Tele2 Arena

Tele2 Arena

Former names	Stockholmsarenan (2008–2012)
Location	Johanneshov, Stockholm, Sweden
Coordinates	59°17′27″N 18°05′07″E / 59.29081°N 18.08534°E / 59.29081; 18.08534
Owner	City of Stockholm via SGA Fastigheter
Operator	Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG)
Capacity	30,000 (football, all-seater) 33,000 (football, with standing) 45,000 (concerts)
Record attendance	Concert: 40,000 (Avicii, 1 March 2014) Football: 31,074 (Hammarby–Ljungskile SK, 24 August 2014)
Surface	Artificial turf
Construction
Broke ground	10 September 2010[1]
Built	2010–2013
Opened	20 July 2013
Construction cost	SEK 2.7 billion (estimated)[2] €290 million
Architect	White, Arup
Main contractors	Peab
Tenants
Djurgårdens IF (2013–) Hammarby IF (2013–)

Tele2 Arena, is a multi-purpose stadium in Stockholm Globe City, located in Johanneshov, just south of Stockholm City Centre, Sweden. It is used mostly for concerts and football matches, hosting the home matches of Allsvenskan teams Djurgårdens IF and Hammarby IF. The arena has a capacity of 30,000 to 33,000 spectators for football matches, depending on the number of people standing,^[3][4] and its facilities fulfill the requirements of FIFA and UEFA for hosting international games and tournaments. When configured for concerts, the arena has a capacity of 45,000.^[5]

History

During construction in June 2012

With a maximum capacity of up to 40,000 and a rectractable roof, the arena is able to host concerts, equestrian, motor sport, ice sports, banquettes, exhibitions, company events and shareholder meetings, in addition to football.

The cost was calculated to 2.7 billion SEK including land appropriation and a new parking garage under the arena. The cost was balanced against income from sales of building rights and rental from the operator who runs the arena. Financing was mostly covered by sale of land, mainly the lot where Söderstadion is currently situated, and associated building rights for commercial premises. The owner is the City of Stockholm via subsidiary SGA Fastigheter AB.

The arena was planned to host the opening game of the ice hockey World Championship 2013, but the construction was delayed and the arena was not finished until July 2013, two months after the tournament.^[6] Initially, it was intended that the stadium would stage the finals of the Swedish Super League, but after the delay, it was decided that the finals in 2013 and 2014 would be moved to Malmö Arena.^[7] It is decided that Tele2 Arena will be the national stadium of Swedish speedway and american football.^[8]

It is also possible to have artificially frozen ice on the ground. The bandy team of Hammarby IF has practiced on the ice when this possibility was tried for the first time, but the team will so far still use Zinkensdamms IP as its home ground for bandy. "Bandyns dag" ("Bandy Day") was supposed to be arranged at the arena on 14 December 2013 with a match against IFK Vänersborg as the climax but had to be cancelled due to problems with preparing the ice.^[9] Instead, the match against Sandvikens AIK on 10 January 2014 was played in Tele2 Arena.^[10][11]

On 27 June 2013, just days before Hammarby IF's first football game in their new arena, an explosive device was found outside the stadium. Former players from rival club Djurgårdens IF were to play an exhibition game that evening in front of approximately 3,000 spectators, but the game was cancelled due to the threat. The culture commissioner for the City of Stockholm has stated that the city council "has authority over who gets to play there, and that power will be used" if the situation does not get under control.^[12][13]

The first event at the stadium was a football match between Superettan sides Hammarby IF and Örgryte IS on 20 July 2013. The match, which ended in a 0–0 draw, brought in 29,175 spectators, setting a new record for highest attendance at a Superettan match.^[14] The following day, a crowd of 27,798 attended Djurgårdens IF's inaugural match at Tele2 Arena, a 1–2 defeat by IFK Norrköping.^[15]

Average attendances

Highest attendances

Events

Two football teams from Stockholm, Hammarby IF and Djurgårdens IF, have played their home games at Tele2 Arena since July 2013. Another Stockholm club, IF Brommapojkarna, have decided to play Stockholm derby matches at Tele2 Arena instead of at their usual home ground, Grimsta IP.^[26]

The official inauguration took place on 24 August 2013, featuring Swedish artists Robyn, Lars Winnerbäck and Kent, but the first concert at Tele2 Arena had already taken place on 27 July 2013, with Swedish band Gyllene Tider performing.

Madonna visited Tele2 Arena with her Rebel Heart Tour on 14 November 2015.

On 28 February and 1 March 2014, Swedish super star Avicii made two sold out concerts with 35,000 and 40,000 spectators, respectively.

The Rolling Stones played the Tele2 Arena on 1 July 2014 as part of the European leg of their 14 On Fire tour. It was the band's 26th ever appearance in Sweden.

In 2015, the American football World Championship was to be hosted in Stockholm, with Tele2 Arena as the only venue.

On 24 January 2015, the Arena hosted UFC on Fox: Gustafsson vs. Johnson, a mixed martial arts card headlined by Swedish fighter Alexander Gustafsson and American fighter Anthony Johnson.

In 2015, the Swedish Bandy Final was held at the arena.

See also

• List of stadiums in Nordic countries
• Stockholm Globe City
• Söderstadion

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tele2 Arena.

• Official site of Tele2 Arena
• SGA Fastigheter AB
• Stockholm Globe Arenas