| ÖVB Arena | |
|---|---|
| Former names | Stadthalle Bremen (2004) AWD-Dome (2005-2009) |
| Location | Bremen, Bremen (state), Germany |
| Broke ground | 1961, (2004 Renovation) |
| Opened | 1964, (2005 Opened) |
| Renovated | 2004 |
| Construction cost | EUR € 50 million (2004 Renovation) |
| Architect | 1961 (Roland Rainer) 2004 (Thomas Klumpp) |
| Capacity | 14,500 (full complex) 9,200 (handball) 7,600 (tennis)[1] 10,700 (basketball) |
| Tenants | |
| 3,500 (Built 1961) Handball World Championship, (handball) (2007) Davis Cup (Germany vs Spain) (April 2008) |
|
The Bremen-Arena (previously known as AWD-Dome and Stadthalle Bremen) is the largest indoor arena in Bremen, Germany. It is used for concerts, sports, and trade fairs. It used to be called Stadthalle Bremen until the financial services provider Allgemeiner Wirtschaftsdienst (AWD) bought the naming rights in January 2005. Contrary to what the new name suggest, the AWD-Dome is in fact not a dome. The name dome was probably chosen because an AWD-Arena already exists in Hannover. At the same time € 50 million were invested into the venue to modernize and expand it from 3,500 to 14,500 seats. The architect Thomas Klumpp led these renovations. When AWD withdrew its sponsorship at the end of 2009, the venue was renamed to Bremen-Arena,[2] effective 1 January 2010.
The Stadthalle Bremen was designed and built by the Austrian architect Roland Rainer in the years 1961 to 1964.
The AWD-Dome had been used in the 2007 World Men's Handball Championship.
March 12, 1999, the American rockband KISS played here on their Psycho Circus Tour. However, the local fire marshall had banned them of using any pyrotechnics what so ever. But in the end of the show, KISS blew up a whole concerts worth of pyro in once. After that incident, KISS is not allowed to play in Bremen anymore.