MEO Arena

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Events Centre

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Parque das Nações

Location:

MEO Arena is located in the heart of Parque das Nações, a modern and vibrant area of Lisbon, situated on the north bank of the Tagus River. Its central position within the urban fabric allows this space to establish itself as a reference point for visitors from diverse backgrounds, given its integration into the metropolis and its capacity to serve not only the capital but the entire country.

An Architectural Vision

Opened in 1998, this remarkable building was designed by architects Regino Cruz from Portugal and the international firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Its bold design simultaneously evokes the shape of a spaceship and a horseshoe crab, a fusion between the marine animal and futuristic imagery. One of its most distinctive aspects is the wooden structure of its roof, which references the inverted framing of a 16th-century carrack, a subtle tribute to the great Portuguese Discoveries and the theme of the oceans, central to the World Exposition held there.

The building's design prioritized remarkable energy efficiency and simplicity in visitor entry and exit. The main floor was cleverly semi-buried, which reduces the visual impact of its large size and contributes to the space's thermal inertia. The facades feature shading solutions that optimize solar incidence, and openings in the roof allow for natural air ventilation, ensuring a pleasant environment and efficient resource use.

The Legacy of a Central Stage

Originally known as the Utopia Pavilion during Expo '98, where it hosted the grand spectacle "Oceans and Utopias", a magical and symbolic approach to the maritime theme, MEO Arena consolidated its position as the largest indoor event venue in Portugal, with a capacity to host up to 20,000 people. It was built to fill a fundamental gap in the national landscape: the absence of a multipurpose venue with the necessary size and technological capabilities for major events.

Over the years, MEO Arena has become Lisbon's main stage for a wide range of events. It annually hosts concerts by renowned national and international artists, important sports competitions across various disciplines, and serves as a meeting point for major conferences and innovation summits. Its versatility is one of its strengths, demonstrating a clear commitment to inclusion and social responsibility, as evidenced by accessibility initiatives for people with disabilities.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt