www.stadiaworld.com SPORTS VENUES 2023/24 | 33 OPERATION 280 million euros. Jacques Chirac, then mayor of Paris and later president of the country, performed the opening ceremony. The “Scorpions” were the first band on stage at the time. Depending on the configuration – there are up to 30 different possibilities, according to the operators – there is space for between 8,000 and 20,300 people. The last major renovation took place on the occasion of the arena’s 30th birthday between March 2014 and October 2015, with a total of 135 million euros being spent. The main objective at the time was to bring the location up to date in terms of safety and to improve accessibility for people with reduced mobility, explains Nicolas Dupeux, CEO Accor Arena. Dupeux elaborates: “The focus was on the modularity and functionality of the redesigned structure. The building was opened up to the city: both on the Rue de Bercy side and on the Seine side. This was achieved by eliminating the stairs, extending the building, creating terraces, a promenade, an entrance on the Seine side and a 2,000 m² hall on the same level. New areas were created for athletes, artists, organisers, sports associations and media.” In its peak configuration, the arena now seats up to 20,300 people, up from 17,000 previously. “This puts the Accor Arena in competition with the largest venues in the world: the Madison Square Garden in New York, the crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, the O2 Arena in London and the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin,” Dupeux notes. Just like London’s O2 Arena or Berlin’s Mercedes-Benz Arena, the Accor Arena is also a member of the European Arenas Association (EAA). A total of 37 indoor arenas from 20 countries are part of the group, which was founded in 1991. “The EAA is the only organisation at the European level that unites pure arena players,” says Nicolas Dupeux. “So it’s a unique place where you can exchange ideas with like-minded people, because it’s not just people from our sector, but also people who do the same activity as we do. It is also very multicultural, so we can see how global issues are dealt with in different countries. But we also learn about local specifics.” Multiple names – one great strength Palais Omnisports (1984 to 2014), Bercy Arena (2014/15), AccorHotels Arena (2015 to 2020) and, since February 2020, Accor Arena: The venue has already borne several names in its history – until at least 2025 plus an option for a further five years, it will remain with the current arena logo. However, those responsible have always remembered one strength: its versatility. “Adaptability, flexibility and our boldness are what set us apart,” says Nicolas Dupeux. Although there is a third-division ice hockey club as an anchor tenant with the Français Volants, the special feature of the location lies in its changeability. More than 130 sports and show dates have already been confirmed for the current season. Special highlights include an NBA basketball season game, a concert by world star Ed Sheeran, and tour stops by Madonna, Elton John, and several other international artists. The control of the ecological footprint, sustainable value chains as well as the optimisation of processes: Environmental protection and digitisa-
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