Nationalarenan facts for kids
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| Full name | Strawberry Arena |
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| Former names | Swedbank Arena (2009–2012) Friends Arena (2012–2024) |
| Address | Stockholm Sweden |
| Location | Solna, Stockholm, Sweden |
| Coordinates | 59°22′21″N 18°00′00″E / 59.37250°N 18.00000°E |
| Owner | Swedish Football Association, Folksam, Solna Municipality, Jernhusen, Peab, Fabege |
| Executive suites | 92 |
| Capacity | |
| Record attendance |
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| Surface | Natural grass turf |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 7 December 2009 |
| Built | 2009–2012 |
| Opened | 15 October 2012 |
| Construction cost | 2.8 billion SEK (€ 300 million) |
| Architect | Arkitekterna Krook & Tjäder, Berg Arkitektkontor, Populous |
| Main contractors | Peab |
| Tenants | |
| Sweden men's national football team (2012–present) AIK Fotboll (2013–present) Melodifestivalen final (2013–2020, 2022–present) |
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The Nationalarenan, now known as Strawberry Arena, is a super cool stadium in Stockholm, Sweden. It has a special roof that can open and close! This makes it perfect for all kinds of events, even in winter.
You can find it right next to a lake called Råstasjön in Solna, just north of the city center. It's the biggest stadium in all of Scandinavia! Since it opened, it has been Sweden's main stadium for men's football, which is why it's also called Nationalarenan (National Arena).
The main teams that play here are Sweden's men's national football team and the Allsvenskan football club AIK. Both teams moved here from their old home, the Råsunda Stadium. The arena can hold up to 65,000 people for concerts. For football matches, it can seat 50,000 fans. If an event is smaller, the stadium can even be made smaller to fit about 20,000 guests.
The stadium was designed by Danish architects from C.F. Møller Architects. The record for a concert was over 60,000 people. For a club football match, the record was just over 50,000 fans.
Welcome to Strawberry Arena!
This amazing stadium is a hub for sports, music, and big events in Sweden. It's known for its modern design and ability to host a wide range of activities. Let's explore what makes Strawberry Arena so special!
A Look Back: How the Arena Got Its Name
The journey to becoming Strawberry Arena involved a few name changes. Each name tells a part of the stadium's story.
From Swedbank to Friends Arena
Originally, there were plans to build a new national stadium in a different part of Stockholm. But on April 1, 2006, the Swedish Football Association decided to build it in Solna instead. This new stadium replaced the old Råsunda Stadium. The old stadium was taken down to make space for new homes and offices.
The stadium was first going to be called Swedbank Arena. This was because Swedbank bought the rights to name the stadium. However, in 2012, Swedbank decided to give its naming rights to Friends. Friends is a group that works to stop school bullying. Because of this kind gesture, the stadium was renamed Friends Arena.
Becoming Strawberry Arena
On January 13, 2024, a new agreement was made with a hotel company called Strawberry. This company took over the naming rights. So, on July 12, 2024, the stadium officially became known as Strawberry Arena.
Cool Features of the Arena
Strawberry Arena is packed with awesome technology and design elements that make it a top-notch venue.
The stadium has a special retractable roof. This means the roof can open and close, allowing events to happen all year round, even when it's cold outside. It's perfect for indoor shows and concerts! The outside of the arena can light up in 17 million different colors. For example, when Sweden's national football team plays, the stadium glows in blue and yellow.
Strawberry Arena is a UEFA Category 4 stadium. This is the highest rating a stadium can get, meaning it's super modern and safe. The natural grass field is 105 by 68 meters. High above the field, there's a huge media cube that is 240 square meters big. Fans can watch all the action up close on this screen. Plus, there are 647 LED screens all around the stadium to make sure everyone has a great view.
Exciting Events and Records
Many memorable events have taken place at Strawberry Arena, from grand openings to record-breaking sports matches and concerts.
Grand Opening Celebration
The arena officially opened with a big ceremony on October 27, 2012. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden declared it open! The show was called Svenska ögonblick (Swedish Moments). Many famous Swedish artists performed, including Agnes Carlsson, The Hives, Icona Pop, Loreen, First Aid Kit, and Roxette. About 46,000 people were there, and 1.7 million more watched it live on TV!
First Football Match and Other Sports
The very first football game at the stadium was on November 14, 2012. Sweden played against England, and Sweden won 4–2. Zlatan Ibrahimović scored the first goal in the new stadium! Almost 50,000 people watched this exciting match.
The arena has also hosted other sports. In 2013, a new record for Swedish bandy was set during the championship final. Over 38,000 people watched the game under the closed roof. AIK played their first game here on April 7, 2013, setting a new club attendance record for a home game.
In 2013, the final of the UEFA Women's Euro was held here. Germany beat Norway 1–0, and over 41,000 people watched. This set a new attendance record for a Women's Euro match! Solna became the first city in Europe to host all four major football championships. The arena also hosted Motorcycle speedway events from 2013 to 2017.
Music Superstars and Concerts
Strawberry Arena is a popular spot for big concerts. Many world-famous artists have performed here. Swedish House Mafia played three sold-out concerts in November 2012, with about 115,000 people attending in total.
Other huge stars like Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, One Direction, Kiss, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Coldplay, Beyoncé, Guns N' Roses, The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift have all rocked the stage. Taylor Swift set a new attendance record for a concert on May 19, 2024, with over 60,000 fans!
The final of Melodifestivalen, Sweden's big music competition, has been held here almost every year since 2013. The arena was also chosen to host the 2017 UEFA Europa League Final.
Exploring Around the Arena
The area around Strawberry Arena is also full of interesting places and easy to get to.
The stadium is just a short walk from the Solna commuter train station. You can also find the Tvärbanan tramway and local buses nearby. A little further away is the Näckrosen metro station. By 2028, there will be another metro station, Arenastaden metro station, even closer!
Did you know that the 18th meridian east passes right through Strawberry Arena? There are special signs at entrances B and F that tell you this cool fact.
The arena is about six kilometers (3.7 miles) from Stockholm Central Station. There's parking for 300 buses and 4,000 cars. Around the stadium, you'll find hotels, restaurants, offices, and apartments. There's also a huge shopping mall called Mall of Scandinavia, which opened in 2015. It has 240 shops and a cinema, making it the biggest shopping center in Sweden!
The entire project, including the stadium and all the surrounding buildings, cost more than 4 billion SEK.
More to Explore
- List of indoor arenas
- List of indoor arenas in Nordic countries
- List of football stadiums in Sweden
- Lists of stadiums
- Climate Pledge Arena, an indoor arena in Seattle, Washington, US that received its name via a similar donation of naming rights
- Kentucky Proud Park, a baseball park in Lexington, Kentucky, US that received its name via a similar donation of naming rights
See also
In Spanish: Nacional Arena para niños
