Avicii Arena

Avicii Arena is a major indoor events venue in the Johanneshov district of Stockholm, Sweden. The building opened in 1989 as the Stockholm Globe Arena and is widely known in Swedish as Globen, a name that remains common locally even after subsequent commercial and commemorative renamings. It became the Ericsson Globe in 2009 after Ericsson acquired the naming rights, and was renamed Avicii Arena in 2021 in tribute to Swedish electronic music artist Tim Bergling, known professionally as Avicii, who died in 2018. The arena is one of Stockholm's most recognizable landmarks and forms part of the Stockholm Globe City complex. Its spherical architecture also gives it a symbolic role in the Sweden Solar System, a scale model of the Solar System across Sweden in which the building represents the Sun. The structure has a diameter of approximately 110 metres and an internal height of about 85 metres. It was designed by Berg Arkitektkontor AB and constructed using a steel, concrete, and glass space-frame system. The project took less than three years to complete. Avicii Arena is principally associated with ice hockey. It has served as a home venue for Stockholm clubs including AIK, Djurgårdens IF, and Hammarby IF, and has hosted domestic league fixtures, international games, world championships, and National Hockey League events. Its capacity varies by configuration, reaching roughly 16,000 spectators for concerts and shows and approximately 13,850 for ice hockey. The venue also contains VIP boxes and a restaurant, allowing it to support premium hospitality as well as mass-attendance events. Its programming extends well beyond hockey. The arena has hosted Melodifestivalen, Sweden's national Eurovision selection competition; the Eurovision Song Contest in 2000 and 2016; concerts by international and Swedish performers; figure skating; futsal; esports; volleyball; and other large-scale productions. It staged the 2021 World Figure Skating Championships during the COVID-19 period and hosted the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Stockholm tournament later that year. NHL Global Series events have brought regular-season and preseason games to Stockholm, including a multi-team event in 2023. The venue's commercial identity has therefore combined architecture, sport, music, broadcasting, and tourism. SkyView, an exterior inclined elevator attraction opened in 2010, carries visitors in spherical gondolas along the building's outer surface and provides elevated views over Stockholm. In 2022, plans were announced for a substantial modernization, with construction assigned to NCC in 2023. The renovation was intended to improve the arena for future international events, including the 2025 IIHF World Championship. Avicii Arena remains an active Stockholm venue, although its future configuration is linked to wider redevelopment plans for the surrounding Söderhov district.

Avicii Arena was developed as a major indoor arena for Stockholm and opened on 19 February 1989 under the name Stockholm Globe Arena. Construction lasted less than three years. The project produced a highly distinctive spherical building in the Johanneshov district, later incorporated into the Stockholm Globe City area. Berg Arkitektkontor AB designed the building, whose steel, concrete, and glass construction is supported by a MERO space structure. With a diameter of about 110 metres, an interior height of approximately 85 metres, and a volume of around 605,000 cubic metres, it became one of the world's largest spherical buildings and an important part of Stockholm's modern architectural identity. The arena's early program established its dual role in sport and entertainment. Among its first major events were Melodifestivalen, the Ice Hockey World Championships, and the Men's European Volleyball Championships. Ice hockey became the venue's principal sporting use, and Stockholm clubs including AIK, Djurgårdens IF, and Hammarby IF have used it as a home or occasional home venue. The arena has also hosted international hockey, figure skating, futsal, volleyball, concerts, televised competitions, and other large productions. Its configuration allows approximately 13,850 spectators for ice hockey and up to 16,000 for concerts and shows. The first international hockey game at the building took place before its official inauguration, when a youth team from Hammarby IF played Jokerit of Finland in a friendly match. Over time, the venue became a recurring stop for National Hockey League preseason and regular-season events. It hosted NHL Global Series games in 2019 and again in 2023, when four NHL teams participated in a multi-game Stockholm program. The venue has had several names. Although Stockholm Globe Arena was its original official name, Swedish residents commonly called it Globen because of its globe-like form. Ericsson acquired naming rights in 2009, producing the Ericsson Globe name. In 2021, the building was renamed Avicii Arena to commemorate the Swedish DJ and producer Avicii. The change was accompanied by a musical tribute: the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra performed "For a Better Day," with vocals by young Swedish singer Ella Tiritiello. The new name connected a major national landmark with Swedish music culture and mental-health awareness initiatives associated with Avicii's legacy, while the Globen nickname remained culturally familiar. Broadcast and cultural events have been central to the arena's identity. It hosted Eurovision Song Contest finals in 2000 and 2016 and was a regular venue for Melodifestivalen until 2012. The competition returned for its first three heats in 2022. During the COVID-19 period, the arena hosted the 2021 World Figure Skating Championships, and later that year it became the site of the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Stockholm esports tournament. The building also operates as a visitor attraction. SkyView opened in February 2010 and uses two spherical gondolas on parallel exterior tracks to transport visitors up the south side of the arena for panoramic views of Stockholm. In 2009, artist Mikael Genberg temporarily placed a small red-and-white aluminum cottage on the building's exterior, contrasting Swedish rural imagery with the high-technology arena and expressing an unrealized ambition to place a similar cottage on the Moon. In June 2022, a modernization program was announced with the intention of updating the arena for future events, including the 2025 IIHF World Championship, jointly planned for Sweden and Denmark. NCC was announced as the renovation contractor in July 2023. The project was also connected with uncertainty around a Stockholm bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics and a longer-term redevelopment plan for the neighboring Hovet site and the proposed Söderhov district. Avicii Arena continues to function as a major Swedish venue for sport, music, broadcasting, tourism, and large public events.

