Paris La Défense Arena

Paris La Défense Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Nanterre, a western suburb of Paris. Opened in October 2017, it was developed by the rugby union club Racing 92, and replaced Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir as their home. It is Europe's largest indoor arena.[2] Its naming rights are held by Paris La Défense, the management company of the nearby La Défense business district.

Paris La Défense Arena
Paris La Défense Arena in 2018
Map
Former namesArena92 (planning/construction)
U Arena (2017–18)
Address99 Jardins de l'Arche
LocationLa Défense, Nanterre, France
Coordinates48°53′45″N 2°13′49″E / 48.8958°N 2.2302°E / 48.8958; 2.2302
Public transitGare de la Défense
OwnerRacing Arena
TypeIndoor Arena[1]
Capacity30,680 (rugby)
40,000 (concerts)
Construction
Broke ground2 December 2013 (2013-12-02)
Opened16 October 2017 (2017-10-16)
Construction cost360 million
ArchitectChristian de Portzamparc
Project managerSNC-Lavalin
Structural engineerRFR Engineers
Services engineerFondasol
General contractorGTM Bâtiment
Tenants
Racing 92 (2017–present)
France rugby union team selected matches
Website
Official website
Building details
Design and construction
Other designers
  • Structures Ile-de-France
  • Light It Be
  • CSD Faces
  • LMV World
  • Smulders
  • Artelia
  • Ateloer
  • Avel Acoustique
  • Ducks Scéno
Quantity surveyorVanguard

The venue offers three separate configurations. In its rugby configuration, it has a nominal seating capacity of 30,681. For concerts, it can seat 40,000.[3] Finally, a movable stand allows it also to be used for a variety of indoor sports, at various capacities, with a capacity of as low as 5,000 being possible. The venue also includes 33,000 square metres (360,000 sq ft) of office space, 300 student rooms, and shops, including a club shop, a brewery, and a gourmet restaurant.

It hosted swimming and water polo at the 2024 Summer Olympics and swimming at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[4]

History

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View of Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre, seen from the Grande Arche in La Défense

The arena was originally planned to open in 2014. Still, that date was delayed due to local protests. [why?][5][6]

It eventually opened in October 2017, although Racing 92 played their first home game in the new arena when they hosted Toulouse on 22 December 2017.[7] The arena's working name was changed from "Arena92" to "U Arena"; referencing the configuration of the main stands, and the structure's shape, when viewed from the air, in November 2016.[8] The name was changed a second time to the current Paris La Défense Arena on 12 June 2018.[9] This followed a 10-year naming rights agreement with Paris La Défense. This company manages the nearby La Défense business district.[10]

The venue was initially planned to have a retractable roof, but it was ultimately built with a fixed roof instead.

The Rolling Stones were the first band ever to perform a concert at the venue, closing their Europe-only No Filter Tour, with three shows, on 19, 22, and 25 October 2017.[11] The arena's first rugby union match, took place on 25 November 2017 between France and Japan. On 11 March 2018, the French professional basketball clubs Nanterre 92 and ASVEL Basket, played each other in a LNB Pro A 2017–18 season game. The game had 15,220 in attendance, the highest in the league's history.[12] In 2017, the Paris Supercross moved from Bercy to Nanterre, as the venue could host a more traditional Supercross, compared to an Arenacross configuration.[13]

