Wunderino Arena, Kiel

The Wunderino-Arena (formerly known as 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. 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. 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.

What started with the conversion of an aircraft hangar to one of the largest multipurpose halls of the republic in 1951 is a North German success story: on a total surface area of 5000 sm, about 1.5 million people visit a myriad of different events every year. International music stars have already visited Wunderino Arena Kiel for decades. Be it rock or pop, large-scale classic productions, opera or musicals - the multipurpose hall wows both artists and their fans with its special atmosphere. The Wunderino Arena Kiel has become well-known throughout Germany as a venue for the THW Kiel handball champions’ games. Apart from this, other major sporting events are also hosted here every year. Wunderino Arena Kiel has developed into a major crowd puller and, already for decades, has provided a fixed venue in Schleswig-Holstein for international sporting and cultural events.

Once a hanger the hall was rebuilt in 1951 and has functioned from then on as a multi-purpose hall. Today the Wunderino Arena hosts various cultural and sporting events as well as fairs, exhibitions and corporate functions. Since 1997 the companies CITTI, Kieler Nachrichten and Provinzial run the largest amphitheatre of Schleswig-Holstein. The hall with its technically perfect equipment is one of Kiel’s architectural landmarks.

The Wunderino Arena is as much a part of Kiel as the sailing boats, cruise ships and the Zebras, the famous THW Kiel handball team. The Wunderino Arena is centrally located within sight of Kiel City Hall. There are numerous public parking spaces around the arena. The Wunderino Arena is also easily accessible by bus and train. It is only a five to seven-minute walk from Kiel Central Station. In addition, almost all bus routes stop close to the event hall. The Wunderino Arena is not just a venue for major cultural and sporting events. Companies, associations and clubs also hold meetings, conferences and company and product presentations here. ***PH***