Atletion
Encyclopedia
Atletion is a combinated sport venue, in Aarhus
, Denmark
, where the football stadium and the arena are the main parts.
plays all its home matches on Atletion.
On May 27, 2006, the Danish national football team played a friendly against Paraguay
. This was the first national home match not played in Parken
in Copenhagen
since 1992.
In 2007, the park played host to two of Denmark's Euro 2008 qualifying matches against Liechtenstein
and Spain
after UEFA
ordered the matches played away from Copenhagen following a fan attack in a previous match
against Sweden
.
In 2011 Atletion hosted the final of the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
. Three group stage matches were also played at the stadium.
The park has hosted concerts by many famous artists, including Cliff Richard
, Elton John
, Depeche Mode
and George Michael
, among others.
, and was the main arena of the 2002 European Women's Championships
, hosting the final. Danish Handball League
side Aarhus GF
plays their home matches here. The arena is also used for basketball
, by Bakken Bears
. In non-sports, the 2004 Danish Song Contest was held in this arena.
The arena's capacity, when set up for handball, is 4740, all seated.
, and it seats approximately 1.500 spectators. The original name for the arena was Nye Stadionhal.
During the German occupation in World War II
Store Hal suffered an unfortunate fate. The Germans seized all halls in Atletion for their own use, which in 1943 resulted in an act of sabotage from the Danish resistance movement. Store Hal burned down to the ground and was not rebuild until early 1954 where the current building was finished. It was designed by architect C.F. Møller
in the same style as the old.
In 2006 Store Hal was renamed NRGi Store Hal, when local energy company NRGi, bought the naming rights for Atletion.
Aarhus
Aarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, where the football stadium and the arena are the main parts.
NRGi Park
After the expansion of the stadium in 2001, there are now seats for 20,032 spectators. It's a modern stadium, and the pitch is heated, so even the first games of the season can be played, no matter how the weather is. The stadium is the center for football in Århus. AGFAarhus Gymnastik Forening
Aarhus Gymnastikforening is one of the oldest sport clubs in Denmark. AGF participates in a variety of activities in both individual and team sports. AGF is best known for its football team which has the longest streak in the Danish top division and also holds the record for most number of cup wins...
plays all its home matches on Atletion.
On May 27, 2006, the Danish national football team played a friendly against Paraguay
Paraguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
. This was the first national home match not played in Parken
Parken Stadium
Parken Stadium is a football stadium in the Indre Østerbro district of Copenhagen, Denmark, built from 1990–1992. It currently has a capacity of 38,065 for football games, and is the home ground of F.C. Københaven and the Danish national football team...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
since 1992.
In 2007, the park played host to two of Denmark's Euro 2008 qualifying matches against Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein national football team
The Liechtenstein national football team is the national football team of Liechtenstein and is controlled by the Liechtenstein Football Association. The organisation is known as the Liechtensteiner Fussballverband in German. The team's first match was an unofficial match against Malta in Seoul, a...
and Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
after UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
ordered the matches played away from Copenhagen following a fan attack in a previous match
UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier fan attack
A fan attack occurred at the Euro 2008 qualifying match between the national football teams of Sweden and Denmark, at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on 2 June 2007...
against Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
.
In 2011 Atletion hosted the final of the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
UEFA U-21 Championship 2011 was the 18th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship. The final tournament was hosted by Denmark between 11 and 25 June 2011....
. Three group stage matches were also played at the stadium.
The park has hosted concerts by many famous artists, including Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
and George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
, among others.
NRGi Arena
The NRGi Arena is primarily used for HandballTeam handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
, and was the main arena of the 2002 European Women's Championships
2002 European Women's Handball Championship
The 2002 EHF European Women's Handball Championship was held in Denmark from 6–15 December. It was won by Denmark after beating Norway 25–22 in the final match.-Venues:The European Championships was held in the following cities:...
, hosting the final. Danish Handball League
Danish Handball League
The Danish Handball League, officially known as Jack & Jones Ligaen due to sponsorship reasons, is the men's top Danish professional handball league. The winners of the Danish Handball League are recognised as the Danish handball champions...
side Aarhus GF
Aarhus GF Håndbold
Aarhus GF Håndbold, commonly just known as Aarhus GF. Currently, Aarhus GF competes in the Danish Handball League. The club plays its home matches in NRGi Arena.-History:...
plays their home matches here. The arena is also used for basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, by Bakken Bears
Bakken Bears
Bakken Bears is a Danish professional basketball club based in Aarhus. It was founded in 1962 and has won the Danish championship eight times so far .-Current squad:- National Honours :*Danish championship...
. In non-sports, the 2004 Danish Song Contest was held in this arena.
The arena's capacity, when set up for handball, is 4740, all seated.
Store Hal
Store Hal is Atletion's second indoor exhibition arena primarily used by Team Århus FloorballTeam Århus Floorball
Team Århus Floorball is a Danish floorball club playing in the Danish Floorball League for both men and women.The club's male team has played ind the highest league since 1995 and in 2010 the team won the Danish Floorball Championship as well as the Danish Cup.Current general manager is Jens Ørhøj...
, and it seats approximately 1.500 spectators. The original name for the arena was Nye Stadionhal.
During the German occupation in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Store Hal suffered an unfortunate fate. The Germans seized all halls in Atletion for their own use, which in 1943 resulted in an act of sabotage from the Danish resistance movement. Store Hal burned down to the ground and was not rebuild until early 1954 where the current building was finished. It was designed by architect C.F. Møller
C.F. Møller
Christian Frederik Møller , generally referred to as C. F. Møller, was a Danish architect, professor and, from 1965 to 1969, the first rector of the Aarhus School of Architecture. His former practice, Arkitektfirmaet C. F. Møller, which he founded in 1924, still exists and bears his name...
in the same style as the old.
In 2006 Store Hal was renamed NRGi Store Hal, when local energy company NRGi, bought the naming rights for Atletion.