The AFAS Dome (formerly Sportpaleis) is an indoor arena in Antwerp, Belgium. It is a multipurpose hall used for organizing concerts, sporting events, festivals, and fairs. The arena was built for sport, especially track cycling, but there is now little sport held there; it previously hosted the Diamond Games tennis tournament for women.
According to Billboard Magazine, for the period 2007/8 Sportpaleis was the second most visited event hall in the world, second only to Madison Square Garden. The AFAS Dome is known for performances by both Dutch-speaking and international artists.
Construction
Construction of the arena started on 11 January 1932. It lasted 21 months and was completed on 11 September 1933, becoming the largest indoor arena in Europe. The Sportpaleis was built by the Apostel-Mampaey family from Boom. They were internationally renowned velodrome builders from 1907 until the Second World War. The velodrome builders of Boom were very much in demand. They built tracks in Gentbrugge (1911), Wilrijk 'Garden City' (1916), Nice and Marseille (1920), Ostend (1921-1946), Brussel-Heizel (1932) and Oudenaarde (1933). The famous 'Kuipke' in Ghent (1922) and the even more famous Sportpaleis in Deurne (1933). In 2008, a book "De velodroombouwers Apostel-Mampaey" was published.
The main building is and has a roof spanning . The arena is elliptical and has two floors. In 2010, the arena's roof was replaced, and during 2011–2013 a €20million re-development took place, increasing its total capacity from 18,400 to 23,001 (including standing). Until renovations in 2011, there was a wooden cycling track under the stands.
Next to the AFAS Dome is its sister venue, the Lotto Arena, a hall that can accommodate 8,000 spectators.
On 2 April 2025, it was announced that after 92 years of operation under the same name, the name would be changed to AFAS Dome effective 1 September 2025.
Events
On 29 September 1956, road cycling world champion Stan Ockers died a few days after a crash in his 116th performance at the track. The UCI Track Cycling World Championships were held at the Sportpaleis in 1969 and 2001.
On 19 November 1988, Roy Orbison gave his last European performance at the Sportpaleis.
Janet Jackson was scheduled to perform during her All for You Tour on 29 November 2001, but the show was cancelled along with the rest of her European tour because of possible terrorist threats. The same happened on her 2016 Unbreakable World Tour, but because of scheduling conflicts.
American R&B singer Beyoncé performed at the Sportpaleis as part of her The Beyoncé Experience Tour on 19 May 2007. She returned on 7 May 2009 for her I Am... World Tour and on 14 and 15 May 2013, as part of The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, where she sold 33,000 tickets in just an hour. The first show on 14 May 2013 was cancelled three hours before the show and rescheduled to 31 May 2013. She subsequently beat her own record by selling 40,000 tickets in under one hour for two 2014 concerts at the venue.
Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation celebrated their 15th anniversary with a special show entitled "Elements" at the Sportpaleis. They were accompanied by the renowned Il Novecentro Orchestra and some special guests. The concert was held on 13 November 2012 and was sold out. Part of the concert was later released in the live album Let Us Burn – Elements & Hydra Live in Concert.
On 31 January 2015, the Antwerp Giants beat the attendance record for a basketball game in Belgium. The Belgian Basketball League team's 88–83 win over Spirou Charleroi was attended by 17,135 spectators.
In May 2019, the Final Four of the Basketball Champions League was hosted at the Sportpaleis, with Antwerp Giants being one of the playing teams.
In May 2022, The Major for Counter-Strike Global Offensive was hosted, featuring the world's best teams for one of the biggest esports events marking the first eSports event to be held in the arena.
In 2027, the arena will host the group phase matches for the FIBA Women's EuroBasket.
Sporting events Date Event Sport/game 30 September–6 October 2013 2013 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships Artistic Gymnastics 3–5 May 2019 2019 Basketball Champions League Final Four Basketball 9–22 May 2022 PGL Major Antwerp 2022 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 30 September–8 October 2023 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships Artistic Gymnastics 8–11 February 2024 2024 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments – Antwerp Basketball 16–27 June 2027 2027 FIBA Women's EuroBasket Basketball
Concerts
Many world music stars have performed in this venue, including: 2 Unlimited, AC/DC, Adele, The Alan Parsons Project, Alice Cooper, Alicia Keys, Anastacia, André Rieu, Ariana Grande, Bastille, Beyoncé Knowles, Billie Eilish, The Black Eyed Peas, Bob Dylan, Bon Jovi, Boy George, Britney Spears, Bruce Springsteen, Bruno Mars, Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, Coldplay, Deep Purple, Depeche Mode, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Dua Lipa, The Eagles, Ellie Goulding, Eric Clapton, Faithless, Fleetwood Mac, Gotye, Green Day, Guns N' Roses, Gwen Stefani, Il Divo, Iron Maiden, Janet Jackson, Jean-Michel Jarre, Jennifer Lopez, John Fogerty, Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, K3, Katy Perry, Kings of Leon, Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, Lenny Kravitz, Leonard Cohen, Lionel Richie, Madonna, Mark Knopfler, Massive Attack, Metallica, Michael Bublé, Mika, Milk Inc., Miley Cyrus, Muse, The Neighbourhood, Neil Diamond, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, One Direction, Ozzy Osbourne, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Pink, Placebo, Prince, Queen + Adam Lambert, Queen + Paul Rodgers, Queens of the Stone Age, Rage Against the Machine, Rammstein, Rihanna, Robbie Williams, The Rolling Stones, Roy Orbison, Sade, Santana, Samson en Gert, Scorpions, Shakira, Simply Red, Spice Girls, Sting, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel (the largest venue the band has ever played), Supertramp, Tiësto, Tina Turner, U2, Whitney Houston, Violetta, Within Temptation and Hans Zimmer.
