Movistar Arenais a 17,000-seat multi-purposeindoor arenainSantiago,Chile.It is located insideO'Higgins Park,indowntown Santiago.Its main structure was built in 1956, but it remained unfinished and without a roof, until the roof was installed in 2000.
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 The arena under new signage in April 2018 | |
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| Former names | Metropolitan Indoor Stadium Arena Santiago (April 2006-October 2008) |
|---|---|
| Location | Av. Beaucheff 1204, O'Higgins Park Santiago,Chile |
| Coordinates | 33°27′46″S70°39′43″W/ 33.46278°S 70.66194°W |
| Owner | Hiller Investments |
| Operator | ASM Global |
| Capacity | 12,000 (stands) 17,000 (concerts) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1956 |
| Opened | April 15, 2006 |
| Architect | Mario Recordón |
Buyer Peter Hiller opened it on April 15, 2006 asArena Santiagowith a seat-capacity of 12,000.Telefónica's cell phone divisionMovistarbought the stadium'snaming rights,changing its name on October 6, 2008, while also expanding its capacity by 5,000 seats.[clarification needed]It is one of the largest multipurpose arenas inSouth America,with a total surface is 44,000 m2.An additional 3,000 seats can be placed over the court during concerts, boosting the total capacity to 17,000 seats.
As of 2023, Movistar Arena in Chile is the busiest indoor arena in South America, with more than $94.6 million in grosses and 1.58 million tickets sold in the past year.[1]
History
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The original building was designed and conceived byMario Recordónin 1956 with the name "Metropolitan Indoor Stadium" to be the seat of theWorld Basketball Championship.However, funding was redirected to remodeling theEstadio Nacional de Chile,with a view to achieving the1962 FIFA World Cup.The roofed stadium was left in total neglect.[2]
In 1998, during the term ofEduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagleit was decided to complete it. The work was financed by Hiller Investments, which received a grant from the Ministry of Public Works with a 20-year lease.[2]
Arena Santiago was symbolically opened on March 7, 2006 by then PresidentRicardo Lagos,[3]and it was inaugurated on April 15 that year by his successor,Michelle Bachelet.
In 2008, managers signed a contract with portable phone companyMovistarChile for 16 years.[4]
On 13 March 2018,Pearl Jamgave a concert to 17,000 people, setting a new attendance record at the venue.[5]
On 5 November 2018,Robbie Williamsperformed on the arena as part ofThe Heavy Entertainment Show Tour.
Iron Maidenplayed their first-ever arena show in Chile on 14 October 2019, as part of theirLegacy of the Beast World Tour.The show was announced because the first concert at theEstadio Nacionalon October 15 sold out all the 63,000 tickets half a year before the show.[6]
Europeplayed in Movistar Arena on September 27, 2019 as part of their world tour called Walk The Earth Tour.
The arena was the volleyball venue during the2023 Pan American Games.
Kylie Minoguewill play on the arena on August 12, 2025 as part of herTension Tour.
Davis Cup incident
editOn 7 April 2000, the site served as the location of a Chile-ArgentinaDavis Cuprubber. During the second singles match betweenNicolás MassúandMariano Zabaleta,the crowd became violent, throwing fruit, coins and plastic chairs at the Argentine team.[7]As a result, the Chilean Tennis Federation was fined nearly US$50,000 and was prohibited from hosting Davis Cup games for two years.
References
edit- ^"South America Focus Hub - Pollstar News".2023-12-01.Retrieved2023-12-07.
- ^ab"Quiénes somos".Movistar Arena.Retrieved11 May2016.
- ^Díaz, Jorge (7 March 2006)."Chile tiene un estadio a la altura del siglo XXI"[Chile has a stadium at 21st century standards].El Mercurio(in Spanish). Santiago.Retrieved11 May2016.
- ^"Nuevo recinto Movistar Arena abre sus puertas en el Parque O'Higgins"[New venue, Movistar Arena, opens its gates in O'Higgins Park].La Tercera(in Spanish). Santiago. 6 October 2008.Retrieved11 May2016.
- ^"Pearl Jam abarrota y marca hito en Movistar Arena"(in Spanish). La Tercera. 14 March 2018.
- ^"MAIDEN TOO HOT FOR CHILE!! New date added".
- ^Nancucheo, Nicolás (6 April 2015)."A 15 años de los sillazos chilenos que avergonzaron al tenis"[It's been 15 years since the chilean chair throws that shamed tennis] (in Spanish). Santiago: La Tercera.Retrieved11 May2016.
External links
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Media related toMovistar Arena, Santiago de Chileat Wikimedia Commons
- Official website(in Spanish)