Unibet Arena

Unibet Arena
Former names	Saku Suurhall (2001–2022)
Location	Haabersti, Tallinn, Estonia
Coordinates	59°25′34″N 24°38′51″E / 59.42611°N 24.64750°E
Owner	Marcel Vichmann
Operator	OÜ Best Idea
Capacity	Concerts: 10,000 (with standing); Basketball: 7,200 seated
Surface	Versatile
Construction
Broke ground	7 July 2000
Opened	November 2001
Architect	Esa Viitanen (Pro Ark OY); Andres Kariste (North Project AS)
Project manager	Lemminkäinen Eesti AS
Tenants
	BC Kalev/Cramo (KML) (2001–present)

Unibet Arena (named Saku Suurhall until 31 December 2022^[2]) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the Haabersti subdistrict of the Estonian capital, Tallinn. Opened in November 2001, it is the largest multi-purpose hall in the country with around 7,200 seats but can hold up to 10,000 people.^[3]

It generally hosts basketball games, as well as sport competitions, trade fairs, corporate events and concerts. The name sponsor for the arena is the Swedish sports betting company Unibet and the venue is owned by businessman Marcel Vichmann via his company Best Idea OÜ.

History

A view of Haabersti in 2023. On the photo is Unibet Arena and Rocca al Mare Shopping Centre.

Initial plans for the arena were announced in August 1999.^[4] Unibet Arena opened in November 2001. Since 2002, the arena is a member of the European Arenas Association (EAA).

A total of 13,220 m² spread over four floors. Every year around 300 events take place in the hall, of which about 70 are major events. It accommodates up to 10,000 spectators, of which 7,200 are seated. The first event in the hall was the Irish dance show Lord of the Dance.^[3]

Past events

Some of the notable events, which took place in the arena are:

Music

Eurovision Song Contest 2002
Pirate Station Future (22 November 2008) & Immortal (18 December 2009)
Eesti Laul final (2016–2022)

Sports

Tallinn International Horse Show (2002–present)^[5]
Simpel Session (2004–present)
2002 and 2008 European Karate Championships
2010 European Figure Skating Championships
2013 European Cadet Judo Championships
2013 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
2015 Toyota Four Nations Cup
2021 Men's European Volleyball Championship (Pool D matches)
2023 Women's European Volleyball Championship (Pool D matches)
2024 European Junior Judo Championships

Concerts

References

^ ^a ^b "Saku hall saab 13 kuuga valmis" [Saku hall will be ready in 13 months]. www.ohtuleht.ee (in Estonian). 19 October 2000. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
^ Voltri, Johannes (19 December 2022). "Saku Suurhall Unibet rebranding does not infringe advertising laws". ERR. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
^ ^a ^b "FAKTE HALLIST - Unibet Arena". www.unibetarena.ee (in Estonian). Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
^ Kurm, Kairi (12 August 1999). "Estonia to construct the biggest arena in the Baltics". baltictimes.com. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
^ "History – Tallinn International Horse Show". Retrieved 2 February 2021.

External links

Media related to Saku Suurhall at Wikimedia Commons
Official website (in Estonian)

Preceded by Parken Stadium Copenhagen	Eurovision Song Contest Venue 2002	Succeeded by Skonto Hall Riga

[Construction-1] "Saku hall saab 13 kuuga valmis" [Saku hall will be ready in 13 months]. www.ohtuleht.ee (in Estonian). 19 October 2000. Retrieved 22 December 2022.

[2] Voltri, Johannes (19 December 2022). "Saku Suurhall Unibet rebranding does not infringe advertising laws". ERR. Retrieved 22 December 2022.

[sakusuurhall.ee,_2020-3] "FAKTE HALLIST - Unibet Arena". www.unibetarena.ee (in Estonian). Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2022.

[4] Kurm, Kairi (12 August 1999). "Estonia to construct the biggest arena in the Baltics". baltictimes.com. Retrieved 23 December 2022.

[5] "History – Tallinn International Horse Show". Retrieved 2 February 2021.

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