Deutschlandhalle
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 Interactive map of Deutschlandhalle | |
| Location | Messedamm 26 14055 Westend, Berlin |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 52°30′01″N 13°16′11″E / 52.50028°N 13.26972°E |
| Owner | Government of Berlin |
| Operator | Messe Berlin GmbH |
| Capacity | Ice hockey: 8,630 Concerts: 10,000 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 29 November 1935 |
| Closed | 27 April 2009 |
| Demolished | 3 December 2011 |
| Architect | Franz Ohrtmann Fritz Wiemer |
| Tenants | |
| BSC Preussen (2001–2004) ECC Preussen Juniors Berlin (2006–2009) | |
Deutschlandhalle was an arena located in the Westend neighbourhood of Berlin, Germany. It was inaugurated on 29 November 1935 by Adolf Hitler. The building was granted landmark status in 1995, but was demolished on 3 December 2011.
Built primarily for the 1936 Summer Olympics, the Deutschlandhalle could hold 8,764 people. The Olympic boxing, weightlifting and wrestling competitions took place here.[1] On 19 February 1938 test pilot Hanna Reitsch demonstrated the first indoor flight in the arena with a Focke-Wulf Fw 61 helicopter.
Heavily damaged by air raids in 1943, the Deutschlandhalle was rebuilt after World War II and from 1957 served as a multi purpose arena and sports venue, in the last years primarily for ice hockey, but also for indoor football and again for boxing.
After the 1990 German reunification, the Deutschlandhalle lost its position as Berlin's primary arena, replaced by the newly erected Velodrom, Max-Schmeling-Halle and Uber Arena. In 1998 it was closed but in 2001 was reopened again as an ice hockey venue for BSC Preussen, who needed a new home venue after their old venue, Eisstadion an der Jafféstraße, had been demolished. Preussen used it as their home venue until 2009 when it was finally closed.
After the building had to be closed for repairs several times, the Berlin Senate in May 2008 decided to demolish it.[2] Demolition took place on 3 December 2011 with the explosive destruction of the roof.[3]
A new exhibition and congress hall, named "CityCube Berlin", would be built on the site of the Deutschlandhalle; It opened on 5 May 2014.
