Max SteventonLive Nation said it will buy Copenhagen’s Royal Arena from previous owners Realdania and the City of Copenhagen with the deal expected to close next year.
Royal Arena, which has a capacity of 17,000, has been operated by Live Nation since it opened in 2017.
According to Live Nation, the acquisition will result in a series of venue upgrades including improvements to backstage areas, VIP facilities and amenities in the surrounding area. Recent updates include The Vinyl Room, a new lounge developed in partnership with Bang & Olufsen.
The company also plans to invest in sustainability initiatives including rooftop solar panels, a full LED lighting conversion and the installation of two 4.5 MW batteries designed to store renewable energy.
Live Nation’s acquisition comes amid continued growth in Denmark’s live entertainment sector. The live music market contributes DKK 10.2bn (£1.19 bn) annually to the national economy.
Royal Arena has previously hosted international and domestic artists including Metallica, MØ, Rod Stewart, Billie Eilish, Lukas Graham, Justin Timberlake and Olivia Rodrigo.
Live Nation also reported a record Q3 this month, with revenue up 11.3% compared to the same period last year, largely driven by strong demand for live events.
Royal Arena CEO Anders Kjørup said, “From the first concert in 2017, when Metallica took to the stage, the Danes have been in love with this amazing building—delivering world-class experiences for artists and fans alike. Now, as both owner and operator, Live Nation is even more committed to the venue and the surrounding area, and we look forward to developing it for many years to come.”
Realdania CEO Nina Kovsted Helk said, “We’re proud to have helped bring a world-class multi-purpose arena to Copenhagen – and to Denmark as a whole. It was never Realdania’s intention to be the long-term owner of the arena, and the time has now come to sell. We’re therefore very pleased with this agreement.”