User:Krm500/Gothenburg

Hisingen is an island within Gothenburg Municipality, with a 2005 population of 126,623 living in a land area of 199 km² (76.83 square miles), it is Sweden's most populated and fourth largest island. Formed by Göta älv in the south and the east, Nordre älv in the north, and Kattegat in the west. The island is divided between the two historical provinces of Västergötland and Bohuslän.

The island was divided into a Swedish and a Norwegian part until it was ceded from Denmark-Norway in 1658, by the Treaty of Roskilde. The division continued in the official name of the provincial districts of Swedish and Norwegian Hisingen or "Svenska Hisingens härad" and "Norska Hisingens härad", until 1681 when they were renamed into the Eastern and Western districts.

Volvo has its main office and production facility on Hisingen. The northern bank of Göta älv, on southern Hisingen, has undergone major expansion over the last 20 years, housing areas, university buildings, and high tech industries have, to a great extent, replaced the shipyards.

Hisstory
The island was divided into a Swedish and a Norwegian part until it was ceded from Denmark-Norway in 1658, by the Treaty of Roskilde. The division continued in the official name of the provincial districts of Swedish and Norwegian Hisingen or "Svenska Hisingens härad" and "Norska Hisingens härad", until 1681 when they were renamed into the Eastern and Western districts.

Geography
Hisingen is bounded by the Göta älv to the east and the south, and the Nordre älv to the north.

Infrastructure
Älvsborg Bridge, Göta Älvbron, Angeredsbron, Tingstadstunneln, Jordfallsbron

The two kilometers long, Lundby tunnel inaugurated in 1997 is one of Sweden's longest road tunnels. It stretches from Älvsborgsbron's to Eriksberg, and was built to remove noise disturbance in near by residential areas and to increase capacity on road 155.

Göteborg City Airport is Gothenburg's second international airport, located at Säve on the northern part of Hisingen. In addition to commercial airlines, the airport is also operated by a number of rescue services, including the Swedish Coast Guard.

In 2006 DFDS Seaways ceased operations of their ferry service between Gothenburg and Newcastle, United Kingdom, citing competition from low-cost air services as the main reason. It was the only lasting permanent passenger ferry service between Sweden and the United Kingdom, and had been running since the 19th century under various operators.

Lindholmen Science Park

Eriksberg, Gothenburg

sSports
Hisingen's most famous sports club is the football club BK Häcken, currently playing in Superettan. Their home venue Rambergsvallen is the largest sports venue on Hisingen. Floorball club IBF Älvstranden has previous played in the Swedish Super League, but are currently playing in lower ranked tiers. Their home venue Lundbystrand is built in an old shipyard's construction hall. Handball club HP Warta is an a similar situation, having previously played in Elitserien but currently playing in lower ranked tiers. Thier home venue is also Lundbystrand.

In 2008 the Swedish Touring Car Championship held a race in the free port.

Härlanda
Caversham, New Zealand

Västlänken

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Scandinavium
Scandinavium is the primary indoor sports and event arena in Gothenburg, Sweden. Construction on Scandinavium began in 1969 after decades of setbacks, the arena was built in time for the 350th year anniversary celebration of the City of Gothenburg and was inaugurated on May 18, 1971.

Scandinavium has been selected as a championship arena at least fifty times, hosting events such as World Championships in ice hockey, figure skating, and swimming, European championships, Davis Cup finals, and in 1985 the Eurovision Song Contest. It's the home arena for Frölunda HC and venue for the annual Göteborg Horse Show.

History
Plans to build an arena at the site were part of a proposal originating from 1931 to build a swimming hall and other municipally owned facilities for sport and recreation next to the exhibition center Svenska Mässan. In 1936 a preplanning process for the swimming hall and the adjunct area started, but was put on hold due to the precarious situation in Europe at the time and eventually canceled following the outbreak of World War II. In 1948 an architectural design competition was announced for an indoor arena with the project name Valhalla Inomhusarena (Valhalla indoor arena), the winning design was presented by a work group led by architect Poul Hultberg, who was working for Nils Olsson's architect firm in Gothenburg. Financing for the arena and other proposed facilities became a subject of public and political debate, the plans to build the arena were postponed indefinitely. The Valhalla Swimming Hall, which was the primary building in the 1931 proposal, was the only proposed facility to be built during the fifties due to capacity problems at other central swimming facilities.

