Avicii Arena, simply referred to as Globen, originally known as Stockholm Globe Arena and previously as Ericsson Globe (after its sponsor), is the biggest spherical building on Earth and has hosted some nail-biting sporting final in its 34-year history. Avicii Arena Stockholm is an indoor arena located in Stockholm Globe City in the Johanneshov district.
Globen (The Globe) is one of the most distinctive landmarks of the Swedish capital. The Globe is always in the limelight, and this year it will host international stars like Robbie Williams and Michael Bublé (March) as well as Cirque de Soleil and Peter Gabriel (May), among others.
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The building took two and a half years to build and has a diameter of 110 meters (360 ft) and an inner height of 85 meters (279 ft). Globen has a seating capasity of 16,000 spectators for shows and concerts, and 13,850 for ice hockey. In the upper area there are 40 VIP boxes and a restaurant. The Globe is the world’s largest scale model of the Solar System.
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Since February 2010, the Globe has a spectacular attraction on its outside, the SkyView. The SkyView is a kind of glass elevator with which you can drive on the outer skin of the Globe to its very top. Even if sequins aren’t your thing, the Globe’s SkyView ride is a great way to see the city at any time of year. Its two gonolas depart every 10 minutes on a 20-minute trip that gives great, 360 degrees views of Stockholm from the building’s apex, 130m above sea level. Not one for those with vertigo.
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The SkyView trips are usually booked over the Internet, particularly during the Swedish holiday season from midsummer until mid-August. Especially on sunny summer days it is advisable to book tickets in advance. Otherwise, there is a risk that you only see the gondola from below.
The Biggest Spherical Building on Earth – in Stockholm, written by Tor Kjolberg
Feature image (on top) © Wikimedia Commons