Catacombs

Catacombs
Location	Below each arena
Years in Service	25th Hunger Games - 75th Hunger Games
Status	Unknown
Appearances
Appearances	The Hunger Games Sunrise on the Reaping

Catacombs, also called Sub-A, was a huge subterranean floor built underneath the Hunger Games arenas with a series of underground passages and chambers.

Purpose

The catacombs housed Gamemakers during each Game who carried out manual tasks like releasing muttations and stocking up for a feast. Its existence was kept secret to keep up the pretence that the games were controlled entirely from afar. The most important task here was managing the onsite computer system which was integral when running the Games, kept in a restricted area with high-tech security. It also created and maintained the tribute ecosystem; providing the electricity, plumbing, heating, cooling and ventilation among other things. Part of this was a giant water tank. They were reached from the arena by ladders through hatches hidden by the natural environment on the ground of arena.

Launch Rooms

Main article: Launch Room

Katniss and Cinna in her Launch Room.

Within the catacombs, each tribute had a Launch Room where they were prepared by their stylist just before the Games began. When the time came, the tributes all stood on top of metal platforms and were lifted through tribute tubes into the arena.

Muttations

Gamemakers launched their muttations from the catacombs, then called them back when they were done.

Tourism

Prior to the Second Rebellion, arenas and their catacombs became vacation spots for Capitol citizens to tour after the Games concluded. However, after the war, the Hunger Games were abolished and all past arenas were "completely destroyed". This presumably included the catacombs underneath.

History

During the 50th Hunger Games, the hatches to Sub-A were hidden by berms. Carrying out Beetee Latier's plan, Haymitch Abernathy and Ampert pryed one open and sabotaged the water tank on the second night with an explosion to break the arena. It was moderately successful at damaging the arena's systems but the backup generator kicked in to resupply power. The Gamemakers retaliated by sending vicious mutts to attack Ampert. Later in the Games, three Gamemakers were sent to repair one of the mutt portals. Haymitch, Maysilee Donner, Silka Sharp and Maritte caught them, and Maysilee and Marriette attacked and killed them when they tried to retreat back into Sub-A.

During the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark watched wolf mutts exit the arena this way through a hole that opened up in the ground.