Plans have been presented for a new 16,000-capacity arena that aims to position the Colombian municipality of Sabaneta as a leader in the global entertainment market.
Arena Primavera has been brought forward by CLK Group, the Colombian company which also developed and operates Movistar Arena in Bogotá. The $50.6m (£40m/€46.2m) facility has been designed by HOK to be a multi-purpose events centre. Construction is expected to commence in the first half of this year, with a two-year development schedule proposed.
Arena Primavera will be built on an area of 55,000 square metres, part of an Urban Renewal Masterplan for Sabaneta, covering 14 acres and including the development of an entertainment district, the creation of a green corridor, construction of new roads, and other facilities for local citizens.
Each of the 75 events held annually at Arena Primavera is expected to generate around 1,000 jobs, both direct and indirect, and attract a total of approximately 600,000 attendees. Arena Primavera will feature a changing LED façade, 22 suites, 20 boxes, and 50 spaces for people with reduced mobility.
It will have 450 parking spaces for cars, bicycle storage locations, water and energy-saving systems, and will be located within an eight-minute walk from two metro stations.
The venue is the result of a shared vision to create a vibrant and multifunctional place, a collaborative project that has required the joint efforts of institutions such as Sabaneta City Hall, the Sociedad de Activos Especiales and the private sector.
Hernando Sánchez, CLK general manager, said: “We are convinced of the potential of the entertainment market in Medellin and Antioquia, which has become a musical and cultural reference for the country, a must-stop for national and international artists.
“Therefore, a venue is needed to place the department as a leader in the global arena circuit. Arena Primavera is the answer to this, and we are confident that, with the support of Sabaneta City Hall, it will be a source of pride for everyone.”
Sabaneta is located around 14km from the city of Medellín, which in recent years has been the subject of its own proposed arena development. In March 2021, Agencia APP, the government body involved in the venture, told TheStadiumBusiness.com that the project intended to draw more major entertainment and sports events to Medellín, and boost its status as a tourism destination.
First revealed in February 2021, Arena Medellín is intended to be a 16,000-capacity facility on the site of the Estadio Cincuentenario sports fields. A privately-backed scheme, Agencia APP is involved through its role in managing and promoting public-private partnership (PPP) projects across the city.
Arena Medellín intends to address the current shortcomings that the city has in its venue infrastructure and provide a world-class facility.
