Wikipedia

Rotterdam Ahoy

Rotterdam Ahoy (formerly known as Ahoy Rotterdam or simply as Ahoy) is a multi-purpose complex with a convention centre and an indoor arena located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Opened originally in 1950, the current complex consists of three main venues: a fairs and events hall, a congress and conference centre, and the main venue the Ahoy Arena. The latter (informally known as the Sportpaleis, lit. 'Sport Palace')[2] opened on 15 January 1971 and is the largest multi-purpose venue in the Netherlands, with a capacity of 16,426 as of May 2019.[1][3]

Rotterdam Ahoy
Ahoy Arena in 2020, the plaza building (right) is now redeveloped as RACC and RTM Stage
Map
AddressAhoyweg 10
3084 BA Rotterdam
Netherlands
Coordinates51°52′58″N 4°29′17″E / 51.88278°N 4.48806°E / 51.88278; 4.48806
OwnerOntwikkelingsbedrijf Rotterdam
OperatorAEG / ASM Global
Built1968–1970; 54 years ago (1970)
Inaugurated15 January 1971; 53 years ago (1971-01-15)
Renovated1980, 1998, 2011
Expanded1980, 1997, 2020
Former names
Ahoy Rotterdam
Banquet/ballroom650 (Congreszaal)
Theatre seating
16,426[1] (Ahoy Arena)
6,000 (Club Ahoy)
4,000 (Theater Hal 1)
7,819 (RTM Stage)
Enclosed space
 • Total space54,000 m2 (580,000 sq ft)
 • Exhibit hall floor32,230 m2 (346,900 sq ft)
 • Breakout/meeting2,825 m2 (30,410 sq ft)
 • Ballroom30,000 m2 (320,000 sq ft)
Parking2,000 spaces
Public transit access  D   E  Zuidplein
Website
ahoy.nl

Background and history

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Original exhibition hall

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The venue has a history dating back to 1950. After the devastation of World War II, the entire city of Rotterdam needed to be rebuilt, as practically nothing was left standing. Five years after the end of the war, the works at the city and their harbor was almost finished. To celebrate the last phase, an exposition called Rotterdam Ahoy! was held. The exhibition was held in a single hall that was built for the occasion and was located where the Erasmus MC is exactly today.[4] The temporary exhibition hall was called Ahoy'-Hal and was used for both national and international events until 1966 when local authorities decided to demolish the hall. The hall was badly damaged during the North Sea flood of 1953, when was used as shelter for the victims.[5][6] After 1966, temporary accommodation was found at Hofdijk/Pompenburg in the center of Rotterdam, on the site of an abandoned airstrip.

Current Ahoy complex

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Ahoy Arena (Sportpaleis) during the six-day track cycling race in 1975
 
Rotterdam Ahoy in April 2007

The current complex began to take shape in 1968. As the Sportpaleis, originally designed as an indoor velodrome,[7] and its three annexes were completed in 1970. The official opening of the Sportpalais took place during Six Days of Rotterdam, a six-day track cycling race, and was in the presence of the Prince Claus on 15 January 1971. However, the first fair already took place before the official opening, because in September 1970 Ahoy Halls were the location for the Femina fair.[8] The complex's striking design won various national and international awards. The design of the venue took inspiration from the relation of the Dutch people and the water, with the building laid out like a ship.[citation needed]

Due the high demands, two further halls were added to the complex in 1980. The main arena was converted into a multi-use arena in 1988, when the arena's cycling track was dismantled due to disuse to in order to increase the capacity of the arena, which is still in demand for shows and other types of events. In 1998, the complex was expanded again to include a sixth event hall and a main reception hall (known as the plaza) designed by the architectural firm Benthem Crouwel. Another expansion take offices, catering facilities as well as smaller conference and meeting rooms were built. The main entrance to the Sportpaleis was also redesigned and the concrete footbridge from the Zuidplein (which was connected to a shopping centre and metro station) was demolished.[9] The bridge was partly removed, so that it now ended at a staircase that led to the square in front of the reception hall. The demolition of the last section started on 3 March 2017,[10] after the bridge had become unsafe due to a truck colliding with one of the bridge's girders earlier that week.

In 2005, a (now removable) cycling track was built in Ahoy for the revived Six Days of Rotterdam racing event. The main arena building was comprehensively modernised between 2010 and 2011. The arena's overall capacity was increased, the capacity was increased by 5,000 (from 10,500) and could now hold around 15,000 spectators following the installation of new grandstands and extra seating.[11] In addition to the new grandstands, Dutch lighting company Signify installed a new custom-made 1,000 m2 LED screen wall on the facade of the arena.[12] Since April 2021, the complex has been equipped with 5,200 solar panels which supply large events with sustainable energy 195 days a year.[13]

 
Entrance to RACC and RTM Stage in June 2022

In July 2018, construction work began on an extension to the Ahoy complex. Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre (RACC) and RTM Stage, designed by Kraaijvanger Architects [nl], opened at the end of 2020 and is directly connected to the Ahoy Plaza. The new premises, featuring a dual-purpose 7.000 concert hall and 2,750-seat auditorium/theatre (expandable to 4,000), adds an additional 35,000 square metres of floor space. On the 2nd and 3rd floors there are 35 break out rooms, varying in capacity from 50 to 1,000, that can be used separately or combined and a 2,300 m2 Expo Foyer which can be used for gala dinners, expos and receptions.[14] In December 2023, construction of a new parking garage began on Ahoy's old P3 parking lot. The new garage, in between the new Ibis hotel and Ahoy forecourt, has room for 628 cars and is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2024.[15] In 2017, it was announced that a Pathé cinema would also be built adjacent to the forecourt.[16]

