A new indoor arena for major concerts and sports events is to be built in Vienna after CTS Eventim was selected to develop the project.
The 20,000-capacity Wien Holding Arena, which will be located in the Neu Marx area of Austria’s capital city, is set to be completed by 2030. Reports suggest the project will cost up to €384m (£335m/$405m).
Officials said the arena will welcome up to 1.2 million visitors per year for around 150 events, including live entertainment, sport, exhibitions and trade fairs.
The venue will be developed through a collaboration between municipal body Wien Holding, the City of Vienna and CTS Eventim. The City of Vienna will contribute up to approximately €153m to the construction costs.
CTS Eventim will handle the planning, construction, financing and operation of the arena after being selected following a public tender. Oak View Group had initially been awarded the project, but this decision was overruled in court last year.
Local officials selected the design submitted by architects Kronaus, Mitterer, Gallister.
City Councillor Peter Hanke said: “For me, it has always been clear that the Wien Holding Arena is of the utmost importance to Vienna’s development.
“With this state-of-the-art venue, Vienna will secure its position as a must-play city for the world’s greatest stars and events for decades to come. The contract awarded to CTS Eventim marks a significant milestone, enabling the swift implementation of all tender requirements.”
Attracting major events
The arena’s backers have a stated aim of establishing the arena as “one of Europe’s must-play venues”, attracting national and international promoters. Digital interaction will be an integral part of the experience, as will exceptional catering and high-quality retail and merchandising areas, officials said.
In terms of sustainability, officials said that the arena is expected to meet at least the Klimaaktiv Gold Standard or an equivalent certification.
Kurt Gollowitzer, managing director of Wien Holding, said: “It was crucial for us that the City of Vienna and Wien Holding receive the arena as specified in the tender. Meeting all the required quality standards for the arena was fundamental. CTS Eventim has committed to fully adhering to the tender conditions and delivering a multifunctional high-level arena that meets the specified planning, construction, operational and technical standards.”
Arena timeline
The City of Vienna launched the planning process for a new arena in 2019 with the aim of creating a destination for European music tours and major sporting events such as the Erste Bank ATP 500 tennis tournament, which already takes place in the city.
Oak View Group was initially selected to develop the arena in July 2023, but this decision was overturned soon after by the Vienna Administrative Court following a complaint by CTS Eventim. Wien Holding has now said that CTS Eventim’s proposal “had consistently been rated the highest in quality.”
Klaus-Peter Schulenberg, CEO of CTS Eventim, said: “We are delighted to build and later operate a world-class multifunctional venue that will inspire millions of visitors with its quality and capabilities. Artists, athletes and audiences alike will love the new Wien Holding Arena. Its cutting-edge design will reinforce Vienna’s status as one of the world’s leading entertainment hubs, adding a vibrant new dimension to Austria’s rich cultural landscape.”
