Ahoy Rotterdam

Ahoy Rotterdam
Address	Ahoy-weg 10 3084 BA Rotterdam Netherlands
Owner	Ontwikkelingsbedrijf Rotterdam
Operator	AEG
Opened	18 May 1950 (1950-05-18)
Renovated	1971, 1980, 1988, 1998, 2011
Banquet/ballroom	650 (Congreszaal)
Theatre seating	15,818 (Sportpaleis van Ahoy) 5,225 (Club Ahoy) 4,000 (Theater Hal 1)
Enclosed space
• Exhibit hall floor	32,230 m2 (346,900 sq ft)
• Breakout/meeting	2,825 m2 (30,410 sq ft)
• Ballroom	30,000 m2 (320,000 sq ft)
Website	Venue Website (Dutch)

Ahoy Rotterdam (often called merely Ahoy) is a convention centre and arena located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Since opening in 1950, the centre has hosted many exhibitions, concerts and sporting events. The centre consists of three main parts: the "Beurs- & Evenementenhallen", "Congres- & Vergadercentrum" and "Sportpaleis". The main concert venue, the Sportpaleis van Ahoy, opened on 15 January 1971.

History

The basis of the present Ahoy was laid in 1950. After the devastation caused by the Second World War, the city of Rotterdam had worked on reconstruction and Rotterdam port was virtually complete. To mark the occasion, the Rotterdam Ahoy! exhibition was held in a purpose-built hall on the site where the medical faculty of the Erasmus University now stands.

The exhibition hall was called the Ahoy'-Hal. The apostrophe is a remnant of the original exclamation mark. The hall was used for a series of national and international events, such as the exhibition of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s work. During the North Sea flood of 1953 the hall also proved its worth as a reception centre for victims.

Ahoy Rotterdam, 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 create today’s multifunctional venue.

Notable events

• In 1975, 1976 and 1978, the European final of the BBC TV programme Superstars was held there.
• On 18, 19 and 20 February 1977, Pink Floyd - In the Flesh World Tour.
• In 1977 the progressive rock band Yes played there on their tour in support of their album Going For The One. The whole show was recorded and "Parallels" and "Wonderous Stories" were featured on the live album Yesshows.
• In 1978, Bob Marley and the Wailers played there.
• In 1979 (October 24) Abba played there as part of ABBA: The Tour.
• In 1980 (June 21) Led Zeppelin played there as part of their Tour Over Europe 1980.
• In 1980 (June 24) and 1988 (May 3–4), Frank Zappa and his band played there.
• From 1982 to 2007, Diana Ross performed there more than 20 times.
• In 1986 and 1988, Whitney Houston performed there five times in the 1980s with two world tours and 11 times in the 1990s with three world tours.
• In 1986, Depeche Mode performed there on the Black Celebration Tour, in 1990 on the World Violation Tour, in 1993 on the Devotional Tour, in 2006 during Touring the Angel, and in 2009 during Tour of the Universe.
• In 1987, Simply Red performed on June 17 and 18, in 1989 June 16, in 1990 March 21, in 1992 March 19 and April 19 on Stars Tour, in 1995 November 29 and 1996 May 15 on Life Tour, in 2000 March 15, in 2003 May 11 and December 6 on Home Tour.
• In 1989 Bon Jovi performed there for his New Jersey Syndicate Tour. He returned four years later for his Keep the Faith Tour.
• In 1990 U2 performed there for the Lovetown Tour.
• In 1991, Gloria Estefan performed there for her Into the Light Tour, which was filmed for a VHS release. She returned in 1996 for her Evolution World Tour and 2008 for her 90 Millas World Tour.
• In 1993, Sade performed there for the group's Love Deluxe World Tour. They would return in 2011 for their Once in a Lifetime Tour.
• In 1996, Tina Turner played there 8 times during her world record-breaking Wildest Dreams Tour.
• In 1996, Mariah Carey performed there for her Daydream World Tour, and she returned 7 years later for her Charmbracelet World Tour.
• In 1997, Phil Collins performed there for his Trip Into the Light Tour.
• In 1997 the 4th MTV Europe Music Awards was held here.
• In 1998, Janet Jackson opened her The Velvet Rope World Tour there with two sold-out concerts, her third appearance after her 1990 and 1995 tours.
• The Backstreet Boys performed there for their 1999 Into the Millennium Tour, their 2005 Never Gone Tour, their 2008 Unbreakable Tour, their 2009 This Is Us Tour, and the 2012 NKOTBSB Tour which was alongside New Kids on the Block.
• In 2000, the Dutch singer Lee Towers performed his 50th sellout Gala Of The Year concert. A special bronze bust of LT stands in the main entrance of Ahoy; he is the only person to reach this milestone at Ahoy.
• On October 30, 2000, British rock band Deep Purple recorded a live album called Live at the Rotterdam Ahoy with the orchestra and Ronnie James Dio.
• In 2002, Alanis Morissette filmed her Towards Our Union Mented Tour at Ahoy, which was released on the DVD Feast on Scraps.
• In 2002, Destiny's Child shot their World Tour DVD at Ahoy, which was released in December 2003. The group returned with the Destiny Fulfilled... and Lovin' It on May 23 and 24, 2005.
• In 2003, pop singer Christina Aguilera performed during The Stripped Tour. She returned to the venue in 2006 for her Back To Basics Tour.
• On May 7, 2004, pop sensation Britney Spears performed during her Onyx Hotel Tour. She returned to the venue in 2011 for her Femme Fatale Tour.
• American singer Cher performed during her marathon Living Proof: The Farewell Tour on June 29 and 30, 2004.
• American singer and songwriter Anastacia performed her Live at Last Tour on September 25 and 28, 2004.
• The 2007 Junior Eurovision Song Contest was held at the venue.
• The ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament ATP World Tour event has been held at the venue for many years.
• Rush's 2008 live album Snakes & Arrows Live was recorded at the Ahoy.
• Several songs on the Dream Theater DVD Chaos in Motion were filmed in Ahoy.
• Shakira shot Live & off the Record, the concert DVD of her tour Tour Of The Mongoose, there on 22 April 2003. She returned in 2010 for her The Sun Comes Out World Tour.
• Armin Van Buuren gave in Ahoy his concert Armin Only, in November 2005 and 2006, featured by Sharon Den Adel among other famous artists.
• Within Temptation shot the Black Symphony concert DVD, with the Metropole Orchestra, in Ahoy.
• The North Sea Jazz Festival has been held there since 2006.
• From October 16 to 24, 2010, the 2010 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships were held at the Ahoy Rotterdam.
• On April 17, 2013, the WWE was back at Ahoy Rotterdam for the first time in twenty years with the Raw Wrestlemania Revenge Tour.
• On November 27, 2014, Scorpions played Rock 'n' Roll Forever Tour concert at Ahoy Rotterdam.
• From September 26 to October 4, 2015, the 2015 Women's European Volleyball Championship were held at the Ahoy Rotterdam.
• In 2016 Premier League Darts comes to Ahoy.
• In 2016 the 23rd MTV Europe Music Awards will take place for the second time here.

See also

• List of tennis stadiums by capacity

External links

• Official website

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