Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex (), also known as Demirchyan Arena, Sports & Music Complex, or simply Hamalir (for complex in Armenian), is a large multi-purpose sports and concert complex with 184 stairs leading up

Tsitsernakaberd The Armenian Genocide Memorial complex (, ''Hayots tseghaspanutyan zoheri hushahamalir'', or Ծիծեռնակաբերդ, '' Tsitsernakaberd'') is Armenia's official memorial Armenian genocide recognition, dedicated to the victims of the Armenian g ...

hill which dominates over the western parts of

Yerevan Yerevan ( , , ; ; sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia, as well as one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerev ...

, near the

Hrazdan River The Hrazdan (, ) is a major river and the second largest in Armenia. It originates at the northwest extremity of Lake Sevan and flows south through the Kotayk Province and Armenia's capital, Yerevan; the lake in turn is fed by several streams. In ...

gorge. The complex consists of two main halls; the concerts hall and the Sports arena, in addition to the large foyer, the small sports hall, the ''Hayastan'' conference hall, and the ''Argishti'' hall designated for diplomatic meetings, exhibitions, and other events. In August 2015, the government of Armenia decided to sell the complex to a private firm with plans to renovate the complex and turn it into a "family-oriented center".

History

Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex top down view from drone 2019

The complex was opened in 1983 but was forced to close within a year and a half after a fire in 1985 for which

Shavarsh Karapetyan Shavarsh Vladimiri (Vladimirovich) Karapetyan (; born 19 May 1953) is a Soviet-Armenian former finswimmer. He was best known for saving the lives of 20 people in a 1976 incident in Yerevan. Biography Karapetyan was born on 19 May 1953, in Arme ...

participated in the rescue, badly burning himself in the process. A renovation process took place until the end of 1987 when it was ready again to host concerts and sports events. The complex was designed by a group of Armenian architects: A. Tarkhanian, S. Khachikyan, G. Pogosyan, and G. Mushegyan. The construction process was supervised by engineers Hamlet Badalyan (chief engineer), I. Tsaturian, A. Azizian, and M. Aharonian. In 1990,

Ian Gillan Ian Gillan (born 19 August 1945) is an English singer who is best known as the lead singer and lyricist for the rock band Deep Purple. He is known for his powerful and wide-ranging singing voice. Initially influenced by Elvis Presley, Gillan ...

's band has played concerts there. The

32nd Chess Olympiad The 32nd Chess Olympiad (, ''32-rd Shakhmatayin olimpiadan''), organized by Fédération Internationale des Échecs, FIDE and comprising an openAlthough commonly referred to as the ''men's division'', this section is open to both male and female ...

in 1996 and the 2001 World Wushu Championships also took place at the venue. In 1999, shortly after the assassination of the former speaker of the

Armenian parliament The National Assembly of Armenia (, ''Hayastani Hanrapetyut'yan Azgayin zhoghov'' or simply Ազգային ժողով, ԱԺ, ''Azgayin Zhoghov'', ''AZh''), also informally referred to as the Parliament of Armenia (խորհրդարան, ''khor ...

Karen Demirchyan Karen Serobi Demirchyan (; 17 April 1932 – 27 October 1999) was a Soviet and Armenian politician who served as President of the National Assembly in 1999 until he was killed in the Armenian parliament shooting. He had been also the First Sec ...

in the

Armenian parliament shooting The 1999 Armenian parliament shooting, commonly known in Armenia as October 27 (), was a Terrorism, terrorist attack on the Armenian National Assembly (Armenia), National Assembly in the capital of Yerevan on 27 October 1999 by a group of five a ...

, the complex was renamed in honour of him, for his contribution to the construction and the renovation of the complex during the

Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

era.

On October 9, 2005, the complex was sold for US$5.7 million. The contract was signed between the Armenian Government and the Russian BAMO Holding Company. Murad Muradian, an Armenian from

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

, the head of the BAMO holding, attempted to gain the support of Yerevan citizens who were hesitant about the privatization of the building. Two conditions were put forward by the Armenian president

Robert Kocharyan Robert Sedraki Kocharyan ( ; born 31 August 1954) is an Armenian politician. He served as the President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic from 1994 to 1997 and Prime Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh from 1992 to 1994. He served as the second Presiden ...

: The name of the complex must not be changed and it must preserve its functional meaning. The organization agreed to these conditions and a commitment to make an investment of nearly 10 million US dollars was envisaged for the upcoming 3 years. The renovation lasted nearly three years and ended up costing 42 million US dollars, transforming the complex into a state-of-the-art venue for sports and concerts. On October 31, 2008, exactly after 25 years of its first inauguration, the second opening ceremony of the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex took place with the presence of president

Serzh Sargsyan Serzh Azati Sargsyan (, ; born 30 June 1954)Official biography of Serzh Sargsyan

, catholicos

Karekin II Catholicos Garegin II (, also spelled Karekin; born 21 August 1951) is the Catholicos of All Armenians, the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, since 1999. In 2013 he was unanimously elected the Oriental Orthodox head of the World Cou ...