In the 1962 election campaign the Swedish Social Democratic Party guaranteed that they would build the arena if they won the election. The Social Democrats won the election and a pre-planning process was started but financing was still an issue and the plans were yet again put on hold. In 1968 a committee assigned to plan the 350th year celebration of Gothenburg considered that it was a good idea to build the arena in time for the celebrations in 1971, making it a lasting memory of the anniversary. A company responsible for the construction was formed by the municipality and private investors, while Poul Hultberg was asked to revise his twenty-three year old designs. An estimated construction cost of twenty-three million SEK caused wild protests and intense debates but did not delay the progress. In May 1969 it was discovered that there was no construction permit for the arena, delaying the start of construction for a few weeks. When tartan tracks were installed near the end of construction, the concentration of flammable gases in the building was so high that one spark could have potentially blown up the entire structure. When construction was completed in May 1971, Scandinavium stood as the largest covered arena in northern Europe with an attendance capacity of 14,000 spectators. The construction cost totaled thirty-one million SEK, which resulted in an eight million SEK budget deficit.

Structure and facilities
Scandinavium's "sweeping appearance" comes from the hyperbolic paraboloid shaped saddle roof. The roof is supported by a prestressed cable net, with a nearly constant spacing of four meters in both directions, anchored in a space curved reinforced concrete ring beam with a rectangular cross-section of 3.5 meters &times; 1.2 meters (11.5 ft &times; 4 ft). The hanging cables rise ten meters to the top from the saddle point and the bracing cables fall four meters to the valley of the ring beam. The building is 14 meters (46 ft) tall, from the event floor to the pinnacle of the saddle-shaped roof. The ring beam is supported by forty circular columns and four stiff pylons, all visible in the arenas facade. The pylons consist of radially oriented concrete walls, with a length of 3.5 meters (11.5 ft), which stores ventilation equipment. The video board, lights, and sound system is suspended in an radially oriented cable system anchored in the four pylons. It was not consider stable enough for colour telecasting to attach these components directly to the roof. The cable system also serves as tension rods for the ring beam.

The seating in Scandinavium is arranged in a one level monolithic grandstand. The round design of the structure and the symmetric oval shape of the 4,100 m² (44,100 ft²) arena floor results in more rows along the length of the floor. The first six rows are telescopic seating which can be electrically retracted. There are forty-four executive boxes in the arena, located between the two northern pylons.

The ice hockey rink measures 61 meters &times; 30 meters (200 ft &times; 98.5 ft) which is standard international size. New double frame half boards were installed in 2001, designed to switch to NHL rink dimensions or to be easily removed when other events then ice hockey take place. To maximize the view for spectators, a seamless protective glass barrier consisting of tempered glass panels clipped together at their top corners with clear plastic brackets is used instead of traditional plexiglas with metal dividers.

The exterior wall was intended to be of glass, to display the dynamics of the arena design, but was built with corrugated steel plates painted orange to the horror of the citizens. In 2001 Got Event mentioned the possibility of a colour change on Scandinavium's facade, or changing the sheet metal facade in to a glass facade. The light installation consist of 278 armatures, illuminating 6000 m² of the arenas façade.

In 1990 an expansion of Scandinavium with an connecting external structure was added. The new white, modern designed building was built to replace the old ticket gates with a new larger foyer. At ground level ticket gates, a box office, and McDonald's restaurant. One level below the foyer Brasserie Time Out. The second floor consist of offices and conferance rooms shared by Got Event and Frölunda HC's respective administrations, with a united reception desk. The entire third floor features Arena Restaurant & Bar.

In 2008 a glass wall measuring 31&times;2.4m, divided in five sections, connecting Scandinavium with Svenska Mässan's congress foyer was inaugurated.

