Ahoy Rotterdam

View on the main entrance from the Zuiderparkweg

Ahoy Rotterdam (often called merely Ahoy) is an indoor sporting arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The capacity of the arena is 15,000.

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 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, the European final of the BBC TV programme Superstars was held here.
• In 1977 the prog 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 live album Yesshows.
• In 1978, Bob Marley and the Wailers played there.
• In 1996, Tina Turner played here 8 times during her world breaking record Wildest Dreams Tour
• 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 & 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.
• 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.
• Destiny's Child filmed a concert DVD of their world tour in May 2002.
• The band Rush did the same during their Snakes and Arrows tour in October 2007 during the European leg of the tour.
• Several songs on the Dream Theater DVD Chaos in Motion were filmed in Ahoy also.
• Shakira shot Live & off the Record, the concert DVD of her tour Tour Of The Mongoose here on 22 April 2003.
• Armin Van Buuren gave in Ahoy his famous 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 since 2006.
• On November 29 and 30 November 2010, Lady GaGa have performed at Ahoy Rotterdam during The Monster Ball Tour.
• On October 16, 2011, Red Hot Chili Peppers have performed at Ahoy Rotterdam during the I'm With You Tour.
• On October 19, 2011, pop superstar Britney Spears has performed at Ahoy Rotterdam during her Femme Fatale Tour
• On December 17, 2011, Coldplay performed at Ahoy Rotterdam during the Mylo Xyloto Tour

External links

• Official site

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