Former names | Telenor Arena (2008-2024) |
---|---|
Address | Norway[1] |
Location | Fornebu, Bærum, Norway |
Coordinates | 59°54′13″N 10°37′23″E / 59.9037°N 10.623°E |
Owner | Euforum Holding |
Operator | Fornebu Arena AS |
Capacity | 15,000 (sport) 25,000 (concerts) |
Surface | Asphalt |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 2007 |
Opened | 8 March 2009 |
Construction cost | NOK 585 million EUR € 65 million |
Architect | HRTB |
Main contractors | NCC |
Tenants | |
Stabæk Fotball (2009–2011) | |
Website | |
unityarena |
Unity Arena, previously known as Telenor Arena[2] and Fornebu Arena, is a multi-purpose indoor arena located at Fornebu in Bærum, outside Oslo, Norway. It serves as a venue for a variety of events, including concerts, exhibitions, action shows, family shows, TV and sport. It has a capacity for 15,000 spectators for sports and 25,000 for concerts, including 40 luxury boxes and club seating for 1,200. The venue has a fixed roof and an asphalt floor. The venue was opened ahead of the 2009 Norwegian football season as a replacement for Nadderud Stadion. It cost 585 million Norwegian kroner (NOK) to build, of which NOK 300 million was for the sports venue. The arena will host the 2025 World Men's Handball Championship with the country, Croatia and Denmark including the final.
During the 2000s, Nadderud was below standards for play in the top national league. Fornebu was at the time undergoing an urban redevelopment; after several years of negotiations and public grants, Stabæk secured a lot in 2004. Construction started in 2007. In 2010, a disagreement arose between the club and venue-owner Kjell Chr. Ulrichsen, with the latter demanding that the team leave the venue to allow for more event revenue. Telenor Arena has hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, as well as concerts by artists and bands of international fame, such as Madonna, Britney Spears, The Weeknd, Tina Turner, Adele, Muse, Olivia Rodrigo, Foo Fighters, Roger Waters (the Wall tour), Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Iron Maiden, Metallica, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, The Rolling Stones, Justin Bieber, Celine Dion and Drake. Telenor holds the naming rights.