Merkur Ostseehalle

{{Short description|Multi-purpose arena in Kiel, Germany}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{more citations needed|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox venue | name = Merkur Ostseehalle | nickname = | logo_image = | image = Sparkassen Arena Kiel Suedansicht.JPG | image_size = 250px | caption = South view of venue (c.2016) | fullname = Merkur Ostseehalle | address = Europapl. 1<br />24103 Kiel, Germany | location = Vorstadt | coordinates = {{coord|54|19|14|N|10|07|50|E|region:DE_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | broke_ground = 10 November 1950 | built = | opened = 17 June 1951 | renovated = 2001 | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = {{ubl|Kieler Nachrichten|Citti Handelsgesellschaft}} | operator = Konzert- und Veranstaltungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG Kiel | surface = | construction_cost = | architect = Wilhelm Neveling<br /> Büro Schnittger (renovation) | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | project_manager = | main_contractors = | former_names = Ostseehalle (1951–2007), Sparkassen-Arena (2008–2020), Wunderino Arena (2020–2026) | tenants = THW Kiel (HBL) | seating_capacity = {{hlist|13,500 (concerts)|10,250 (handball)}} | dimensions = | scoreboard = }} The '''Merkur Ostseehalle''' is an indoor arena, in Kiel, Germany. It is primarily used by THW Kiel (team handball) and as a venue for rock/pop concerts. It holds up to 13,500 people.

==History== Construction was determined in 1950 by the Kiel council meeting. The Osteseehalle was initiated on 17 June 1951, during the Kiel Week and was eventually finished in 1952. For this purpose, the steel construction of a retired airplane hangar, from an airbase on the island Sylt, was dismantled and brought to Kiel.

Over the course of decades, the arena was constantly redeveloped, and since renovations finished in September 2001, it is now "prepared for the next 50 years", according to the operators. On 1 January 2008, the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe purchased the naming rights. On 1 July 2020, the name changed to Wunderino Arena.<ref>{{cite web |author= | title=Sparkassen-Arena ändert Namen in Wunderino Arena | publisher=KIELerLEBEN | date=2020-04-28 | url=https://www.kielerleben.de/news/sparkassen-arena-aendert-namen-wunderino-arena-10024173.html | access-date = 2021-07-11}}</ref> In April 2026, the naming rights were acquired by the Merkur Group and the arena was renamed to the Merkur Ostseehalle.<ref>{{cite web |date=14 March 2026 |title=MERKUR bringt die Ostseehalle zurück |trans-title=MERKUR is bringing back the Ostseehalle |url=https://merkur.com/merkur/news/merkur-bringt-die-ostseehalle-zurueck.html |website=Merkur Group |access-date=30 May 2026 |language=de}}</ref>

On 16 April 2002, Irish vocal pop band Westlife held a concert for their World of Our Own Tour supporting their album World of Our Own.

==See also== *List of indoor arenas in Germany

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category-inline}} * {{Official website|http://www.ostseehalle.de}} {{in lang|de}} * [http://www.thw-provinzial.de/thw/ehalle.htm Portrait of the Sparkassen-Arena] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724083318/http://www.thw-provinzial.de/thw/ehalle.htm |date=24 July 2013 }}

Category:Sports venues in Schleswig-Holstein Category:Handball venues in Germany Category:Indoor arenas in Germany Category:Buildings and structures in Kiel