Mercedes-Benz Arena (Berlin)

Coordinates: 52°30′20″N 13°26′36″E / 52.50556°N 13.44333°E / 52.50556; 13.44333

Mercedes-Benz Arena
Former names O2 World (2008-2015)
Location O2-Platz 1, Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany
Operator AEG
Capacity Concerts/MMA: 17,000
Basketball: 14,500[1][2]
Ice hockey: 14,200
Surface Multi-surface
Construction
Broke ground 2006
Opened September 2008
Construction cost € 165 million
Architect HOK Sport (now Populous)[3]
JSK Architects[4]
Tenants
ALBA Berlin (BBL) (2008–present)
Eisbären Berlin (DEL) (2008–present)

The Mercedes-Benz Arena (German pronunciation: [mɛʁˌtseːdəsˈbɛnts ʔaˌʁeːnaː]) (originally known as O2 World[5] [ʔoːˈtuː ˌvœːɐ̯lt]) is a multipurpose indoor arena located in the Friedrichshain neighborhood of Berlin, Germany. The arena opened in September 2008. Developed by Anschutz Entertainment Group, O2 Germany purchased the naming rights.[6]

With a capacity of 17,000 people,[7] it is home to the Eisbären Berlin ice hockey club and the ALBA Berlin basketball team, and is used for other ice hockey, basketball and handball matches as well as concerts. The surrounding area will be filled with various entertainment venues including a cinema, a casino, a hotel and various bars and restaurants.[6]

The arena hosted the 2008–09 Euroleague Final four.[8] The arena was one of the most prominent elements of the Mediaspree urban redevelopment project, quickly gaining emblematic status in the debates surrounding the project's impact.

The LED construction grid on the facade of the arena will be equipped with more than 300,000 LED clusters on a 12 m (39 ft) high and approximately 120 m (390 ft) wide section of the semicircular 105° glass facade with a total area of more than 1,440 m2 (15,500 sq ft). Light pixels, consisting of two groups of 19 LEDs (colour palette: 16.7 million RGB colours) will be attached to the vertical bracing of the facade. The vertical distances are 0.20 m (7.9 in) and the horizontal distances between the axes are planned to be 0.90 m (2 ft 11 in).

Naming rights

In January 2015 German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz announced it had reached a deal with the arena management to rename the venue Mercedes-Benz Arena Berlin starting 1 July 2015. According to Mercedes-Benz the naming deal will last 20 years, and will also include some changes to the arena's interior design.[5] Between 2008 and 2015 the arena was known as O2 World Berlin due to sponsorship contract with Telefónica Germany, a telecommunications company.

Notable events

The first band to play at the Mercedes-Benz Arena was Metallica on 12 September 2008.

The arena was also the home for the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards.

Sting performed during his Symphonicities Tour on 21 September 2010, along with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This show has been recorded for the live album Live in Berlin.

On 21 February 2009, Scorpions received Germany's ECHO Honorary Award for lifetime achievement at Berlin's O2 World.[9]

The venue played host to one NHL Premiere game for the 2011–12 NHL season on 8 October 2011. The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Los Angeles Kings, 4–2.[10]

The arena hosted the second stage of the 2011 Euro Beach Soccer League between 8–10 July.[11]

Britney Spears performed a sold out concert on 26 July 2009 during The Circus Starring: Britney Spears.

Muse performed a sold out concert on 29 October 2009 during The Resistance Tour

Kylie Minogue performed her Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour show on 1 March 2011.

Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler played the O2 during the dual European tour on 29 October 2011.

On 27 March 2012, Il Divo performed a concert as part of their 2012 Wicked Game album tour.

Madonna performed during her MDNA Tour on two sold out nights in June 2012, and will return with two shows in November 2015 on her Rebel Heart Tour

Pearl Jam performed at the arena on 4 & 5 July 2012 during their 2012 tour

Laura Pausini performed here as part of her Inedito World Tour

The Beach Boys played during their 50th Anniversary Tour in August 2012.

