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‘The Crown Jewel Of Swedish Arenas’: Avicii Arena Reopens For Business

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View of Avicii Arena’s iconic globe exterior. Inside, a lot has changed. (Picture by Annika Berglund)

Following an extensive 12-month, $92 million redevelopment, Avicii Arena reopened this past weekend, Feb. 1, in the Swedish capital of Stockholm.

The refurbished 15,000-capacity building “redefines live entertainment in the Nordics,” according to a press release from ASM Global, which operates several buildings in the Swedish capital, including Avicii Arena, 3Arena, Hovet, Annexet, Södra Teatern, the outdoor venue Betongparken, as well as the country’s national stadium, Strawberry Arena.

Strawberry Arena: Sweden National Stadium Renamed

The redevelopment of Avicii Arena was led by Stockholm Live, and the City of Stockholm, and was carried out by an international design team comprising of HOK, C.F. Møller Architects, and schlaich bergermann partner (sbp).

The modernization brings a host of upgrades set to roll out from now, and through 2025, including brand-new stands and seating with rebuilt terraces that bring fans closer to the action, offering “unbeatable views and increased comfort.”

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View of the new seating and rigging at Avicii Arena. (Picture by Annika Berglund)

The new seating brings a slightly higher total capacity in the arena, including an increase in the standing floor capacity. It was achieved, Pollstar was told upon request, by increasing capacity of the lower stands, while slightly lowering the capacity of the terraces.

For hockey, for instance, the new standing space means about 1,000 more spectators can now watch the games live.

In terms of concerts, Metallica still holds the Avicii Arena audience record of 17,303 spectators set in 2018 (they sold 32,990 tickets across two shows, grossing $2,903,553, according to the boxoffice report submitted to Pollstar at the time). Depending on production, stage design etc. this record could now possibly be surpassed with the new set up.

The arena’s f&b offerings have been improved to now feature a wide array of high-quality food and drink. Enhancements made to the audio system include a retractable interior roof, and a new sound system, and new draping capabilities to create an intimate event experience.

The back-of-house has been redesigned as well, offering new rigging capacity, faster event transitions, and adaptable staging to enabling more ambitious productions and a wider variety of events. For instance, the arena can now transition from hockey to concerts faster than ever.

Coming soon in 2025 are new premium experiences ranging “from luxury suites to social lounges and party booths,” according to the press release.

Architects had to navigate the building’s protected status when implementing modern solutions and construction technology. Kirsty Mitchell, senior project manager at HOK, said, “our design solutions honor the arena’s iconic architecture while introducing innovative and forward-thinking features that ensure its relevance for decades to come.”

Mårten Leringe, partner and architect at C.F. Møller Architects, added, “by blending technical innovation with intelligent design, we have ensured that the arena continues to be a cultural and architectural landmark.”

See: ASM Global Reopens Iconic Stockholm Venue

Avicii Arena, first opened in 1989 as The Stockholm Globe Arena, and developed a reputation as one of Europe’s preeminent entertainment arenas. It carried the name of Swedish telco giant Ericsson since 2009, until being renamed Avicii Arena to commemorate the late Swedish recording artist and producer Avicii, who died in 2018.

The last boxoffice reports submitted to Pollstar before the arena closed for its redevelopment include a 50 Cent concert Oct. 7, 2023, selling 11,987 tickets at a $1,106,773 gross; Swedish rapper Ant Wan sold out 13,547 tickets at a $1,852,591 gross Sept. 30, 2023.

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Swedish synth pop duo KITE performed on the night of Avicii Arena’s reopening, Feb. 1. (Picture by Annika Berglund)

Following a full year of works, Avicii Arena reopened Feb. 1, with Sweden’s own KITE taking the stage for a sold out show. Only the main arena bowl was launched. The new premium and restaurant areas are going to follow suit through 2025.

The redevelopment took an investment of approximately $92 million. ASM Global says it cements Avicii Arena’s position as “the premier destination for world-class concerts, sporting events, and unforgettable experiences for fans to enjoy decades to come.”

Upcoming events at Avicii Arena include the Beijer Hockey Games (Feb. 6-9), two performances by Billie Eilish (April 23-24), the Ice Hockey World Championships (May 9-25), as well as performances by Tate McRae, André Rieu, Ricky Gervais, Kylie Minogue, and more throughout the year.

Marie Lindqvist, SVP operations at Legends and ASM Global Europe, commented, “At Legends and ASM Global we take pride in pushing the boundaries for what can be done in an arena. The iconic Avicii Arena is a great example of how innovation, engineering and the passion to elevate the customer experience can transform an arena and take it into the future. Together with our long term partner City of Stockholm, we are investing in the future by making Avicii Arena the best arena of its kind in the Nordics.”

The arena’s GM Tobias Ekman added, “The crown jewel of all arenas in Sweden has, since its opening 35 years ago, always been Avicii Arena. With its unique design and history, this iconic multi arena has now been modernised and transformed on all levels to ensure that Avicii Arena continues to be the premier concert and sports venue in the Nordics, attracting even more and larger events for at least another 35 years. This also creates great value for Stockholm, both financially and culturally.”

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