Eventim Grabs Cologne Arena

German ticketing giant CTS Eventim has acquired Arena Management GmbH, the company that runs Cologne’s 20,000-capacity Lanxess Arena.

At press time the financial details of the deal hadn’t been disclosed, but the acquisition it gives Eventim’s venue operations a foothold in the Cologne area.

There are 20 million people living within a 100-kilometre radius of Cologne, and the Lanxess has hosted shows by stars including Madonna, Udo Lindenberg and Lady Gaga. The venue attracts up to 1.8 million visitors per year.

It also stages TV productions such as “Germany’s Next Top Model” and is home to Bundesliga ice hockey team KEC Kolner Haie.

It often hosts the AGMs of top stock-listed companies such as Deutsche Telekom and specialty chemicals group Lanxess AG, which currently holds the naming rights.

Completion of the deal is still subject to clearance from Germany’s antitrust regulators.