Prior to the 2002 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships Scandinavium underwent major renovations, new ice freezing equipment, new video board with higher resolution, all new interior in foyer and other public areas, kiosks, toilets.

In line with Gothenburg's municipal environment policies; Work vehicles such as Zambonies (ice resurfacers) and forklift trucks are powered by electricity instead of internal combustion engines.

Plans to expand Scandinavium's attendance capacity to 14,500 exist. To be able to support the increasingly heavier equipment during concerts the roof needs to be reinforced or exchanged.

Ownership and management
Scandinavium, i.e. the arena facility and the real property Heden 34:17, is owned by Idrotts- och kulturcentrum Scandinavium i Göteborg AB, a subsidiary of Förvaltnings AB Framtiden which is owned in it's entirety by the Gothenburg Municipality. Since 2006 Frölundaborg is also part of the company.

Leased to Got Event AB to May 31, 2020.



European Arenas Association

Name
Often nicknamed Kålleseum, a word play on the Colosseum and the fictional Kålle (Kal), a notorious person in the Gothenburg humor.

Uses
Scandinavium hosts over one hundred events a year, in wide variety of generas such as sports, music & shows. Frölunda HC of Elitserien is Scandinavium's biggest client, drawing close to half of the total attendance each year.

Only 1,500 people came to Scandinavium's inauguration on May 18, 1971, and many left early due to light and sound equipment failures. However, it wouldn't take long before Scandinavium enjoyed success, Birgit Nilsson and Helena Döse took turns as soprano in Verdi's Aida, with several sold out performances in a row during the 350th year celebration which Scandinavium was completed in time for.

Scandinaviums previous attendance record of 684,394 from 1981 was vastly improved to 803,859 in 2002 thanks to EVENTS, and in 2007 the record was polished by a small margin to 805,226.

Sports
ICE HOCKEY. First game ... first game in season ...

Frölunda's 2003 and 2005 Swedish Championships were both won during overtime in Scandinavium. In 2003 Tomi Kallio scored the winning goal early in the third overtime period of game four of the series against Färjestads BK. In 2005 Niklas Andersson scored the first goal of game five early in the first overtime period, once again with Färjestad as opponents.

Between 1978 and 1983 Scandinavium was the primary neutral venue for any decisive game of the the Swedish Ice Hockey Championship finals and semifinals. Skellefteå AIK (1978), MoDo AIK (1979), AIK (1982), and Djurgårdens IF (1983) have all conquered the Le Mat in Scandinavium. In 1980 Frölunda played in the finals versus Brynäs IF and thus Scandinavium could not be used as a neutral venue, the decisive game five, which Brynäs won, was played at Johanneshovs Isstadion in Stockholm.

At international level Scandinavium has hosted two Ice Hockey World Championships, in 1981 when the Soviet Union won gold and in 2002 when Slovakia won their first gold. Sweden's Tre Kronor won medals at both championships. Scandinavium has also hosted less notable international tournaments such as the IIHF Oldtimers World Cup and Financial Ice Hockey World Cup, both in 2007.

Gretzky & friends, Ottawa Senators

In figure skating Scandinavium has hosted the World Championships in 1976 and 2008, and the European Championships in 1972, 1980, and 1985. Scandinavium also hosted the 2005 World Championship in synchronized skating.

Göteborg Horse Show/International Federation for Equestrian Sports

In tennis Scandinavium has hosted the Davis Cup four times, three finals and one semifinal. In 1984 Sweden won the finals 4–1 against the favourites tipped United States led by John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors. In 1987 Sweden won 5–0 against India, and in 1997 Jonas Björkman led Sweden to a 5–0 victory against the United States. In 2007 the Davis Cup returned to Scandinavium, this time hostin the semifinals against the United States which Sweden lost. Prior to the semifinal, a promotional stunt was held with retired Davis Cup player Stefan Edberg, Magnus Larsson, Magnus Gustafsson, and Jan Apell playing against each other on Scandinavium's roof. The 2007 quarterfinal against Argentina was intended to be played in Scandinavium but due uncertainness if Frölunda would be playing playoff hockey during that period the game was played next door at a temporary constructed arena in Svenska Mässan's exhibition hall.

