Demolished in 1993, Werner-Seelenbinder-Halle paved the way for what stands before us. This is the Velodrom. It is an indoor track cycling arena. The Velodrom is located in Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg locality. It holds up to 12,000 people. The Velodrom was once Berlin’s largest concert venue. That was until O2 World opened in 2008.
The Velodrom is more than just an arena. It is part of a larger complex. This complex includes a swimming pool. It was all built for Berlin’s unsuccessful bid for the 2000 Summer Olympics. The project mirrored Germany’s reunification. Berlin wanted to become the capital and host the Olympic Games.
Dominique Perrault, a French architect, designed the Velodrom. He won an international design competition in 1992. He also won the German Award of Architecture’s second prize. This was for the Velodrom and the Olympic swimming pool.
Perrault’s design is quite unique. He wanted the buildings to vanish from sight. He envisioned an orchard of apple trees. The Velodrom and the Olympic Swimming Pool are set into the ground. They are covered with wire gauze. The gauze shimmers in the sunlight. It makes them look like stretches of water.
The Velodrom boasts a multi-use design. It hosts cycling, athletics, and tennis events. It can even accommodate equestrianism and sports education. Of course, it is also used for concerts. The swimming pool includes two Olympic pools. There is an Olympic diving platform. There are pools for diving training and children. A multi-sport hall completes the complex.
Look up. The arena has Europe’s largest steel roof. It spans 142 meters in diameter.
The Velodrom opened in August 1997. Construction cost 138 million EUR. The construction took four years. The reason for construction was Berlin’s bid for the 2000 Olympic Games.
Many notable events have taken place here. Janet Jackson performed here during her The Velvet Rope Tour in 1998. The UCI Track Cycling World Championships were held here in 1999 and 2020. The annual Six Days of Berlin has been held here since 1999. Rammstein performed nine shows here between 2001 and 2009. Kylie Minogue brought her Fever Tour and KylieX2008 tours here in 2002 and 2008. Britney Spears performed a sold-out show of The Onyx Hotel Tour in 2004. Daft Punk performed Alive 2006/2007 in 2007. The 32nd European Aquatics Championships took place here in 2014. The cycling European Track Championship was in 2017. My Chemical Romance played here as part of their Reunion Tour in 2022. Rosalía performed a show from her Motomami World Tour in 2022. Aurora performed here in 2024.
The Velodrom is a testament to Berlin’s ambition. It is a landmark that combines sports, architecture, and entertainment. It is a venue that continues to host world-class events.