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Friends Arena

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Friends Arena

UEFA Category 4 Stadium 



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Former namesSwedbank Arena (2009–2012)LocationSolna, Stockholm, SwedenCoordinates59°22′21″N 18°00′00″ECoordinates: 59°22′21″N 18°00′00″EOwnerSwedish Football Association, Folksam, Solna Municipality, Jernhusen, Peab, Fabege[3]Executive suites92Capacity

54,329 (national capacity)[5]

50,653 (international all-seated capacity) (football)[6]

65,000 (concerts)[2]

Record attendance

58,163 (Avicii Tribute Concert, 5 December 2019)[7]

50,128 (AIK–Sundsvall, 4 November 2018)[8]

ConstructionBroke ground7 December 2009[1]Built2009–2012Opened25 October 2012[2]Construction cost2.8 billion SEK (€ 300 million)ArchitectArkitekterna Krook & Tjäder, Berg Arkitektkontor, Populous[4]Main contractorsPeabTenantsSweden national football team (2012–present) AIK Fotboll (2013–present) Melodifestivalen Finalen (2013-2020)

Friends Arena, also known as Nationalarenan, is a retractable roof multi-purpose stadium in Stockholm, Sweden. Located next to the lake Råstasjön in Solna, just north of the City Centre, it is the biggest stadium in Scandinavia. Since its opening, the venue has served as Sweden's national stadium for men's football, hence its name. The main tenants of the stadium are Sweden's men's national football team and Allsvenskan football club AIK; both relocated from their previous home at the Råsunda Stadium. The venue has a total capacity of 65,000 at concerts and 50,000 seated at football matches, but the stadium can be scaled down to provide for smaller events with approximately 20,000 guests.

Contents

1History

2Structure and facilities

3Events

4Points of interest

5Football average attendances

6See also

7References

8External links

History[edit]

Initially there were plans to build a new national stadium close to the indoor venue Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, but on 1 April 2006 the Swedish Football Association (SvFF) made the decision to build the new stadium in Solna. It was calculated to cost around 1.9 billion kronor (202 million euro) to complete. The estimated cost before construction had begun was 2.3 billion kronor. It replaced Råsunda Stadium, Sweden's former national arena for football. Råsunda was torn down and replaced by some 700 flats and office buildings, making it the first stadium that hosted a FIFA World Cup to ever have been torn down.

Swedbank acquired the naming rights to the stadium in a 153 million kronor (about 20.5 million euro) deal that will last until 2023. While the arena was originally to be known as Swedbank Arena, Swedbank announced in 2012 that it would donate its naming rights to Friends, a nonprofit organization against school bullying of which Swedbank is a sponsor. Consequently, the stadium was renamed Friends Arena.

Structure and facilities[edit]

The stadium has a retractable roof, enabling events to take place during the winter season and to host indoor entertainment shows. The facade of the arena can be lit up in 17 million different color schemes. For example, the stadium is lit up in blue and yellow when Sweden's national team is playing matches. Friends Arena is a UEFA Category 4 stadium, and the natural turf pitch measures 105 x 68 metres. In the middle of the stadium roof, a 240 square metres big media cube is placed where the attendance can follow what is happening. In addition, 647 LED-screens are installed throughout the facility to enhance the guest experience.[2]

Events[edit]



The exterior of Nationalarenan

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden declared the arena inaugurated at the opening ceremony which took place in the venue at 25 October 2012. The show, directed by famous Swedish director Colin Nutley, was entitled "Svenska ögonblick" (Swedish Moments). Artists like Agnes Carlsson, The Hives, Icona Pop, Loreen, First Aid Kit and Roxette performed in front of a crowd of 46,000 people. Furthermore, 1,700,000 TV viewers watched the inauguration show live at SVT1.[9]

Swedish House...

Flew from Dubai to Sweden and I recently had the pleasure of attending Beyoncé's performance at Friends Arena in Stockholm on May 10, 2023, her first show in Europe. While the concert itself was outstanding, I must admit that the arena's location was a bit farther from the station than I had anticipated. Nonetheless, once I arrived, the experience was truly unforgettable.

Firstly, Friends Arena's size and grandeur were immediately evident as I approached the venue. The sheer magnitude of the arena was awe-inspiring, and it made for a fitting backdrop to such a high-profile event. The architecture and design were impressive, with modern features and excellent seating arrangements that offered good views from various vantage points.

As I made my way from the station to the arena, I did find the distance to be a bit of a hassle. It required a longer walk than expected, which could be challenging for those with mobility issues or when facing inclement weather. However, the inconvenience was mitigated by the well-organized event staff and the bustling atmosphere created by other concertgoers.

Once inside Friends Arena, the ambiance was electric. The crowd's anticipation was palpable, and the venue's acoustics were remarkable. Beyoncé's performance was nothing short of phenomenal, with her captivating stage presence, powerful vocals, and impressive choreography. The arena's audiovisual setup enhanced the experience, ensuring that everyone had a clear view of the stage, and the sound quality was excellent throughout the show.

One aspect that could be improved upon is the signage and guidance for navigating the venue. With such a large arena, finding restrooms, concessions, and exits could be a bit confusing at times. Clearer signage and more staff positioned throughout the venue would greatly assist attendees in moving around more efficiently.

Transportation options in Stockholm are generally reliable, but it's advisable to plan your journey in advance, considering the distance between the station and Friends Arena. Utilizing public transportation is the most convenient way to reach the venue, and checking schedules beforehand is recommended to ensure a smooth experience.

Despite the slight inconvenience of the arena's distance from the station, attending Beyoncé's concert at Friends Arena was an unforgettable experience. The arena's impressive architecture, excellent acoustics, and remarkable atmosphere combined to create a memorable night. With some improvements to wayfinding, Friends Arena would undoubtedly enhance the overall concert experience even further.

In conclusion, if you're planning to attend a concert or event at Friends Arena in Stockholm, be prepared for a slightly longer walk from the station. However, once you step inside the arena, you'll be treated to an incredible live performance in a truly...

On 11th Feb we attended Monster Jam as a family with 2 children. We paid for the Pit Party so we entered the arena at 11:45am (having queued outside for 35 mins). The plan was to see the trucks up close, meet the drivers, grab some lunch, then enjoy the show in the afternoon.

Unfortunately the 'grab some lunch' part was a complete disaster. The queues for the restaurants were long and slow. We queued for 40 minutes only to be told that they had sold out of food and to try the next restaurant. So we queued for another 30 minutes at the next restaurant, only to be told that again, they had run out of food and only had cheeseburgers left.

By this time the show was starting, so we went to our seats with only popcorn and sweets for the kids. At the interval we attempted to get some more snacks, but despite being first in the queue, the coffee had already run out. So we finished the show with two tired, restless kids, wired on sugar and salt, who barely watched the freestyle final.

The Monster Jam was good, but the whole experience was spoiled by the food situation. You aren't allowed to take food in with you, and once inside, you aren't allowed to leave, so there is no choice but to use the food kiosks in the arena. Admitting 2000+ people into the arena at 11:00, then not providing enough food for them is a failure and does not meet the basic needs of human beings. The show didn't finish until 17:00, so that's 6 hours with only snacks for families with children.

The queues to enter the arena also seemed unnecessary and a result of bad planning. We queued for 35 minutes in the bitter cold. There were 4 lines, but the tickets were being checked twice (once for Pit Party, and again for Main show) which slowed everything down. I was also surprised that there were no security checks of our bags. I guess we could have taken in some food after all!

As was expected, leaving the arena by car was a nightmare. It took 1.5 hours to move 100 meters. My advice would be to avoid parking close to the arena...