Year 2023

The Arena, as usual, hosted competitions of various sports, adjusting the space to meet the requirements of tennis, floorball, basketball, hockey, and boxing.
Latvia was unexpectedly given the chance to organize the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship again, and the group B games were held at the Riga Arena.

In the summer of 2023, the XXVII Nationwide Latvian Song and XVII Dance Festival took place in Latvia. Arena Riga was honored to host the participants in the opening concert of the festival.
Hundreds of dancers thrilled thousands of spectators in the visually gorgeous Latvian stage dance concert “Balts”/ “White” (Photo: Jānis Romanovskis).

Several impressive concerts of local and foreign music groups – Apocalyptica, Robbie Williams, 50 Cent, Astro’n’out, Ozols, Bermudu Divstūris and others – as well as various cultural and entertainment events took place in the arena.

Year 2022

Arena Riga became the home arena for the Ukrainian basketball team and the Ukrainian basketball club “Prometey” in 2022. The Latvian basketball team successfully played the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification games.
In 2022, several world-class stars gave concerts at Arena Riga, including Sting, OneRepublic, LP, The Cure, Sigur Ros, Iron Maiden, and others.
From local musicians, we were happy to host Gustavo and Bermudu Divstūris.

Year 2021

The Covid-19 outbreak continued this year with periodic bans and restrictions on mass events. Sports events were held behind closed doors at the start of the year, but later a limited number of visitors were allowed. There was no music, cultural, or entertainment event happening.
Latvia was responsible for organizing and hosting the IIHF World Hockey Championship, which was mostly held without the presence of spectators. To make the empty arena look more appealing on TV, cardboard fans were seated in the chairs and some areas were decorated with seat covers. The arena was only accessible to visitors who had been vaccinated against Covid-19 and had a certificate to prove it for the final games of the championship.

Year 2020

In 2020, the entire world and Arena Riga were affected by the Covid-19 virus. The mass events industry and society have both encountered times when gatherings were prohibited or required many different conditions to take place. Arena Riga was able to quickly adapt and provide event organisers with a venue that meets all safety measures. The parking lot of Arena Riga was used to host concerts and open-air cinema as a response to the new conditions. We were able to contribute to bringing society together and experience positive emotions by watching sports and cultural events in person during these challenging times.

Year 2019

Photo: Ritvars Stankevičs

Year 2018

This year Arena Riga celebrated Latvia’s centenary by hosting different events of the celebrations’ agenda. We experienced spectacular scenography in three dimensions with innovative digital solutions in the dance performance “Both Sides” (“Abas Malas”) (photo). During the national Song and Dance Celebration, around 4000 dancers performed in “Another hundred years of dance” (“Vēl simts gadu dejai”). In the overcrowded arena, a new release of the rock-opera “Lāčplēsis” was very much appreciated by the audience.
We are happy that number of domestic musicians performing in Arena Riga increases rapidly. We were honored to welcome The Sound Poets (photo), MESA and others local bands with their live shows.

Photo: Uldis Lapins

Year 2017

Hearts of ladies were melted in two absolutely sold-out grand concerts by the local solo artist Dons. Lovers of music and art also enjoyed the emotional performance by Andrea Bocelli, pirouettes of Cirque du Soleil and the great competition of European Youth Choir Olympiad.

Within the framework of the World Boxing Super Series, the Latvian boxing star Mairis Briedis delighted his fans with a tight fight with Cuban boxer Mike Perez, winning the fight.
Photo:

Year 2016

One of the most explosive performances in the history of the arena was provided by the worldwide beloved band “Muse”, demonstrating their uniqueness with the latest generation movement sensors, drones and 360 degree stage at the middle of the arena. Musical fulfilment in this year was also brought by Mika, Mariah Carey and Aha.

At the end of the year, the arena was made loud by the Floorball World Championships, setting a new attendance record of world championships!

Photo: FBI archive

Year 2015

“Eirobasket 2015” was undeniably one of the biggest sport events in European basketball time in 2015, which will stay in the memories of basketball fans with a legendary meet between Latvian and Lithuanian basketball teams.