1. 2023NCC selected for renovation work

   NCC was announced as the contractor for the planned arena renovation.

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2. 2022Modernization plans announced

   A renovation and modernization program was announced for the arena.

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3. 2021Renamed Avicii Arena

   The venue adopted the Avicii Arena name in tribute to the late Swedish artist.

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4. 2021World Figure Skating Championships

   The arena hosted the World Figure Skating Championships during the pandemic period.

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5. 2021Counter-Strike Major Stockholm

   Avicii Arena hosted the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Stockholm esports event.

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6. 2016Eurovision Song Contest returns

   The venue hosted the Eurovision Song Contest for a second time.

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7. 2010SkyView attraction opens

   Two spherical gondolas began carrying visitors along the arena's exterior to an elevated observation point.

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8. 2009Ericsson naming-rights era begins

   Ericsson acquired the venue's naming rights, leading to the official Ericsson Globe name.

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9. 2000Eurovision Song Contest hosted

   The arena hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm.

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10. 1989Arena inaugurated

    The Stockholm Globe Arena officially opened on 19 February after a construction period of less than three years.

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A landmark, multi-purpose Stockholm arena combining elite sport, international entertainment, broadcast events, hospitality, and architectural tourism.

• Ice hockey eventsSporting events1989

  Ice hockey is the arena's primary sporting use. The building has hosted Swedish club matches, international fixtures, world championships, and NHL Global Series games. Its hockey configuration accommodates approximately 13,850 spectators.

• Concerts and live entertainmentLive entertainment1989

  The arena provides a large-capacity indoor setting for concerts, touring productions, music festivals, and other live shows. Seating and floor layouts can be adapted to the requirements of different productions, with total show capacity reaching approximately 16,000.

• Televised music competitionsBroadcast events1989

  Avicii Arena has been an important Stockholm venue for Melodifestivalen and has hosted the Eurovision Song Contest. These events use the arena's broadcast infrastructure, audience capacity, and production scale for nationally and internationally televised programming.

• SkyViewVisitor attraction2010

  SkyView is an exterior inclined elevator attraction opened in 2010. Two spherical gondolas travel on parallel tracks up the south side of the arena, giving visitors elevated and relatively unobstructed views across Stockholm.

• Hospitality and VIP facilitiesVenue services1989

  The arena includes premium hospitality facilities, including 40 VIP boxes and a restaurant. These services support corporate guests, sponsors, event organizers, and premium ticket holders during concerts and sporting events.

• 2021Avicii Arena renaming tribute

  Sweden

  The venue's renaming in honor of Avicii was presented through a musical tribute featuring the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra performing "For a Better Day," with vocals by Ella Tiritiello.

  Outcome. The arena adopted Avicii Arena as its official name while Globen remained a widely used local nickname.

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• 2009Temporary cottage artwork

  Sweden

  Artist Mikael Genberg placed a small red-and-white aluminum cottage on the arena's exterior, juxtaposing Swedish rural symbolism with the modern spherical building.

  Outcome. The installation remained on the arena until October 2009.

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• 2022Arena modernizationStrategy

  The aging venue required modernization and was being considered for future international sporting events.

  What changed. Plans were made to renovate and update the arena, with NCC later selected as contractor.

  Aftermath. The program was intended to support the arena's continued use for major events, including the planned 2025 IIHF World Championship.

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• 2021Adoption of the Avicii Arena identityStrategy

  The venue sought to honor the legacy of Swedish musician Avicii, who died in 2018.

  What changed. The arena was renamed Avicii Arena and launched the new identity with a musical tribute.

  Aftermath. The venue strengthened its association with Swedish music and retained its established Globen nickname in local usage.

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• 2009Commercial naming-rights agreementOther

  The venue pursued a commercial naming arrangement with Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson.

  What changed. The Stockholm Globe Arena was officially renamed Ericsson Globe.

  Aftermath. The commercial name was later replaced by the commemorative Avicii Arena name, while Globen continued as a local shorthand.

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• 2023NCC awarded the arena renovation contract

  NCC was announced as the contractor for the planned renovation and modernization of Avicii Arena.

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• 2023NHL Global Series returns to Stockholm

  The NHL Global Series returned to the arena with the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, and Toronto Maple Leafs, each playing two games during the event.

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• 2022Renovation and modernization program announced

  Plans were announced to renovate and modernize the arena, with the work linked to preparations for future international events and broader redevelopment around the venue.

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• 2021Arena renamed Avicii Arena

  The venue was renamed in honor of Swedish DJ and producer Avicii. The renaming was marked by a performance of his song "For a Better Day" by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra with vocals from Ella Tiritiello.

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• 2021World Figure Skating Championships held at the arena

  Avicii Arena hosted the World Figure Skating Championships during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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• 2021Major Stockholm esports tournament held at Avicii Arena

  The venue hosted the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Stockholm tournament.

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• 2010SkyView opens on the exterior of the arena

  The venue added SkyView, an exterior inclined elevator attraction with two spherical gondolas carrying visitors along the south side of the building.

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• 2009Stockholm Globe Arena adopts the Ericsson Globe name

  Ericsson acquired the naming rights to the Stockholm Globe Arena, giving the venue the commercial name Ericsson Globe while the local nickname Globen continued to be used.

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1. Avicii Arena
2. Avicii Arena official website