Lanxess Arena rises in the Deutz district of Cologne, Germany, its 76-meter steel arch visible for miles along the Rhine. Built as Kölnarena, the venue hosted a soft-opening hockey game on September 11, 1998, before its official opening on October 17, 1998, with a concert by Luciano Pavarotti. It was designed by architect Peter Böhm and cost about €153 million to build. It was renamed in 2008 after chemical company Lanxess AG acquired the naming rights, a partnership since extended through 2028.
Since opening, the arena has grown into one of the most heavily booked entertainment venues on the planet, regularly topping global attendance charts for arenas. Whether you’re planning a concert trip, trying to figure out parking, or just curious how a hockey rink becomes a 20,000-seat amphitheater overnight, here’s the full picture.
Quick Answer
Lanxess Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Deutz, Cologne, that opened in 1998 (originally as Kölnarena) and seats about 20,000 for concerts. Tickets are sold through the venue’s official ticket partners and box office; the arena sits right next to Köln Messe/Deutz station, with on-site parking garages and U-Bahn access making it easy to reach without a car.
A Design Built Around a Landmark Arch
The arena’s signature feature is its curved steel arch, standing about 76 meters tall and weighing around 480 tons, which suspends the roof via steel cables. Architect Peter Böhm shaped the building so the arch became a recognizable part of Cologne’s skyline alongside the city’s famous cathedral, and the design allows the interior to be reconfigured for hockey, handball, or full-capacity concert layouts.
That flexibility has made it a go-to stop for touring acts. Superstars including Metallica, Drake, Billie Eilish, and Hans Zimmer have filled the arena in recent years, with Metallica reportedly breaking its attendance record more than once during their visits.
Capacity and Seating: Concerts, Hockey, and Handball
Lanxess Arena’s capacity shifts depending on what’s happening on the floor. For concerts it holds roughly 20,000 fans in full-house configuration, with floor seating or standing pits in front of the stage plus tiered seating rising around the bowl. Handball events run slightly smaller at about 19,500, while ice hockey games — which require space for the rink boards and glass — top out around 18,500.
For smaller touring shows, comedy, or theater-style bookings, the arena can also be curtained down into a reduced ‘theater’ configuration seating a few thousand, which keeps smaller crowds feeling intimate rather than swallowed by a full arena bowl. Premium options include loge boxes and VIP seating, and family sections offer booster seats for younger fans. The exact seating map changes by event type, so always check the specific layout on your ticket before you buy.
Getting Tickets to a Show
Tickets for concerts, hockey, handball, and esports events at Lanxess Arena are sold through official ticketing partners listed on each event page, along with a limited on-site box office for day-of sales at the main entrance before showtime. Pricing follows standard arena tiers — floor and lower-bowl seats cost more than upper-tier seating, with premium loges and VIP packages sitting above general admission.
Because the venue hosts some of the highest-demand tours in Europe, popular shows can sell out quickly; buying directly through the official ticket outlets linked from the arena’s event calendar is the safest way to avoid counterfeit or inflated resale tickets. For the current event schedule, seating maps, and ticket links for any specific show, check the official Lanxess Arena website.
Parking and Getting There
Lanxess Arena sits directly beside Köln Messe/Deutz station, one of Cologne’s major rail hubs, which puts it one stop from Köln Hauptbahnhof (Cologne’s main station) by regional and high-speed trains, plus direct U-Bahn access via nearby light-rail lines. For anyone coming from central Cologne or flying into Cologne Bonn Airport, public transit is usually the easiest route in, since the arena area gets congested on event nights.
Drivers have several on-site and nearby options, including the arena’s own multi-level parking garages and overflow lots at the adjacent KölnArcaden shopping center. Garage fees are typically charged by the hour with a flat-rate cap on event nights, but exact pricing changes over time, so it’s worth confirming current rates on the official site before you go. Arriving early is smart — garages fill up fast ahead of major concerts and hockey nights.
Bag Policy and Arena Security
Like most major European arenas, Lanxess Arena runs bag checks and security screening at every entrance. As a general rule, large bags, backpacks, and suitcases aren’t allowed inside and should be left at your hotel; a small bag is usually permitted but will be searched. Professional cameras with interchangeable lenses, outside food and drink, and anything that could be used as a projectile are typically restricted as well.
Specific rules can vary by event — a hockey game, a metal show, and an esports final don’t always have identical policies — so it’s worth double-checking the bag and entry policy for your exact date on the official venue site before heading out.
Home Ice and a Global Attendance Record
Beyond concerts, the arena serves as the home rink of the Kölner Haie of Germany’s DEL ice hockey league and has hosted major international competitions, including the 2010 IIHF World Championship and the 2007 World Men’s Handball Championship, plus the EHF Champions League Final Four. It’s also become a fixture on the Counter-Strike esports circuit, earning the nickname ‘The Cathedral’ among fans since 2015.
As of 2019, industry tracking named Lanxess Arena the highest-attended arena in the world, with nearly 700,000 tickets sold that year. The venue has kept building on that reputation, posting new visitor records in both 2024 and 2025, with 2025 alone logging around 2.6 million visitors across roughly 208 events.
Photos
See the stage from the lawn seats — small enough for most venue bag rules.
Phone, cards and keys in front of you all night, hands free for the encore.
Packs smaller than a water bottle — a real seat for lawn shows and festival sets.
Lanxess Arena Cologne FAQs
When did Lanxess Arena open?
Built as Kölnarena, it hosted a soft-opening hockey game on September 11, 1998, followed by its official opening concert, featuring Luciano Pavarotti, on October 17, 1998.
How many people can Lanxess Arena hold?
About 20,000 for concerts, with slightly lower capacities of 19,500 for handball and 18,500 for ice hockey; smaller ‘theater’ configurations seat a few thousand for intimate shows.
Why is it called Lanxess Arena?
Chemical company Lanxess AG bought the naming rights in 2008; the deal has since been extended through 2028.
Where do you buy tickets for Lanxess Arena?
Through the official ticket partners linked on each event’s page on the arena’s website, or at the on-site box office before showtime; buying direct is the safest way to avoid counterfeit tickets for high-demand shows.
Is there parking at Lanxess Arena?
Yes — the arena has its own multi-level parking garages plus nearby overflow lots at the KölnArcaden shopping center, though they fill quickly before major events.
How do you get to Lanxess Arena without a car?
The arena is right next to Köln Messe/Deutz station, with direct train and U-Bahn connections from Cologne’s main station, making public transit the easiest option on event nights.
Can you bring a bag into Lanxess Arena?
Small bags are generally allowed but get searched at security; large backpacks, suitcases, and outside food or drink are typically not permitted, and exact rules can vary by event.
Get More from Lanxess Arena Cologne
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Lanxess Arena Cologne, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Want the day’s theme park news in your inbox? Subscribe to ThrillZing Daily — free.