If you take Ring 1 and drive from Deurne to Luchtbal in Antwerp, you will see the gray entertainment building of Merksem (Antwerp) Sportpaleis appearing on your right and leaving it behind you. Numerous concerts, sporting events, theater plays, festivals, parties a.s.o. and a whole host of music stars have passed in review since the completion of its 21-month construction on September 11, 1933. At that time it was the largest indoor arena in Europe.
Location Schijnpoortweg 119, 2170 Merksem, Antwerp, Belgium
Coordinates 51°13′52″N 4°26′28″E
Owner Province of Antwerp
Operator nv Antwerps Sportpaleis
Capacity 18,575
23,001 (including standing)
The Sportpaleis was built by the Apostel-Mampaey family from Boom. Until the Second World War they were very much in demand. Other constructions by the same family are ‘Garden City’ in Wilrijk, ‘Brussel-Heizel’ (1932), the famous ‘Kuipke’ in Ghent (1922) and the even more famous Sportpaleis in Deurne (1933). In 2008, a book “De velodromebouwers Apostel-Mampaey” was published. From 2010 to 2013, the sports palace was renovated.
Many world music stars have performed in this venue as AC/DC, Alicia Keys, André Rieu, Ariana Grande, Beyoncé Knowles, Bob Dylan, Britney Spears, Bruce Springsteen, Celine Dion, Deep Purple, Dua Lipa, The Eagles, Eric Clapton, Faithless, Fleetwood Mac, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Leonard Cohen, Lionel Richie, Madonna, Metallica, Neil Diamond, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Placebo, Prince, Queen + Adam Lambert, Queen + Paul Rodgers, Rihanna, The Rolling Stones, Roy Orbison, Sade, Santana, Samson en Gert, Spice Girls, Sting, Tina Turner, U2, Whitney Houston, Hans Zimmer and many others.
Leave A Comment