On the occasion of its anniversary, the Accor Arena takes its audience back to the memories of the symbol it represents: the unbreakable bond between a venue where anything is possible and its community of fans all over the world.
The Accor Arena is 40 years of music, 40 years of sport, 40 years of emotion, 40 years of audacity, 40 years of history, 40 years of passion... 40 years of Where all happens!
40 years of history (1984-2015)
The aptly named Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy was inaugurated in 1984.
This spectacular new venue is the result of an ambitious project: to provide France and its capital with an indoor arena capable of hosting the biggest sporting events and the greatest artists. On the banks of the Seine, nestled in the heart of the Bercy district, the legendary Parisian arena is built on the ruins of the wine merchants' halls. Iconic and avant-garde, it would forever change the entertainment landscape in France.
40 years of audacity - The Renovation
Conceived as a new jewel, with a new name, the modernisation of the venue in 2015 is nothing short of spectacular! The Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, which became the AccorHotels Arena upon the signing of France's first naming rights contract, bid “farewell” to its iconic red seats and “welcome” to new seats that enhance comfort and acoustics. It also features a huge glass roof that, cleverly mixed with the majesty of wood, undulates above the heads of those who flock to the Gallery to see great shows. The Arena now opens onto the street and accommodates up to 20,300 spectators, compared to 17,000 previously. And all of this comes with the incredible modularity of a venue capable of juggling no fewer than 30 different configurations. The creation of the Loges & Salons gallery then allowed the emergence of an entirely new economic model, offering an “experience of hospitality” – still unparalleled today – to its new clients. A more welcoming venue, therefore, more modern, with simplified access and circulation, which now asserts itself as the unmissable French stop on the largest international tours.
40 years of "Where All Happens" (2020-2023)
Renamed “Accor Arena” thanks to the name change by its naming-rights partner, now open not only to the street but to the entire capital, the venue will establish itself as a true place of life from 2021 onwards.
A leader in terms of hospitality and experiences for both BtoB and the general public, the Accor Arena fulfils its role as an emblem, at the crossroads of French Culture and Lifestyle. 40 years after its creation, it was crowned the second-best arena in the world, just behind Madison Square Garden in New York and ahead of the O2 in London, by the American magazines “Venues Now” and “Pollstar”, leading BtoB publications in the entertainment and performance venue sector.
Boxes side
In terms of boxes, after the Somewhere, a hidden speakeasy-style bar, and the experiential boxes with their precisely thought-out decoration, it is the Apartment that completes the transformation of the Arena in 2023. A box designed like a Haussmannian apartment where life is good, which allows you to feel “at home” and cocoon in the midst of “so Paris” codes - parquet flooring, mouldings and fireplace.
But with an invaluable bonus: a panoramic view of the Main Stage.
Stage side
On the stage side, the arena has been hosting the greatest performers since its inception, who remain loyal from tour to tour. Elton John, Roger Waters, Peter Gabriel, Madonna, Johnny Hallyday, Céline Dion, Adele, Beyonce, Björk, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Daft Punk, David Bowie, Depeche Mode, Dire Straits, Eminem, Eric Clapton, Jean-Michel Jarre, Stromae, -M-, Prince, Radiohead, Rihanna, Pink, U2, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Metallica, Muse, Paul McCartney,... Hundreds of artists, whose technical hospitality requirements are well known, choose to return to perform within its walls. From the 82 concerts of Dorothée to the 93 concerts of Johnny, from the entire month of Jacques Higelin on display to the 120,000 spectators at Muse's 6 consecutive concerts, from Indochine's 13 dates to the brief minute it took Lady Gaga to sell out her concert in 2010: it is the Arena of all records. And the wave of K-Pop seems to have found its favourite venue at the Accor Arena, with the notable tsunamis Black Pink and BTS! As for the rap/urban scene represented by Aya Nakamura, SCH, or Laylow, it has itself designated the Accor Arena as its ultimate symbol of success, the Grail to be achieved in a quest for ideal recognition.
Sports side
On the sports side, the Big Hall has shed its skin a thousand times to be reborn in all forms: as an impressive ski or supercross track, a windsurfing pool, a tennis court, an MMA octagon or a floor trodden by the cream of global basketball since it has been hosting the legendary NBA since 2020. All indoor sports take place at the Accor Arena! Handball, volleyball, hockey, judo: the world championships of the greatest disciplines of the genre take place within its walls and serve the metamorphosis of a venue that is always plural, constantly reinventing itself. However, it was during this Olympic summer that the Accor Arena was finally consecrated as a temple of sport in the eyes of the world: its teams hosted and produced the gymnastics and basketball events, 2 of the most emblematic Olympic disciplines!
40 years of passion (2024... And beyond)
A pioneer in the boldness of transforming a performance venue into a living space, the Accor Arena is the source of inspiration, the reactor core, of Paris Entertainment Company, a group whose other venues are now following the example of this more than successful "District Entertainment" model. Now that the Olympic and Paralympic Games are well and truly over, we salute our teams and their universally recognised expertise: we are the only ones to integrate all the professions: security, catering, reception, ticketing, marketing, hospitality, technical, production, and all with real success! We are proud, as we were the last venue to close our doors to host the world's biggest sporting event this summer, to be the first to reopen them for a major event: today, we launch the celebrations around our anniversary with a “Taratata celebrates Bercy at the Accor Arena!”. On this occasion, we unveil a film that tells the unique bond we share with our audience. A film that illustrates our deep conviction: that at our signal, all over the world, all the fans from the very beginning, those who have built a memory with the venue, those who want to create one, those who have thrilled there, those whom it has exalted, rush to this same place to hoist as one, to its peak, above Paris, the banner of the great Accor Arena community. Because the Accor Arena is more than just a concert or sports venue: it is a small piece of each person's life, an indelible mark anchored in our collective memory and one that we will keep forever. It is the venue of all emotions, the venue of all generations, the venue of all possibilities, the venue of a lifetime!