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| Rotterdam Ahoy | |
|---|---|
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 Ahoy Arena in 2020, the plaza building (right) is now redeveloped as RACC and RTM Stage | |
 Interactive map of {{#if empty|Rotterdam Ahoy|Rotterdam Ahoy}} | |
| Address | Ahoyweg 10 3084 BARotterdam Netherlands |
| Coordinates | 51°52′58″N4°29′17″E / 51.88278°N 4.48806°E /51.88278; 4.48806 |
| Owner | Ontwikkelingsbedrijf Rotterdam |
| Operator | AEG / ASM Global |
| Built | 1968–1970; 55 years ago (1970) |
| Inaugurated | 15 January 1971; 54 years ago (1971-01-15) |
| Renovated | 1980, 1998, 2011 |
| Expanded | 1980, 1997, 2020 |
Former names | Ahoy Rotterdam |
| Banquet/ballroom | 650(Congreszaal) |
Theatre seating | 16,426[1](Ahoy Arena) 6,000(Club Ahoy) 4,000(Theater Hal 1) 7,819(RTM Stage) |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Total space | 54,000 m2 (580,000 sq ft) |
| • Exhibit hall floor | 32,230 m2 (346,900 sq ft) |
| • Breakout/meeting | 2,825 m2 (30,410 sq ft) |
| • Ballroom | 30,000 m2 (320,000 sq ft) |
| Parking | 2,000 spaces |
| Public transit access |  D E Zuidplein |
| Website | |
| ahoy.nl | |
Rotterdam Ahoy (formerly known asAhoy Rotterdam or simply asAhoy) is a multi-purpose complex with aconvention centre and anindoor arena located inRotterdam, Netherlands. Opened originally in 1950, the current complex consists of three main venues: a fairs and events hall, a congress and conference centre, and the main venue the Ahoy Arena. The latter (informally known as theSportpaleis,lit. 'Sport Palace')[2] opened on 15 January 1971 and is the largest multi-purpose venue in the Netherlands, with a capacity of 16,426 as of May 2019.[1][3]
The venue has a history dating back to 1950. After the devastation ofWorld War II, the entire city of Rotterdam needed to be rebuilt, as practically nothing was left standing. Five years after the end of the war, the works at the city and their harbor was almost finished. To celebrate the last phase, an exposition called Rotterdam Ahoy! was held. The exhibition was held in a single hall that was built for the occasion and was located where theErasmus MC is exactly today.[4] The temporary exhibition hall was called Ahoy'-Hal and was used for both national and international events until 1966 when local authorities decided to demolish the hall. The hall was badly damaged during theNorth Sea flood of 1953, when was used as shelter for the victims.[5][6] After 1966, temporary accommodation was found at Hofdijk/Pompenburg in the center of Rotterdam, on the site of an abandoned airstrip.
The current complex began to take shape in 1968. As the Sportpaleis, originally designed as an indoorvelodrome,[7] and its three annexes were completed in 1970. The official opening of the Sportpalais took place duringSix Days of Rotterdam, asix-day track cycling race, and was in the presence of thePrince Claus on 15 January 1971. However, in September 1970, the first fair, the Femina Fashion and Household Fair,[8][9] already took place before the official opening, in the Ahoy Halls.[10][11] The complex's striking design won various national and international awards. The design of the venue took inspiration from the relation of the Dutch people and the water, with the building laid out like a ship.[citation needed]
Due the high demands, two further halls were added to the complex in 1980. The main arena was converted into a multi-use arena in 1988, when the arena's cycling track was dismantled, due to disuse, in order to increase the capacity of the arena, which is still in demand for shows and other types of events. In 1998, the complex was expanded again to include a sixth event hall and a main reception hall (known as the plaza) designed by the architectural firmBenthem Crouwel. Another expansion take offices, catering facilities as well as smaller conference and meeting rooms were built. The main entrance to the Sportpaleis was also redesigned and the concrete footbridge from theZuidplein (which was connected to a shopping centre and metro station) was demolished.[12] The bridge was partly removed, so that it now ended at a staircase that led to the square in front of the reception hall. The demolition of the last section started on 3 March 2017,[13] after the bridge had become unsafe due to a truck colliding with one of the bridge's girders earlier that week.
