Hägglunds Arena

Hägglunds Arena
Former names	Swedbank Arena (2006–2009); Fjällräven Center (2010–2021)
Location	Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
Coordinates	63°17′02″N 18°43′30″E / 63.28389°N 18.72500°E
Owner	Evenemangsarenan i Örnsköldsvik AB (subsidiary of Modo Hockey)
Capacity	Ice hockey: 7,265; Concerts: 9,800
Construction
Broke ground	14 September 2004
Opened	26 August 2006
Tenants
	Modo Hockey (SHL) (2006–present)

Hägglunds Arena (formerly Swedbank Arena and Fjällräven Center) is an indoor sporting arena located in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The capacity of the arena is 7,265 for ice hockey games and 9,800 for concerts. The arena was opened on 26 August 2006.

History

Ground was broken for the arena on 14 September 2004. The arena is located in downtown Örnsköldsvik, by the harbor, and is surrounded by water on three sides. It contains three spectator levels: one suite level, and two general seating levels. Other features include a restaurant and six bars. The atrium features a light display called Active Light Field, which makes the atrium change colors.

A number of small capacity reductions were made between 2008 and 2015, including expanding the restaurant area and later also building a VIP bar on parts of the standing area, which lowered the original maximum capacity for ice hockey from 7,600 to at least 7,049 spectators. In October 2021, however, a new extended standing section was inaugurated, raising the capacity again to 7,115 spectators.^[1]

In November 2009, it was announced that Fjällräven acquired the naming rights, and from January 1, 2010 until August 31, 2021 the arena was called Fjällräven Center.^[2] The naming rights were then purchased by BAE Systems Hägglunds and the Swedish Bosch Rexroth subsidiary, who renamed the venue to Hägglunds Arena for a period of five or ten years, starting September 1, 2021.^[3]

Events

It replaced the older Kempehallen as the home arena of the Modo Hockey ice hockey team. It also hosted the 2008 European Curling Championships and the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships.

The third heat of Melodifestivalen 2007, the first heat of Melodifestivalen 2010, the fourth heat of Melodifestivalen 2014 and of Melodifestivalen 2018, as well as the semi-final of Melodifestivalen 2023 were all hosted at the arena. Other notable music acts include Takida, Tomas Ledin, Alice Cooper, Thin Lizzy, Michael W. Smith and Kent. The arena also unsuccessfully applied to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016 and 2024.

References

^ "Kurva Carlabel – vår nya ståplatssektion!". www.modohockey.se (in Swedish). 27 October 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
^ Patrick Edlund (23 August 2021). "Fjällräven Center - ny lya för MODO Hockey" (in Swedish). Modo HK. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
^ Häggqvist, Jon (23 August 2021). "Hägglunds Arena blir vår hemmaplan" [Hägglunds Arena will be our home ground] (in Swedish). Modo Hockey. Retrieved 19 September 2021.