Rotterdam Ahoy

Rotterdam Ahoy (also known as Ahoy Rotterdam or simply as Ahoy) is a convention centre and multi-purpose arena located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Opened in 1950, the complex consists of three main venues: a fairs and event hall, a congress and conference centre, and the Ahoy Arena. The Ahoy Arena (known as the "Sportpaleis" from 1971 to 2016), was opened on 15 January 1971 and since April 2019 has an increased seating capacity of 16,426.

Rotterdam Ahoy
AddressAhoyweg 10
3084 BA Rotterdam
Netherlands
Coordinates51°52′58″N 4°29′17″E
OwnerOntwikkelingsbedrijf Rotterdam
OperatorAEG
Opened15 January 1971 by Prince Claus
Renovated1971, 1980, 1988, 1998, 2011
Banquet/ballroom650 (Congreszaal)
Theatre seating
16,426[1] (Ahoy Arena)
6,000 (Club Ahoy)
4,000 (Theater Hal 1)
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

History
Rotterdam Ahoy in early 2007

Rotterdam Ahoy, in its current form, was built in 1970. The complex's striking design won various national and international awards for its special steel structures. The design of the venue took inspiration from the water, with the building laid out like a ship. The first event to be held there was the Femina family exhibition. Since then, Ahoy has been expanded on a number of occasions, and was renovated and refurbished in 1998 to designs by the architectural firm Benthem Crouwel which created today's multifunctional venue.

In July 2018, construction work began on an extension to the Ahoy complex. Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre and RTM Stage, designed by Kraaijvanger Architects, is expected to open in the third quarter of 2020. The new premises, featuring a dual-purpose 7,000-capacity concert hall and 2,750-seat auditorium/theatre (expandable to 4,000), will add 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.[2]

The artists' entrance of the main arena was renamed "Door Duncan" in 2020, in honor of Duncan Laurence (who was born in nearby Spijkenisse) who brought the Netherlands its first victory in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1975.[3]

Events

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 include:

The 1997 and 2016 MTV Europe Music Awards and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2007 were also held in the Ahoy Arena. Rotterdam Ahoy was expected to host 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.[4] On 18 March 2020, the EBU announced the cancellation of the contest due to the COVID-19 pandemic as the Dutch government requested that the arena would be utilised as a field hospital.[5] During the broadcast of Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light on 16 May 2020, it was announced that Rotterdam Ahoy will host the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.

See also

References
  1. "Veelgestelde vragen - Rotterdam Ahoy". www.ahoy.nl. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  2. "Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre (RACC)". Kraaijvanger. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  3. "🇳🇱 Rotterdam Ahoy renames a part of the arena in honour of Duncan Laurence". January 28, 2020.
  4. "ESCXtra". Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  5. "Official EBU statement & FAQ on Eurovision 2020 cancellation". Eurovision.tv. 18 March 2020.

Media related to Ahoy Rotterdam at Wikimedia Commons

Events and tenants
Preceded by
Palais des Sports
Grenoble		 European Indoor Championships in Athletics
Venue
1973		 Succeeded by
Scandinavium
Gothenburg
Preceded by
None		 FIFA Futsal World Championship
Final Venue
1989		 Succeeded by
Hong Kong Coliseum
Hong Kong
Preceded by
Sala Polivalentă
Bucharest		 Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Venue
2007		 Succeeded by
Spyros Kyprianou Athletic Center
Limassol
Preceded by
Expo Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv		 Eurovision Song Contest
Venue
2020 (cancelled)
2021		 Succeeded by
Current
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