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Sportpaleis
The AFAS Dome (formerly Sportpaleis) is an indoor arena in Antwerp, Belgium. It is a multipurpose hall used for organizing concerts, sporting events, festivals, and fairs. The arena was built for sport, especially track cycling, but there is now little sport held there; it previously hosted the Diamond Games tennis tournament for women.
According to Billboard Magazine, for the period 2007/8 Sportpaleis was the second most visited event hall in the world, second only to Madison Square Garden. The AFAS Dome is known for performances by both Dutch-speaking and international artists.
Construction of the arena started on 11 January 1932. It lasted 21 months and was completed on 11 September 1933, becoming the largest indoor arena in Europe. The Sportpaleis was built by the Apostel-Mampaey family from Boom. They were internationally renowned velodrome builders from 1907 until the Second World War. The velodrome builders of Boom were very much in demand. They built tracks in Gentbrugge (1911), Wilrijk 'Garden City' (1916), Nice and Marseille (1920), Ostend (1921-1946), Brussel-Heizel (1932) and Oudenaarde (1933). The famous 'Kuipke' in Ghent (1922) and the even more famous Sportpaleis in Deurne (1933). In 2008, a book "De velodroombouwers Apostel-Mampaey" was published.
The main building is 132 by 88 metres (433 by 289 ft) and has a roof spanning 11,600 square metres (125,000 sq ft). The arena is elliptical and has two floors. In 2010, the arena's roof was replaced, and during 2011–2013 a €20 million re-development took place, increasing its total capacity from 18,400 to 23,001 (including standing). Until renovations in 2011, there was a 250-metre-long (270 yd) wooden cycling track under the stands.
Next to the AFAS Dome is its sister venue, the Lotto Arena, a hall that can accommodate 8,000 spectators.
On 2 April 2025, it was announced that after 92 years of operation under the same name, the name would be changed to AFAS Dome effective 1 September 2025.
On 29 September 1956, road cycling world champion Stan Ockers died a few days after a crash in his 116th performance at the track. The UCI Track Cycling World Championships were held at the Sportpaleis in 1969 and 2001.
On 19 November 1988, Roy Orbison gave his last European performance at the Sportpaleis.
Sportpaleis
The AFAS Dome (formerly Sportpaleis) is an indoor arena in Antwerp, Belgium. It is a multipurpose hall used for organizing concerts, sporting events, festivals, and fairs. The arena was built for sport, especially track cycling, but there is now little sport held there; it previously hosted the Diamond Games tennis tournament for women.
According to Billboard Magazine, for the period 2007/8 Sportpaleis was the second most visited event hall in the world, second only to Madison Square Garden. The AFAS Dome is known for performances by both Dutch-speaking and international artists.
Construction of the arena started on 11 January 1932. It lasted 21 months and was completed on 11 September 1933, becoming the largest indoor arena in Europe. The Sportpaleis was built by the Apostel-Mampaey family from Boom. They were internationally renowned velodrome builders from 1907 until the Second World War. The velodrome builders of Boom were very much in demand. They built tracks in Gentbrugge (1911), Wilrijk 'Garden City' (1916), Nice and Marseille (1920), Ostend (1921-1946), Brussel-Heizel (1932) and Oudenaarde (1933). The famous 'Kuipke' in Ghent (1922) and the even more famous Sportpaleis in Deurne (1933). In 2008, a book "De velodroombouwers Apostel-Mampaey" was published.
The main building is 132 by 88 metres (433 by 289 ft) and has a roof spanning 11,600 square metres (125,000 sq ft). The arena is elliptical and has two floors. In 2010, the arena's roof was replaced, and during 2011–2013 a €20 million re-development took place, increasing its total capacity from 18,400 to 23,001 (including standing). Until renovations in 2011, there was a 250-metre-long (270 yd) wooden cycling track under the stands.
Next to the AFAS Dome is its sister venue, the Lotto Arena, a hall that can accommodate 8,000 spectators.
On 2 April 2025, it was announced that after 92 years of operation under the same name, the name would be changed to AFAS Dome effective 1 September 2025.
On 29 September 1956, road cycling world champion Stan Ockers died a few days after a crash in his 116th performance at the track. The UCI Track Cycling World Championships were held at the Sportpaleis in 1969 and 2001.
On 19 November 1988, Roy Orbison gave his last European performance at the Sportpaleis.
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