, Karen Demirchyan's son

Stepan Demirchyan Stepan Kareni Demirchyan (; born June 7, 1959) is an Armenian politician and son of the Communist-era Armenian leader Karen Demirchyan. Biography Stepan Demirchyan was born in Yerevan and received his degree from Yerevan Polytechnic Institute ...

and widow Rima, and a huge crowd of Yerevan's residents. Popular concerts and

ice skating Ice skating is the Human-powered transport, self-propulsion and gliding of a person across an ice surface, using metal-bladed ice skates. People skate for various reasons, including recreation (fun), exercise, competitive sports, and commuting. ...

shows were included in the ceremony. The Russian figure skating legend

Evgeni Plushenko Evgeni Viktorovich Plushenko (, born 3 November 1982) is a Russian former figure skater. He is a four-time Olympic medalist (2006 gold, 2014 team gold, 2002 & 2010 silver), a three-time World champion (2001, 2003, 2004), a seven-time Europe ...

was the surprise guest and performer of the day. In August 2014, due to the accumulated debts of the owners, the Government of Armenia transferred the ownership of the complex to the Ministry of Defense.

Structure

The complex's external structure is designed in the shape of a large bird opening its wings. Its architectural concepts include a turning stand of 1,008 seats, that can rapidly connect the arena and the concerts hall big halls to reveal additional seating, a concept for which the architects were awarded the

USSR State Prize The USSR State Prize () was one of the Soviet Union’s highest civilian honours, awarded from its establishment in September 1966 until the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. It recognised outstanding contributions in the fields of science, mathem ...

, the highest of its kind, in 1987. The complex consists of the following halls: *The main arena is used for both sporting events and concerts with a fixed seating capacity of 5,266, expandable to 6,274 when the rotating stand is used. It can be further expanded with additional seating to reaching a maximum capacity of 8,800. *The concerts hall with a fixed seating capacity of 1,032, expandable to 2,040 when the rotating stand is use. *The small sports hall with a capacity of 300 seats. *''Hayastan'' conference hall. *''Argishti'' hall for diplomatic meetings, *Large foyer used for exhibitions and other events.

Notable events

After its renovation in 2008, the sports hall hosted a concert of one of the most renowned singers of Armenia and

Armenian Diaspora The Armenian diaspora refers to the communities of Armenians outside Armenia and other locations where Armenians are considered an indigenous population. Since antiquity, Armenians have established communities in many regions throughout the world. ...

Harout Pamboukjian Harout Pamboukjian (; ; born July 1, 1950), known as Dzakh Harut (, ), is an Armenian pop singer living in Los Angeles. His Armenian dance, folk, and revolutionary and romantic songs make him a favorite among Armenians worldwide. Early life ...

, while the concerts hall hosted the celebration concert of the 80th anniversary of the worldwide known Armenian musician and composer

Djivan Gasparyan Djivan Gasparyan (var. Jivan Gasparyan; , ; 12 October 1928 – 6 July 2021) was an Armenian musician and composer. He played the duduk, a double reed woodwind instrument related to the orchestral oboe. Gasparyan is known as the "Master of the d ...

with songs and plays performed by Flora Martirosyan,

Peter Gabriel Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and human rights activist. He came to prominence as the original frontman of the rock band Genesis. He left the band in 1975 and launched a solo career wit ...

Pedro Eustache Pedro Eustache (born August 18, 1959) is a Venezuelan flutist, reed player, woodwind player, composer, instrument maker, and collector. Education Eustache studied first in Venezuela under Michel Eustache (his brother), Ernesto Santini, Antonio ...

Alan Parsons Project Alan may refer to: People *Alan (surname), an English and Kurdish surname *Alan (given name), an English given name ** List of people with given name Alan ''Following are people commonly referred to solely by "Alan" or by a homonymous name.'' * ...

Boris Grebenshchikov Boris Borisovich Grebenshchikov (; born ) is a prominent member of the generation which is widely considered to be the "founding fathers" of Russian rock music. He is the founder and lead singer of the band Aquarium which has been active since ...

and others. The complex has also hosted many concerts. * On 22 March 2009, the

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

singer Garou performed at a concert in the sports hall within the frames of the Francophonie Days in Armenia. * On 22 May 2009, British rock band Jethro Tull performed a concert in the sports hall. * On 16 October 2009, the concerts hall was crowded with rock fans who came to enjoy the performance of the British rock band Uriah Heep. * On 12 November 2009, the American jazz musician and singer

George Benson George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American jazz fusion guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the ...

performed a concert in the concert hall. The event was held within the framework of "Perspectives XXI" 10th Armenian international music festival. * During April 2010, the arena hosted the 2010 IIHF World Championship (Division III) ice hockey tournament, where the Armenian team took a silver medal for Division III play after losing in the finals against North Korea. * On 25 May 2010, the English rock band

Deep Purple Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical style has varied throughout their career. Originally for ...

performed a charity concert with more than 10,000 fans filled the arena. The concert was a benefit performance, with proceeds going towards the construction of a music school in

Gyumri Gyumri (, ) is an urban municipal community and the List of cities and towns in Armenia, second-largest city in Armenia, serving as the administrative center of Shirak Province in the northwestern part of the country. By the end of the 19th centur ...

