are encouraged. This is no formal, restrained occasion. If you visit, be ready to shout about it.

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The Hanging Gardens is also one of the few stadiums that the Mech Arena League actually owns, rather than leases. Because of the freedom that affords, it’s the chosen spot for the yearly Spring Equinox celebration - known as the Garden Party. With a name like that, many expect this event to be raucous, but the Garden Party marks the start of new beginnings. It’s a chance to move past disagreements, let go of grudges, and enter the next season with a fresh attitude. It’s also an opportunity for new alliances to be nurtured and old schemes to be buried.

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While the Pilots see themselves as the stars of the show, you can find another legend in the stands of this Arena. Known fondly as ‘Hanging Gardens Hal’, this spectator has attended every match since the stadium first opened. Each time he sits in the same seat, wears the same t-shirt and leads the same chants without fail. Hal is an elderly gentleman, bemused but unaffected by his now-cult status. It’s thought he lives alone and is thrilled to share his love of the sport with others. There’s no doubt that Hal draws his own crowd of fans to this Arena.

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