Industry News

AEG takes over running of Sweden’s huge Friends Arena

AEG has said it will be “business as usual” in terms of ticketing at Stockholm’s Friends Arena after it became the operator of the Swedish national football stadium.

A long-term deal between the Los Angeles-based company and Arenabolaget, a co-owned company by real estate business Fabege and the Swedish Soccer Association, will see AEG Facilities provide full management services to the 65,000-capacity stadium.

The company will direct event programming, vendor venue services, advertising and marketing, as well as oversee event-day operations for the venue.

AEG told The Ticketing Business it will be taking over the responsibility for ticketing services and support towards promoters, “but otherwise it is business as usual with current ticketing platforms at Friends Arena”.

Friends Arena is home to the Swedish national football team and Allsvenskan football club AIK, and also hosts concerts, family shows and other sporting and special events. Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC and Ariana Grande are among those to have played the arena.

“We are proud to have been selected to manage the operations of Friends Arena, Sweden’s largest venue and the home of the Swedish national soccer ream,” said Marie Lindqvist, chief executive of AEG operations in Sweden.

“Through our experience managing Tele2 Arena, Ericsson Globe, Hovet and Annexet and hosting some of the world’s largest sports matches, concerts and entertainment events, we understand the standard of service that is required to ensure an arena’s success in Stockholm. We look forward to working closely with Arenabolaget on this exciting endeavour.”

Klaus Hansen Vikström, a board member at Arenabolaget i Solna, added: “In AEG, with its extensive international network and experience, we’ve found a partner with an excellent reputation with whom we can continue to develop the events experience at Friends Arena while positioning the Stockholm region internationally.”