The artists' entrance to the main arena was renamed "Door Duncan" in 2020, in honor of Duncan Laurence (who was born in nearby Spijkenisse) who in 2019 brought the Netherlands its first victory in the adult Eurovision Song Contest since 1975.[17]

Events

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Sports

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2015 Women's European Volleyball Championship Final at Ahoy Arena
 
2023 Rotterdam Open at Ahoy

It has hosted sports competitions such as the Rotterdam Open and Six Days of Rotterdam every year and is one of the venues for Premier League Darts since 2016. Other international events held in the arena include:

It was a venue for the European finals of Superstars, the televised all-around sports competition from 1975 to 1977 and again in 1979.

In 2016, the venue hosted the mixed martial arts event UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski.[18]

In 2017, the venue again hosted the UFC for UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Struve.[19]

Music television

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Ahoy during the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

The 1997 and 2016 MTV Europe Music Awards and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2007 were also held in the Ahoy Arena.[20][21] Rotterdam Ahoy was also planned to be the host venue for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. It would have been the second venue to host both the junior and adult editions of the contest, after the Palace of Sports, Kyiv in Ukraine.[22] On 18 March 2020, the EBU announced the cancellation of the contest due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the arena was later utilised as a field hospital.[23][24] Instead, Rotterdam Ahoy hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 which took place on 18, 20 and 22 May 2021.[25]

Concerts

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The arena is one of the main venues for large concerts in Rotterdam.

In June 2022, My Chemical Romance performed at the arena as part of their Reunion Tour.[26]

Lee Towers has the record for the number of concerts - 51 in total..

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Veelgestelde vragen - Rotterdam Ahoy" [Frequently asked questions - Rotterdam Ahoy]. Ahoy.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Gideon Karting: WORKS 2020". Ahoy (in Dutch). 18 December 2020. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. (...) in de Ahoy Arena, ook wel bekend als het sportpaleis van Rotterdam Ahoy. [(...) in the Ahoy Arena, also known as the sport palace of Rotterdam Ahoy.]
  3. ^ Bird, Lisa (30 August 2019). "Rotterdam 2020: Get to know the Ahoy Arena". ESCXTRA. Archived from the original on 29 September 2019.
  4. ^ "Historie Ahoy' Rotterdam" (PDF) (in Dutch). Ahoy. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 October 2012.
  5. ^ "History: The North Sea Flood 1953 and the response by the TNO Physics Laboratory staff – Museum Waalsdorp". Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Rescue missions and emergency assistance". Zeeuws Archief. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Ahoy Arena". STEAD. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Dwars door 50 jaar historie! - Rotterdam Ahoy". www.ahoy.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Benthem Crouwel - Ahoy". Benthem Crouwel. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Geen nieuwe voetgangersbrug bij Ahoy". rijnmond.nl (in Dutch). 2 March 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  11. ^ "40-jarig Ahoy niet bezorgd over concurrentie Ziggo Dome - rotterdam". 3voor12 (in Dutch). 20 January 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Livingprojects - Façade Rotterdam Ahoy". Livingprojects. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Roof of Rotterdam Ahoy is source of sustainable energy". Eneco. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre (RACC)". Kraaijvanger (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  15. ^ "Bouw van nieuwe gigantische parkeergarage bij Ahoy van start". www.dehavenloods.nl (in Dutch). 1 December 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Nieuwe bioscoop Pathé naast Rotterdam Ahoy". www.dehavenloods.nl (in Dutch). 20 December 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  17. ^ "🇳🇱 Rotterdam Ahoy renames a part of the arena in honour of Duncan Laurence". ESCXTRA.com. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  18. ^ UFC (8 May 2016). "UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski". ufc.com. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  19. ^ UFC (2 September 2017). "UFC FIGHT NIGHT: Volkov vs. Struve". ufc.com. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  20. ^ "MTV Europe Music Awards". Songkick. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Junior Eurovision Song Contest (2007)". IMDb. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017.
  22. ^ Van Lith, Nick (30 August 2019). "Rotterdam to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2020!". ESCXTRA. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  23. ^ "Official EBU statement & FAQ on Eurovision 2020 cancellation". Eurovision.tv. 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 18 March 2020.
  24. ^ Meijer, Bart; Jones, Gareth; Heavens, Andrew (30 March 2020). "Rotterdam concert hall to admit coronavirus patients instead of Eurovision fans". Reuters. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020.
  25. ^ Tarbuck, Sean (16 May 2020). "Rotterdam will host Eurovision Song Contest 2021!". ESC United. Archived from the original on 20 May 2020.
  26. ^ Brand, Lianne (3 June 2022). "LIVE REVIEW: My Chemical Romance - Rotterdam Ahoy // NINE:32". NINE:32 (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 March 2024.
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  Media related to Rotterdam Ahoy at Wikimedia Commons

Events and tenants
Preceded by European Indoor Championships in Athletics
Venue
1973 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
None
 FIFA Futsal World Championship
Final Venue
1989 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Venue
2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Eurovision Song Contest
Venue
2020 (cancelled)
2021 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rotterdam_Ahoy&oldid=1238793325"
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