Bizkaia Arena

Bizkaia Arena is an indoor arena in Barakaldo, Greater Bilbao. It is one of the biggest multipurpose halls in Spain, as it can hold up to 26,000 people with maximum legal capacity, although in most concert configurations the capacity is reduced to 18,640. It can also be exceptionally expanded to 21,500 (combining the maximum capacity of the bleachers and stands with the stage), and for basketball the maximum capacity is 15,414 people. The arena is part of the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC) complex, the Exhibition and Congress Centre of Bilbao and Biscay, inaugurated in April 2004. It is situated in the Pavilion 4. The venue regularly hosts basketball games, for which it has a capacity of 15,414. It was one of the six venues used for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, hosted by Spain. The arena hosted the annual MTV Europe Music Awards in 2018 as the awards show was held in Spain for the third time and the first time in Bilbao. Description and technical data The Bizkaia Arena has a perimeter of 22,000 m², measuring 125 x 175 meters. As for the court, it has a variable width from 29 meters to 60 meters, a surface area from 2,300 m² to 4,700 m², and a depth of 79 meters. The bleachers are with 11,500 seats, expandable by 3,500 and the court with capacity of 10,000 standing spectators. The ceiling height varies, ranging from a minimum of 11.5 meters to 18.3 meters. The venue has six dressing rooms, with the possibility of adding more in the adjacent pavilions. Two dressing rooms (C1-C6) of 82 m² each Two dressing rooms (C2-C5) of 77 m² each Two VIP dressing rooms (C3-C4) of 28 m² each In addition, the concert configuration includes a 142 m² catering area and dressing rooms for production catering, with a 10-meter bar and temporary storage for equipment. VIP areas can also be installed. Above the usual stage location is an aerial structure consisting of 18-meter-long bridges, with a maximum load capacity of 2 tons per unit. Finally, there are small rooms that function as offices and two interconnected, independent modules of 37 m² each for event production and setup equipment. Like the BEC, it has an operational helipad. Configurations Being a modular venue, there are numerous configurations: with seating, without seating, with a usable section, etc. The most common are the following: Bizkaia Arena Amphitheater This configuration combines a section of seating with a section of the floor. With careful and well-planned capacity, it creates the atmosphere of a medium-sized venue, like an amphitheater or semicircular seating area. Depending on the floor configuration (seated or standing), capacities of between 4,500 and 6,000 people are achieved. The unused sections are covered with a black tarpaulin that improves acoustics and prevents reverberation. Bizkaia Arena Concerts With this configuration, part of the seating is retractable, allowing the capacity to be configured according to the client's preferences, with more or fewer people in the seating and/or on the floor. In this way, a capacity of 10,000 people can be achieved with the stage positioned halfway across the arena, or a maximum capacity of 18,640 people with the stage at a 180-degree angle. Exceptionally, and depending on the stage configuration, a capacity of 21,500 people is possible. Services The venue has ticket offices outside, multiple cloakrooms inside the arena near the entrance (free of charge for promoters), bars, catering and a restaurant services. It also has parking for 4,400 vehicles, a and private security. For truck access, trailers can drive right up to the front of the stage through two gates (4.6 and 4.7), each 6 meters wide and with a turning radius of over 15 meters. The entire access road is smooth, well-paved, and free of obstacles for maneuvering. The arena can accommodate the simultaneous unloading of up to 15 trailers. In addition, there are eight more identical gates around the perimeter of the pavilion to access other potential areas (emergency services, merchandise unloading, etc.). History The arena was used as the home arena of the Spanish League basketball club Bilbao Basket during the 2009-10 season. In other seasons, it has also occasionally been used for their most attractive games. It hosted the 2010 Spanish King's Cup Final Eight. The arena hosted a preseason game between Bilbao Basket and the NBA team the Philadelphia 76ers. Several international pop and rock acts have also performed at the Bizkaia Arena. The venue has also been used for other kinds of shows, such as opera, Disney on Ice, etc., political speeches, and religious meetings. Concerts Sala CUBEC! The Sala CUBEC! is a multipurpose space integrated within the Bizkaia Arena pavilion, designed for small- to medium-sized events that do not require seating. Its current configuration is the result of an adaptation and optimization process initiated after a pilot test conducted in late 2015 during a concert with an audience of 4,200 people. The space is located in the central area of the Bizkaia Arena pavilion, a venue typically used for large concerts and shows. The Sala CUBEC! hall is designed to accommodate events with capacities of up to 5,500 people, offering a suitable alternative for smaller productions or concerts. Its spatial configuration is achieved through the installation of fire-resistant curtains approximately 18 meters high, suspended from the roof to ground level and arranged to conceal the pavilion's seating area. This solution creates a cubic-shaped enclosure that fosters greater proximity between the audience and participants, providing an environment with dimensions tailored to the expected capacity and enhanced acoustics. The versatility of the Sala CUBEC! allows the space to be adapted to different types of events, including concerts, theatrical performances, audiovisual screenings, and corporate events, through specific configurations based on the needs of each organizing body. In its standard configuration with a stage, the venue has an approximate area of 1,575 m², corresponding to dimensions of 45 meters wide by 35 meters long. Without the stage, the usable length can reach 79 meters, increasing the available area to 3,555 m². Above the usual stage location is an aerial structure consisting of three 18-meter-long bridges, with a maximum load capacity of 2 tons per unit. Its technical facilities include basic sound and lighting equipment that can be expanded according to the needs of each production, two 400-volt three-phase power lines, rigging systems, permanent blackout curtains, a resident stage, and a large outdoor area for production operations and parking for technical vehicles, tour buses, and trailers. The support infrastructure comprises six dressing rooms located at the back of the stage, equipped with power, network connections, and basic furniture. In the same area are two 37 m² production offices, connected to each other to facilitate operational coordination. Public access is directly from outside the exhibition center, a short distance from the Ansio metro station. This layout allows operations to be carried out exclusively on the ground floor of the building, without needing to use the main atrium of the BEC (Bilbao Exhibition Centre) or the usual entrances of the Bizkaia Arena, thus optimizing the resources associated with the management and operation of the event, making it more accessible and cost-effective. Access and public transport The multipurpose pavilion utilizes the existing infrastructure for the BEC trade fair: Vehicles It has parking for 4,400 vehicles. In addition, the Bizkaia Arena has independent access for up to 15 trailers simultaneously for production operations. It also has a taxi rank next to the main entrance of the BEC and a bus parking area. Metro The nearest stations of Bilbao Metro are Ansio (10 meters away) and Barakaldo (800 meters away) that connects to Bilbao: Bilbao Intermodal, San Mamés Stadium, etc... Bus Next to the Ansio Metro station, there is a bus terminal where both the Barakaldo city bus (Kbus) and suburban buses (Bizkaibus) stop. Bizkaibus connects it directly to Bilbao Airport, located in Loiu and some city's, such us Sestao, Bilbao, Portugalete or Getxo. Public Bicycle Rental There is a Bizkaibizi station, number 34521 (BEC). See also Bilbao Exhibition Centre Bilbao Arena List of indoor arenas in Spain References External links Official website Bilbao Basket Official Website (in Spanish)