Entertainment events

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Entertainment events at Paris La Défense Arena
Date Artist(s) Tour Attendance / Capacity Gross
2017
19 October The Rolling Stones[14] No Filter Tour 109,126 / 109,126 $18,529,324[15]
22 October
25 October
2 December Various Artists[16] Stars 80
2018
8 June Roger Waters[17] Us + Them Tour 45,639 / 56,540 $4,281,563
9 June
24 August Kendrick Lamar
N.E.R.D
IAM
Brockhampton
Paris Summer Jam[18]
13 October Booba[19] Booba en Concert
28 November Paul McCartney[20] Freshen Up 36,663 / 36,663 $3,851,577
2019
11 May Kassav'[21] Tournée 40e Anniversaire
7 June Mylène Farmer[22] Mylène Farmer 2019 235,000 / 235,000 $31,700,000[23]
8 June
11 June
12 June
14 June
15 June
18 June
19 June
22 June
28 June Rammstein[24] Rammstein Stadium Tour 73,223/ 73,223 $6,660,269
29 June
3 July P!nk[25] Beautiful Trauma World Tour 36,295 / 36,295 $3,358,518
21 September Soprano[25] Phoenix Tour
26 October Bigflo & Oli[26] Bigflo et Oli en Concert
6 December Patrick Bruel[27] Ce soir on sort... Tour
2020
22 February DJ Snake
2022
16 March Genesis The Last Domino? Tour 45,889 / 45,889 $7,215,967
17 March
11 June Elton John Farewell Yellow Brick Road 62,220 / 62,220 $9,846,099
12 June
26 June Iron Maiden Legacy of the Beast World Tour
2 July Green Day
Fall Out Boy
Weezer
Hella Mega Tour
10 September Ninho Jefe Tour
2 December Angèle Nonante-Cinq Tour
8 December Orelsan Civilisation Tour
2023
8 April Music Bank Paris
13 May Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band 2023 Tour
15 May
20 May Burna boy Love damini Tour
21 June P!nk Summer Carnival
22 June
22, 23 August Imagine Dragons Mercury World Tour
16 September Karmine Corp KCX3
3 November 50 Cent The Final Lap Tour
25 November Fally Ipupa
2 December Stromae Multitude Tour
3 December
8 December Bigflo & Oli Le Grand Tour
2024
13 January Jay Chou Carnival World Tour
9 March Calogero A.M.O.U.R Tour
16 March Michel Sardou Je me Souviens d'un Adieu
17 March
6 April Joe Hisaishi Joe Hisaishi Symphonic Concert
7 April
20 April Black Eyed Peas Elevation World Tour
9 May Taylor Swift The Eras Tour -
10 May
11 May
12 May
3 November Linkin Park From Zero World Tour
23 November Sum 41 Tour of the Setting Sum
30 November Tayc
1 December
4 December Paul McCartney Got Back
5 December
14 December Gims
2025
8 February Sidiki Diabaté
22 February Ateez Towards the Light: Will to Power
18 April Gazo
26 April Ferre Gola
23 May Dua Lipa Radical Optimism Tour
24 May
2 July Robbie Williams Robbie Williams Live 2025
19 July Iron Maiden Run For Your Lifes World Tour
20 July
21 November Hans Zimmer The Next Level
5 December Hamza
13 December Jean-Louis Aubert
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Paris La Défense Arena, Europe's largest indoor arena". 2 March 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Paris La Défense Arena, Europe's largest indoor arena". 2 March 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Racing-Métro: La construction de l'Arena 92 enfin lancée" [Racing-Metro: The construction of the Arena 92 finally launched]. Midi Olympique (in French). Groupe La Dépêche du Midi. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Paris La Défense Arena à Nanterre". Paris 2024 (in French). Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  5. ^ "L'Arena 92 inaugurée fin 2016" [Arena 92 to be inaugurated at the end of 2016]. Le Figaro (in French). Dassault Group. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  6. ^ "L'Arena 92 sera livrée en septembre 2017" [The Arena 92 will be delivered in September 2017]. L'Équipe (in French). 2 May 2016. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  7. ^ "R92 vs ST à la U Arena - La billetterie est ouverte !" [R92 vs. ST at U Arena - The ticket office is open!] (Press release) (in French). Racing 92. 25 October 2017. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Nanterre-La Défense: l'Arena 92 devient U Arena" [Nanterre-La Défense: Arena 92 becomes U Arena]. Le Parisien (in French). 15 November 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  9. ^ "La U Arena devient Paris La Défense Arena" [The U Arena becomes Paris La Défense Arena] (Press release) (in French). Paris La Défense Arena. 12 June 2018. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  10. ^ Moulin, Louis; Opoczynski, David (7 May 2018). ""Paris La Défense Arena" : la U Arena de Nanterre se fait un nouveau nom" ["Paris La Défense Arena": U Arena Nanterre makes a new name]. Le Parisien (in French). LVMH. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  11. ^ "STONES – NO FILTER – EUROPEAN TOUR". Archived from the original on 9 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  12. ^ 15.220 fans in the U Arena! EuroHoops.net, 11 March 2018
  13. ^ Chase Stallo What To Watch For At Paris Supercross Racer X Online, 15 November 2018
  14. ^ Gottfried, Gideon (20 September 2017). "U Arena Opens With Stones Triple". Pollstar. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  15. ^ "Current Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 129, no. 25. Eldridge Industries. 11 November 2017. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  16. ^ Lutaud, Léna (4 December 2017). "Le concert Stars 80 à la U Arena : la foire à la saucisse" [The Stars 80 concert at the U Arena: the sausage fair]. Le Figaro (in French). Dassault Group. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  17. ^ Sayagh, Jacques (9 June 2018). "Roger Waters en concert à Paris : la rage intacte d'un vétéran du rock" [Roger Waters in concert in Paris: the rage intact of a rock veteran] (in French). Groupe SIPA - Ouest-France. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  18. ^ Bureau, Eric; Marolle, Emmanuel (23 August 2018). "Rock en Seine et Paris Summer Jam en guerre" [Rock en Seine and Paris Summer Jam at war]. Le Parisien (in French). Groupe Les Échos-Le Parisien. Retrieved 25 December 2018. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  19. ^ Binet, Stéphanie (14 October 2018). "A Paris, Booba triomphe sans jamais passer le mur du son" [In Paris, Booba triumphs without ever passing the wall of sound]. Le Monde.fr (in French). Groupe Le Monde. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  20. ^ "Paul McCartney : une joyeuse tempête de nostalgie à Paris La Défense Arena" [Paul McCartney: a happy storm of nostalgia in Paris La Defense Arena]. RTL (in French). Groupe M6. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  21. ^ "Kassav' à La Défense" [Kassav' at La Défense]. La Gazette de la Défense (in French). 19 October 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  22. ^ "MARDI 18 DÉCEMBRE : MYLÈNE FARMER EST L'INVITÉE DU 17/20 RFM !" [TUESDAY DECEMBER 18: MYLENE FARMER IS THE GUEST OF 17/20 RFM!]. RFM (in French). Lagardère Active. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  23. ^ @touringdata (1 May 2020). "2019's Year End (Female Vocalists):#1 @Pink $216.0M#2 @ArianaGrande $145.9M#3 @cher $108.1M#4 @celinedion $88.…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ^ Kaufman, Spencer (2 November 2018). "Rammstein announce 2019 European stadium tour". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  25. ^ a b Pineau, Marine (25 October 2018). "Pink en concert à l'U Arena, la date complète en moins de 5 minutes" [Pink in concert at the U Arena, the full date sells out in less than 5 minutes]. Virgin Radio (France) (in French). Lagardère Active. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  26. ^ "Après Bercy, Bigflo & Oli s'attaquent au Stadium" [After Bercy, Bigflo & Oli tackle the Stadium]. La Dépêche du Midi (in French). Groupe La Dépêche du Midi. 16 December 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  27. ^ Foé, Nouma (2 November 2018). "L'interview Backstage de Patrick Bruel" [The Backstage interview of Patrick Bruel]. Chérie FM (in French). NRJ Group. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
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