Olympic Stadium (Moscow)

"Olimpiisky" redirects here. For Olimpiysky in Kiev, see Olimpiysky National Sports Complex. For Olimpiyskiy in Donetsk, see RSC Olimpiyskiy.

Olimpiysky
Location	Moscow, Russia
Coordinates	55°46′52″N 37°37′35″E / 55.78111°N 37.62639°E / 55.78111; 37.62639Coordinates: 55°46′52″N 37°37′35″E / 55.78111°N 37.62639°E / 55.78111; 37.62639
Opened	1980
Capacity	25,000 (concerts) 22,000 (sports) 35,000 (total)
Tenants
Kremlin Cup (ATP 250) (WTA Premier) (1990-present) Euroleague 2004–05 Final Four (Basketball) 2006 Davis Cup Final (Tennis)

Olympic Stadium, known locally as the Olimpiyskiy or Olimpiski, is a large indoor arena, located in Moscow, Russia. It was built for the 1980 Summer Olympics and hosted the basketball and boxing events.^[1] A part of the Olimpiyskiy Sports Complex, it makes up one architectural ensemble with another venue, constructed at the same time, the Swimming Pool. The venue is so large, that up to 80,000 people can occupy its space. It has hosted the Davis Cup finals and Bandy World Championships^[2] on several occasions, and is the home of the Kremlin Cup tournament. It was the world's 1st indoor bandy arena. When smaller indoor sports are held at the venue, such as tennis or basketball, only 1/4 of the floor space is used. Capacity at this configuration can vary between 10,000 and 16,000 people.

The arena hosted the 1999 FIBA EuroStars game^[3] and the 2005 Euroleague Final Four.^[4] The stadium can hold up to 16,000 people for televised events.^[5]

Notable events

KISS were scheduled to perform, on two consecutive nights, during their Psycho Circus Tour on April 1–2, 1999, but the shows were cancelled.

The stadium was the venue for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009.^[6]

During the summer of 2009, French diva and superstar Mylène Farmer performed at the arena, in front of 20,000 people, in one of her huge and very impressive shows, 10 years after her latest coming in Russia, her Mylenium Tour.

Russian metal band Aria sold out the arena for its 25 Anniversary concert. Aria ex-members were the opening bands.^[7]

Muse played a sold out show in the arena on May 22, 2011.

Roger Waters, founder of Pink Floyd, played The Wall here in its entirety, in his famous 2010-2011 The Wall Live tour. The show was fully sold out, and was attended by the likes of Konstanin Nikolsky, Andrey Makareivch, and David Tukhmanov. The spectacle was the most expensive performance staged on Russian soil.

The original Black Sabbath lineup will perform their first show in 7 years here on May 18, 2012.^[8]

Notes

1. ^ 1980 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 2. Part 1. pp. 67-71.
2. ^ Russia grabs World Bandy Championship - YouTube
3. ^ SEE YOU AT "OLYMPIJSKY"
4. ^ Final Four venue: Olympiysky Arena
5. ^ Eurovision Song Contest Serbia 2008 | News - Svante Stockselius met 2009 organisers in Moscow
6. ^ "Moscow accepted as 2009 Host City! Eurovision.tv". Seiste Bakke. 2008-09-13. http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=1362. Retrieved 2008-09-13. 
7. ^ "AriaFest 25 Anniversary concert". MetalTraveller.com. 2010-11-25. http://www.metaltraveller.com/en/gigs/aria/moscow_2010.html. Retrieved 2011-02-12. 
8. ^ "Black Sabbath: European Tour Dates Announced". Blabbermouth.net. 2011-11-18. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=166277. Retrieved 2011-11-18. 

The central court of the 2009 Kremlin Cup in the Olympic Stadium

External links

• (Russian) Official website of the Olympiisky Sports Complex
• Information on venue
• Info from Euroleague.net

Events and tenants
Preceded by Montreal Forum Montreal	Olympic Basketball tournament Final Venue 1980	Succeeded by The Forum Los Angeles
Preceded by Exhibition Hall Düsseldorf	Davis Cup Final Venue 1994 - 1995	Succeeded by Mässan Hall Malmö
Preceded by Max Schmeling Halle Berlin	FIBA Euro All star game Venue 1999	Succeeded by Final Venue
Preceded by Palacio de Congresos de Maspalomas	Fed Cup Final Four venue 2003	Succeeded by Krylatskoe Sport Palace
Preceded by Yad Eliyahu Sports Hall Tel Aviv	Euroleague Final Venue 2005	Succeeded by Sazka Arena Prague
Preceded by Sibamac Arena Bratislava	Davis Cup Final Venue 2006	Succeeded by Memorial Coliseum Portland
Preceded by Budapest Sports Arena Budapest	IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics Venue 2006	Succeeded by Luis Puig Palace Valencia