In handball Scandinavium has hosted the combined Swedish Championship finals for men and women in 2006 and 2008, Scandinavium and the Stockholm Globe Arena has taken turns hosting the finals since 2005. Scandinavium was one of the venues hosting the 2002 European Men's Championship, and also hosting the Handball World Cup the same year.

Athletics (track and field), European Indoor Championships in Athletics 1974 and 1984. 

Scandinavium hosted the 1997 FINA Short Course World Championships

In 2007 the first professional boxing gala in Sweden in over 37 years was held in Scandinavium.

Music & shows
Traditionally the first major event each year is Disney on Ice, the show has played annually at Scandinavium in early January since 1992. Scandinavium has hosted an Melodifestivalen semifinal annualy since 2003, being the only arena in Sweden to have hosted the semifinals more then twice. In 2005 SVT offered Scandinavium to host the final, instead of the Stockholm Globe Arena, but the event clashed with a Frölunda game and Got Event had to turn it down.

During the Gothenburg Film Festival Scandinavium has twice been transformed into a large movie theater and silent films has been shown while the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra performed live music. The first time was in 2003 when Sergei Eisenstein's The Battleship Potemkin was shown to tunes by Dmitri Shostakovich. The event was one of the most popular during the festival and they repeated the success the following year with Charlie Chaplin's City Lights, with Chaplin's own music being performed.

Mamma Mia! moved from Cirkus in Stockholm, X sold out performances in a specially designed theater for X within the arena helped set a new attendance record for Scandinavium of 805,226 visitors.

In 1984 Swedish group the Herreys won the Eurovision Song Contest and Scandinavium was selected to host the Eurovision final the following year, where Norway won the Eurovision for their first time with the entry La det swinge by Bobbysocks.

Harry Belafonte, Tom Jones, Bob Dylan, Westlife, Iron Maiden, Lord of The Dance, Depeche Mode, The Darkness, Morrisey, Il Divo, Saturday Night Fever, B.B. King, The Best Of West End, Andrea Bocelli, George Michael, Rhapsody In Rock, Roxette, Eric Clapton

Miscellaneous
Scandinavium is also used for corporate events, congresses, conferences, dance galas, award shows, and other various events. In 1998, two weeks after the Gothenburg nightclub fire, a large public memorial service for the victims was held with several thousands visitors. Al Gore The Göteborg Award for Sustainable Development

Scandinavium was featured in the 1999 film Zero Tolerance, with scenes filmed inside and outside the arena during a Frölunda ice hockey game. Scandinavium was also featured in a Schweppes commercial, scenes were filmed during the Göteborg Horse Show.

Location and transportation
Scandinavium is located in central Gothenburg, in the Heden district of the borough Centrum. Scandinavium is one of the center pieces of the event district called Evenemangsstråket, with Ullevi Stadium, Liseberg, Universeum, the Museum of World Culture, and Bergakungen nearby. Public transport is easily accessible; Just outside there is a tram stop named after the arena, which serves tram lines six, eight, thirteen, and fourteen. Tram lines four and five stops 250 meters from the arena at Korsvägen, a major public transport hub, which serves more then fifteen different buss lines, and will have an underground rapid transit station once Västlänken is completed. Approximately one and one half kilometer north west from Scandinavium is the Gothenburg Central Station and the Nils Ericson Terminal, one half kilometer south east is the Liseberg station serving the Gothenburg commuter rail.

Due to Scandinavium's central location the arena site itself does not have any public parking spaces, parking is only provided for sponsors, the press, and event personnel at a guard-gated parking lot at Valhalla IP. Visitors are guided to eighteen nearby parking lots and parking garages, with a total of 7,000 parking spaces, by the event districts parking guidance and information system. The system has a total of 130 digital signs, located on motorways with information about which exit to use, and on streets in the city with more detailed information about directions and number of available parking spaces.