, devastated by the

1988 earthquake 1988 was a crucial year in the early history of the Internet—it was the year of the first well-known computer virus, the Morris worm, 1988 Internet worm. The first permanent intercontinental Internet link was made between the United State ...

. * On 12 August 2010, the Armenian-American rock singer

Serj Tankian Serj Tankian ( , ; born August 21, 1967) is an Armenian-American musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the alternative metal band System of a Down, which was formed in 1994. Tankian has released five albums with System of a Down ...

of the System of a Down, performed at the complex. * On 26 October 2010, the English singer

Joe Cocker John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances featuring expressive body movements. Most of his best-known singles, such as "Feelin' Alright ...

performed a concert in the concert hall during his " Hard Knocks" world tour. * On 18 March 2011, international singer

Lara Fabian Lara Sophie Katy Crokaert (; born 9 January 1970), known professionally as Lara Fabian (, , ), is a Belgian, Italian and Canadian singer and songwriter. She claims to have sold over 20 million records worldwide and to be one of the List of best ...

performed at a concert in the sports hall within the frames of the Francophone Days in Armenia. * On 3 September 2011,

Vic Darchinyan Vakhtang "Vic" Darchinyan (; born 7 January 1976) is an Armenian former professional boxer who competed from 2000 to 2017. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweigh ...

defended his IBO bantamweight title beating Evans Mbamba during a fight of 12 rounds. * On 3 December 2011, the

Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2011 The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2011 was the ninth edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, and took place in Yerevan, Armenia at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex. It was the first time in history of the Junior Eurovision ...

was held in the main arena. * On 10 September 2012, Armenian rock-band

Dorians The Dorians (; , , singular , ) were one of the four major ethnic groups into which the Greeks, Hellenes (or Greeks) of Classical Greece divided themselves (along with the Aeolians, Achaeans (tribe), Achaeans, and Ionians). They are almost alw ...

among with special guests Glenn Hughes and

Derek Sherinian Derek Sherinian (born August 25, 1966) is an American keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, and Joe Bonamassa, among others. He was also a member of Dream Theater from 1994 to 1999, is the founder of Planet X (ban ...

gave a joint concert. * In June 2013 Russian rock-band

DDT Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, commonly known as DDT, is a colorless, tasteless, and almost odorless crystalline chemical compound, an organochloride. Originally developed as an insecticide, it became infamous for its environmental impacts. ...

, while being first time in Armenia, performed a concert in the concert hall. * In October 2015,

Charles Aznavour Charles Aznavour ( ; ; ; born Shahnur Vaghinak Aznavourian; 22 May 1924 – 1 October 2018) was a Armenians in France, French singer and songwriter of Armenian descent. Aznavour was known for his distinctive vibrato tenor voice: clear and ringi ...

performed a concert in the concert hall. He has a personal dressing room in the complex. * On 26 October 2017, the American jazz musician

Marcus Miller William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. (born June 14, 1959) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonists Wayne Shorter and David Sa ...

performed a concert in the concert hall. The event was held within the framework of "Yerevan Jazz Fest 2017" annual international festival. * On 9 April 2018, President

Armen Sarkissian Armen Vardani Sarkissian (; born 23 June 1952) is an Armenian politician, physicist, investor, businessman, and computer scientist who was the 4th president of Armenia from 2018 to 2022. He also was Prime Minister of Armenia from 1996 to 1997. ...

was inaugurated as

President of Armenia The president of Armenia () is the head of state and the guarantor of independence and territorial integrity of Armenia elected to a single seven-year term by the National Assembly of Armenia. Under Armenia's parliamentary system, the president ...

succeeding Serzh Sarkisian. * On 11 December 2022, the venue hosted the 20th Junior Eurovision Song Contest. * On 13 April 2024 Russian rock-band

Mashina Vremeni Mashina Vremeni () is a Russian rock band founded in 1969. Mashina Vremeni was a pioneer of Soviet rock music and remains one of the oldest still-active rock bands in Russia. The band's music incorporates elements of classic rock, blues, and b ...

performed a concert in the concert hall. * On 22 September 2024 Archbishop

Bagrat Galstanyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan (; born May 20, 1971) is an Armenian prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church who is currently serving as bishop of the Diocese of Tavush. He also served as primate of the Armenian Diocese of Canada based in Montrea ...

held an important Christian-political meeting at the complex for the political party named after him, Srbazan Payqar.

Gallery

File:Karen Demirchyan sportcomplex.jpg

References

External links