Meanwhile music fans could enjoy not only the charismatic superstar Robbie Williams’s performance, but also Ed Sheeran and Andrea Bocelli concerts.

Photo: FBI archive

Year 2014

One of the biggest events in music in 2014 was the performance of industrial music pioneers “Nine Inch Nails” with possible the most spectacular light show ever seen. Arena Riga was selected as the band’s Europe concert tour opening place, so Trent Reznor with technical team came to Riga 2 weeks before concert to spend time in intensive rehearsals and preparation works.

Year 2014 passes in a cultural theme in all of Riga, because Riga is the European Capital of Culture, and in its framework are held the World Choir Games, which gathers singers and their supporters from all around the world!

Year 2013

For the first time in Riga, sport fans could see Davis Cup in tennis, where our best Latvian tennis player Ernest Gulbis also participated.

Whereas the musical pleasures in 2013 in Arena Riga was provided by Eric Clapton and Lana Del Rey with lyrical, audience moving concerts.

In 2013 Arena Riga was visited by Dahlelama WIV, and he presented an open lecture!

Photo: FBI archive

Year 2012

Band “Rammstein” performed the most sold out concert in the history of Latvia! Also “Monster X” giant car show was held this year, which surprised the audience with breathtaking sights and drivers’ skills.

Of course, other world class musicians continued to come to Arena Riga – Bryan Adams, Sting and previously in Latvia performed band “MUSE”.

Year 2011

Year 2011 Arena Riga guests will remember with sonorous concert of Elton John, as well as world famous “Cirque Du Soleil” performance in Riga. The show was so much in demand that circus performers did the show four nights in a row! Whereas sport enthusiasts definitely enjoyed “FIBA U-19” World Championship in basketball for men, it gathered thousands of visitors.

Photo: FBI archive

Year 2010

Four years after Arena Riga construction, concert and entertainment event visits are becoming more common between Latvian public, because every week Arena Riga is visited by world class guests. Starting from legendary “Metallica”, to band “A-HA”, who despite the parting concert in 2010, came back to Arena Riga again in March 2016. At the end of the year our own beloved band “Prāta vētra” performed two concerts, gathering more than 23, 000 visitors.

Photo: FBI archive

Year 2009

One of the most important sport events of 2009 in Latvia was the European championship in basketball for women, which took place in Arena Riga the whole June.

Concert planners continued to please the public with unforgettable performances and legendary musicians, especially the heavy music fans with band “KoRn”, Marylin Manson, and band “Placebo”. Of course, concert planners didn’t forget about lyrical music, and on 2009 in Arena Riga performed one of the most romantic world’s musicians – Enrique Iglesias. Children enjoyed the ice show “Ice Age” and theatrical staging “Walk with Dinosaurs”.

Photo: FBI archive

Year 2008

Concert of legendary band “KISS” was a proof that music unites – thousands of visitors from Latvia’s neighbour states came to the band’s only concert in Baltic states. Also the famous Kylie Minogue concert was all sold out, which gives hope to Austrian singer’s fans that the artist will return to Riga again. Arena was visited by rising stars of that time – American pop and R’n’B talent Rihanna, and Canadian music rebel Avril Lavigne.

But sport fans were happy for the opportunity to see in presence the new and perspective hockey team’s Dinamo Rīga home games in the framework of Continental hockey league.

Photo: FBI archive

Year 2007

Breathtaking light shows, musical pleasure and unending energy that charges the whole audience – on 2007 in Arena for the first time performed grand world level performers, band “MUSE”, as well as the great dance music event “Sensation White” was held, and show “Mamma Mia”.

For the first time in Arena premises there were volleyball and moto-freestyle competitions, filling the hall with tons of sand.

Photo: FBI archive

Year 2006

On 15 February 2006 Arena Riga was opened as a multi-functional hall and was ready not only to receive thousands of sport and concert fans, but also the most powerful sport teams in the world! In this year Arena welcomed more than 57, 000 hockey fans and accompanying staff, who came to World hockey championship, and also hosted more than 50 basketball games.

Concert visitors were also pleased with world famous “Depeche Mode” performance and our own Latvian musician concerts; Arena also hosted NATO summit and private events of companies.

Photo: Roman Koksarov