EUROPEAN ARENAS ASSOCIATION PRESENT A UNITED FRONT IN LISBON

The O2 in London and the Hallenstadion AG in Zurich were accepted into the European Arenas Association, fundamentally changing the rules and regulations of the EAA, bringing the total number of members to 29 in 21 countries across Europe.

Starting off with a handful of arenas in Europe in the early ‘90s, the EAA has grown to a professional organisation representing the best arenas in Europe sharing knowledge, best practice and support.

Managing Director of the EAA, Linda Bull explains: “We initially met as a group of friends from a small number of cities across Europe with similar issues and challenges. As Europe changed and the demands on our arenas grew, more venues expressed an interest to join our club.

“We now present a united group of the very best arenas in Europe, valued by the live entertainment industry and an important focus for promoters looking to tour across Europe. As an experienced and prominent group of venues, the EAA can speak with one voice, whether we are lobbying on vital areas such as security, or on topics such as ticketing,” added Linda Bull.

With England and Switzerland already represented in the EAA, the organisation agreed to revolutionise their policy to allow these two new members to join.

President of the EAA, Philippe Ventadour, General Director of Paris Bercy said: “We recognise that the organisation should be open to the most prestigious and successful venues in Europe, to truly represent the best in Europe. Therefore we welcome The O2 London and Zurich’s Hallenstadion.

“We appreciate the great generosity of spirit shown by all our members in welcoming these new members, especially the magnanimous agreement from London’s Wembley Arena and St Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland,” said Philippe Ventadour.

To incorporate major city venues, the rules have been modified to allow more than two venues from each member country to be part of the EAA, even permitting sometimes competing venues from the same city, such as London’s The 02 and Wembley.

Wembley Arena was one of the founder members of the EAA. General Manager, John Drury said: “With our previous successful year, we have shown that London is a big enough market to sustain two big arenas, therefore Wembley Arena is pleased to welcome London’s The O2 to the EAA.”

Steve Brice, Business Operations Director of London’s The O2 added: “It is important for London’s The O2 to be part of the EAA, with its many benefits such as benchmarking, but also to speak with one voice in Europe. We are proud to add our support and be part of the organisation.”

In Switzerland, General Manager of the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Felix Frei reiterated this sentiment: “We very much wanted to be part of the EAA as it is a good platform for venues across Europe. We very much value the ability to compare and discuss issues facing all our venues. The Hallenstadion is a very important venue in Switzerland, but it is a big competitive market and we see the EAA as a way of optimising the market.”

Switzerland’s prior member of the EAA is St Jakobshalle in Basel. Managing Director Thomas Kastl said: “It is very much in the interest of the EAA for major venues to be members, therefore we welcome the Hallenstadion to the association. It can only help towards a stronger competitive industry.”

Members of the EAA met in Lisbon and discussed important common issues before visiting the 20,000 capacity Atlántico Pavilion in the EXPO ‘98 area of Lisbon. Members shared current business conditions in their country, their latest developments and ventures. The meeting in Lisbon was also a valuable forum to examine cross-membership emergency planning procedures. Following a security seminar instigated by the EAA board which was recently held in Paris, members agreed to work together on this critical matter. Future security seminars, briefings and an emergency planning exercise were planned, to benefit all EAA members and consequently the safety of audiences across Europe.

Managing Director of the EAA, Linda Bull added: “This latest meeting of the EAA was a great success, enabling the members to share best practice, new ventures, plus encouraging discussion and co-operation between Europe’s leading venues.

“Chief Executive Officers of the EAA venues came together, not only showing the high level of commitment to this organisation, but also demonstrating its strength, as a united platform and voice in the industry. The EAA has grown considerably in recent years and the changes we have made to the entry criteria to the EAA, ensures the best arenas can join, adding value to the EAA, its members and ultimately audiences throughout Europe,” concluded Linda Bull.

Members of the European Arenas Association:
Barcelona, Spain (Palau Sant Jordi)
Basel, Switzerland (St Jacobshalle)
Belgrade, Serbia (Belgrade)
Berlin, Germany (The O2)
Birmingham, England (LG Arena)
Brussels, Belgium (Forest National)
Debrecen, Hungary (Fonix Hall)
Dublin, Ireland (The O2)
Glasgow, Scotland (SECC)
Gothenburg, Sweden (Scandinavium)
Hamburg, Germany (Color Line Arena)
Helsinki, Finland (Hartwell Arena)
Lisbon, Portugal (Atlántico Pavilion)
London, England (Wembley Arena)
London, England (The O2)
Madrid, Spain (Palacio Vistalegre)
Milan, Italy (Mediolanum Forum)
Munich, Olympiahalle Germany
Paris, France (Paris-Bercy)
Prague, Czech Republic (The O2 Arena)
Riga, Latvia (Arena Riga)
Rome, Italy (Pala Lottomatica)
Rotterdam, The Netherlands (Ahoy Rotterdam)
Split, Croatia (Spaladium Arena)
Stockholm, Sweden (Stockholm Globe Arena)
Tallinn, Estonia (Saku Arena)
Vienna, Austria (Wiener Stadthalle)
Vilnius, Lithuania (Siemens Arena)
Zurich, Switzerland (Hallenstadion AG)