In 2005, a (now removable) cycling track was built in Ahoy for the revived Six Days of Rotterdam racing event. The main arena building was comprehensively modernised between 2010 and 2011. The arena's overall capacity was increased, the capacity was increased by 5,000 (from 10,500) and could now hold around 15,000 spectators following the installation of new grandstands and extra seating.[14] In addition to the new grandstands, Dutch lighting companySignify installed a new custom-made 1,000 m2 LED screen wall on the facade of the arena.[15] Since April 2021, the complex has been equipped with 5,200solar panels which supply large events withsustainable energy 195 days a year.[16]
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In July 2018, construction work began on an extension to the Ahoy complex. Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre (RACC) and RTM Stage, designed byKraaijvanger Architects [nl], opened at the end of 2020 and is directly connected to the Ahoy Plaza. The new premises, featuring a dual-purpose 7.000 concert hall and 2,750-seat auditorium/theatre (expandable to 4,000), adds an additional 35,000 square metres of floor space. On the 2nd and 3rd floors there are 35 break out rooms, varying in capacity from 50 to 1,000, that can be used separately or combined and a 2,300 m2 Expo Foyer which can be used for gala dinners, expos and receptions.[17] In December 2023, construction of a new parking garage began on Ahoy's old P3 parking lot. The new garage, in between the new Ibis hotel and Ahoy forecourt, has room for 628 cars and is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2024.[18] In 2017, it was announced that a Pathé cinema would also be built adjacent to the forecourt.[19]
The artists' entrance to the main arena was renamed "Door Duncan" in 2020, in honor ofDuncan Laurence (who was born in nearbySpijkenisse) who in2019 brought the Netherlands its first victory in the adultEurovision Song Contest since 1975.[20]
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It has hosted sports competitions such as theRotterdam Open andSix Days of Rotterdam every year and is one of the venues forPremier League Darts since 2016. Other international events held in the arena include:
It was a venue for the European finals ofSuperstars, the televised all-around sports competition from 1975 to 1977 and again in 1979.
In 2016, the venue hosted themixed martial arts eventUFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski.[21]
In 2017, the venue again hosted theUFC forUFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Struve.[22]
The1997 and2016MTV Europe Music Awards and theJunior Eurovision Song Contest 2007 were also held in the Ahoy Arena.[23][24] Rotterdam Ahoy was also planned to be the host venue for theEurovision Song Contest 2020. It would have been the second venue to host both the junior and adult editions of the contest, after thePalace of Sports, Kyiv inUkraine.[25] On 18 March 2020, the EBU announced the cancellation of the contest due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, and the arena was later utilised as afield hospital.[26][27] Instead, Rotterdam Ahoy hosted theEurovision Song Contest 2021 which took place on 18, 20 and 22 May 2021.[28]
The arena is one of the main venues for largeconcerts in Rotterdam.
American iconBeyoncé performed there seven times between 2002 and 2009, first as a member ofDestiny's Child and later as a solo artist.
In June 2022,My Chemical Romance performed at the arena as part of theirReunion Tour.[29]
Lee Towers has the record for the number of concerts; 51 in total.
(...) in de Ahoy Arena, ook wel bekend als het sportpaleis van Rotterdam Ahoy.[(...) in the Ahoy Arena, also known as the sport palace of Rotterdam Ahoy.]
Media related toRotterdam Ahoy at Wikimedia Commons
| Events and tenants | ||
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| Preceded by | European Indoor Championships in Athletics Venue 1973 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by None | FIFA Futsal World Championship Final Venue 1989 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Junior Eurovision Song Contest Venue 2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Eurovision Song Contest Venue 2020(cancelled) 2021 | Succeeded by |
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