Lady Gaga performed her Born This Way Ball in September 2012 for one sold out night, and on 9 October 2014 on her ArtRave: The Artpop Ball

Jennifer Lopez performed during her Dance Again World Tour in October 2012 for one night.

Beach soccer returned to the arena in August 2012 to again host the second stage of the 2012 Euro Beach Soccer League.

One Direction performed on May 11, 2013 on their Take Me Home Tour

Beyoncé performed to two sold out crowds on 23 and 24 May 2013, with her Mrs. Carter Show.

Iron Maiden performed on 18 June 2013.

Rihanna performed on 2 July 2013, on her Diamonds World Tour.

On 7 February 2014 country-pop superstar Taylor Swift performed a show on her Red Tour.

On 19 November 2014 rock band Linkin Park performed a show as a part of their The Hunting Party Tour.

Depeche Mode performed at the stadium three times: the first one was on 9 January 2010 during their Tour of the Universe. The second and the third were on 25 and 27 November 2013 during their Delta Machine Tour, in front of a total sold out crowd of 28,332 people. The 2013 shows were filmed and recorded for the group's concert film Depeche Mode Live in Berlin and for the band's live album Live in Berlin Soundtrack.

U2 will perform at the arena on 24, 25, 28 and 29 September 2015 as part of their upcoming Innocence + Experience Tour.

Irish-American dancer and musician Michael Flatley reprises his role as Lord of the Dance on 6 December 2010 during the Return of Michael Flatley As Lord of the Dance tour. A few scenes from the 3D concert film Lord of the Dance 3D, were filmed in the during the performance in the arena alongside the O2 London and O2 Dublin. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray under the title Michael Flatley Returns As Lord of the Dance in 2011. A 3D version was released only in Blu-ray in late 2011.

In October 2013, the artist Jakob Kupfer[12] transformed the LED facade of the o2 World Berlin into a giant art installation.

On 31 May 2014 UFC Fight Night: Munoz vs. Mousasi was the first event that the UFC had hosted in the venue.

It currently hosts a group of the FIBA EuroBasket 2015.

On 31 October 2015 it hosted the 2015 League of Legends World Championship final.[13]

On June 20, 2015 held UFC Fight Night: Jędrzejczyk vs. Penne.

Singer and songwriter Adele, performed on 7th and 8 May 2016 as part of her Adele Live 2016 tour.

Attendance

This is a list of home attendance figures of Alba Berlin at O2 World.[14]

German League[15] European competitions
Season Total High Low Average Season Total High Low Average
2008–09 232,490 14,800 6,103 10,108 2008–09 EL 90,111 14,800 9,147 11,264
2009–10 193,940 14,500 7,543 10,207 2009–10 EC 72,812 14,500 9,283 10,402
2010–11 262,367 14,500 7,431 10,932 2010–11 EC 51,757 9,222 7,114 8,626
2011–12 207,475 14,500 8,845 10,920 2011–12 EC 45,929 8,856 6,184 7,655
2012–13 182,645 13,786 6,878 10,147 2012–13 EL 108,122 11,988 7,816 9,010
2013–14 245,163 14,500 8,105 10,659 2013–14 EC 72,984 8,110 6,204 7,298
2014–15 224,748 13,688 7,277 10,216 2014–15 EL 123,501 14,133 8,226 10,292
2015–16 178,911 14,052 7,218 9,940 2015–16 EC 67,068 8,855 6,251 7,452
2016–17 166,337 13,022 6,376 9,785 2016–17 EC 47,435 8,666 5,429 6,776

References

Preceded by
Palacio de Deportes de la CAM
Palacio de Deportes de la CAM		 Euroleague
Final Four
Venue
2009
2016 		Succeeded by
Palais de Paris-Bercy
TBD
Preceded by
Seoul World Cup Stadium
Seoul		 League of Legends World Championship
Final Venue
2015 		Succeeded by
Staples Center
Los Angeles
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