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Stadthalle Graz (also known as Graz Messe Arena) is a multi-functional event hall located in
A characteristic element of the facility is the vaulted roof on four pillars, which extends beyond the outline of the arena from the side of the main entrance, also covering the space in front of the entrance and the tram stop located there.
The hall, which can be expanded to a maximum of 20,000 m2 for exhibitions and trade fairs, consists of an upper and a ground floor plus an additional 3,000 m2 foyer space. Depending on the configuration of the 6,500 m2 pillar-free event space, it can accommodate a variable number of guests; the maximum number is 14,520 people (standing only), but in the case of organizing sports competitions, with seating mostly in the grandstands, the capacity is reduced to 5,561 spectators or up to 11,403 when using a standing/seated variant for other events. A terrace and a modern café on the upper floor are available for standing and VIP receptions as well as private events.
The cost of construction amounted to €38.3 million, of which 60% of the amount was covered from the budget of
Jakomini
Jakomini () is the 6th district of Austrian city of Graz. It is named after Kaspar Andreas Ritter von Jacomini and covers an area of 4,06 square kilometers. With a population of 31,412 in 2023 it is the most populous of the districts of Graz. The ...
, a district of Graz
Graz (; sl, Gradec) is the capital city of the Austrian state of Styria and second-largest city in Austria after Vienna. As of 1 January 2021, it had a population of 331,562 (294,236 of whom had principal-residence status). In 2018, the popu ...
, in Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
. Opened in October 2002, the hall is connected to and part of the municipal's fair building complex, Messe Congress Graz. The facility, the largest in Graz, is used to organize various events, including congresses, TV shows, concerts and sport.
Construction
A characteristic element of the facility is the vaulted roof on four pillars, which extends beyond the outline of the arena from the side of the main entrance, also covering the space in front of the entrance and the tram stop located there.
The hall, which can be expanded to a maximum of 20,000 m2 for exhibitions and trade fairs, consists of an upper and a ground floor plus an additional 3,000 m2 foyer space. Depending on the configuration of the 6,500 m2 pillar-free event space, it can accommodate a variable number of guests; the maximum number is 14,520 people (standing only), but in the case of organizing sports competitions, with seating mostly in the grandstands, the capacity is reduced to 5,561 spectators or up to 11,403 when using a standing/seated variant for other events. A terrace and a modern café on the upper floor are available for standing and VIP receptions as well as private events.
The cost of construction amounted to €38.3 million, of which 60% of the amount was covered from the budget of Styria
Styria (german: Steiermark ; Serbo-Croatian and sl, ; hu, Stájerország) is a state (''Bundesland'') in the southeast of Austria. With an area of , Styria is the second largest state of Austria, after Lower Austria. Styria is bordered to ...
, and 40% from the city of Graz. The main architect of the hall was . It was built between April 2000 and the beginning of 2002. New lighting systems and flexible grandstands were installed in 2019.
Immediately adjacent to the venue is the subsequently built exhibition hall by the architects Florian Riegler and Roger Riewe which opened in 2008 and now forms part of the complex.
Events
The Stadthalle was used to host the 2008 World Choir Games, which included hosting the opening and closing ceremonies and awards ceremonies, as well as providing catering and various administrative services during the event. In 2009, it hosted international robotics competitionRoboCup
RoboCup is an annual international robotics competition founded in 1996 by a group of university professors (including Hiroaki Kitano, Manuela M. Veloso, and Minoru Asada). The aim of the competition is to promote robotics and AI research by of ...
. It was already a place for numerous productions for example '' Wetten, dass..?''and ''Musikantenstadl
Musikantenstadl is a live television entertainment program broadcast in the German language throughout Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It features Austrian, Swiss, and German popular folk music ( Schlager, Volkstümliche Musik), international ...
''. On 16 November 2007 and 20 November 2009, TV show and music event '' The Dome'' took place in the hall.
Among the sports events that took place in the hall, the most important was the organization of some group matches of the European Men's Handball Championship
The European Men's Handball Championship is the official competition for senior men's national handball teams of Europe and takes place every two years since 1994, in the even-numbered year between the World Championship. In addition to crownin ...
s in 2010
File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...
and 2020
2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global social and economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and the largest economic recession since the Great Depression in ...
.
See also
* List of indoor arenas in AustriaReferences
External links
* * {{Authority control Buildings and structures in Graz Indoor arenas in Austria Handball venues in Austria Music venues in Austria Sports venues in Styria Sport in Graz Trade fairs in Austria Fairgrounds Tourist attractions in Graz World Choir Games venue Sports venues completed in 2002 2002 establishments in Austria 21st-century architecture in Austria