2011 Date Main performer(s) Tour / Concert name Tickets sold Total gross notes 30 March Justin Bieber My World Tour 13,536 / 13,536 (100%) $796,566
2013 Date Main performer(s) Tour / Concert name Tickets sold Total gross notes 10 April Justin Bieber Believe Tour 35,751 / 36,939 (97%) $2,598,300 11 April 15 May Beyoncé The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour 34,785 / 34,793 (99%) $2,927,440 31 May
2014 Date Main performer(s) Tour / Concert name Tickets sold Total gross notes June 20 Miley Cyrus Bangerz Tour 16,740 / 18,936 (88%) $1,187,240 20 March Beyoncé The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour 36,972 / 36,972 (100%) $3,489,100 21 March September 23 Lady Gaga ArtRave: The Artpop Ball 15,188 / 15,188 (100%) $1,394,133
2015 Date Main performer(s) Tour / Concert name Tickets sold Total gross notes October 18 Violetta Violetta Live 13,125 / 15,455 (85%) $977,839
2016 Date Main performer(s) Tour / Concert name Tickets sold Total gross notes 9 FebruaryEllie GouldingDelirium World Tour 19,699 / 20,151 (100%) $812,32012 JuneAdeleAdele Live 2016 52,130 / 52,130 (100%) $5,713,10013 June15 June 8 October Justin Bieber Purpose World Tour 37,616 / 37,616 (100%) $2,890,081 9 October
2017 Date Main performer(s) Tour / Concert name Tickets sold Total gross notes 28 March Bruno Mars 24K Magic World Tour 42,710 / 43,512 (98%) $3,156,750 29 March 5 April Ed Sheeran ÷ Tour 21,109 / 21,151 (100%) $1,325,480 22 April Iron Maiden The Book of Souls World Tour 19,844 / 19,844 (100%) $1,323,671 9 May Depeche Mode Global Spirit Tour 20,195 / 20,195 (100%) $1,477,132 1 November Metallica WorldWired Tour 45,242 / 45,242 (100%) $4,411,706 3 November 26 November Depeche Mode Global Spirit Tour 19,299 / 19,299 (100%) $1,544,331
2018 Date Main performer(s) Tour / Concert name Tickets sold Total gross notes 22 January Lady Gaga Joanne World Tour 15,533 / 15,533 (100%) $1,435,452 16 February Imagine Dragons Evolve World Tour 20,272 / 21,372 $954,137 27 February Kendrick Lamar The Damn Tour 19,424 / 19,424 (100%) $1,403,113 16 March Harry Styles Harry Styles: Live on Tour 12,156 / 12,156 (100%) $856,747 17 April Lana Del Rey LA to the Moon Tour 24 May Katy Perry Witness: The Tour 15,025 / 21,172 (71%) $1,255,551 7 June Shakira El Dorado World Tour 29 June Queen and Adam Lambert Queen + Adam Lambert Tour 2017-2018 17 July Justin Timberlake The Man of the Woods Tour 34,819 / 34,819 (100%) $3,191,467 18 July 15 August Britney Spears Piece of Me Tour 17,246 / 19,911 (86%) $1,399,873 10 October Shania Twain Now Tour 26 October Oscar and the Wolf Infinity Tour 28,379 / 31,670 (89%) $1,308,187 27 October
2019 Date Main performer(s) Tour / Concert name Tickets sold Total gross notes 6 January André Rieu Johann Strauss Orchestra 9,634 / 10,996 (88%) $855,922 19 February Reverze 10 March Shawn Mendes Shawn Mendes: The Tour 15,879 / 15,879 (100%) $1,017,923 23 May Elton John Farewell Yellow Brick Road 16,348 / 16,348 (100%) $1,588,629 6 July Christina Aguilera X Tour 8,416 / 8,416 (100%) $547,752 30 August Ariana Grande Sweetener World Tour 20,720 / 21,826 (88%) $1,366,100 27 September Little Mix LM5: The Tour 13,397 / 13,397 (100%) $717,803 28 September Cher Here We Go Again Tour 10,192 / 10,924 (94%) $1,114,603
2020 Date Main performer(s) Tour / Concert name Tickets sold Total gross notes2 FebruarySabatonThe Great Tour
2021 Date Main performer(s) Tour / Concert name Tickets sold Total gross notes 2 June KissEnd of the Road World Tour Rescheduled9 June Eric ClaptonSummer 2021 European TourCanceled 27 June Iron MaidenLegacy of the Beast World Tour Canceled 30 October Regi Komt wat dichterbij 27 November Niels Destadsbader Sterker 28 November 29 November
2022 Date Main performer(s) Tour / Concert name Tickets sold Total gross notes 9 April LikeMe LikeMe On Tour (4 shows) 23 April The War On Drugs I Don't Live Here Anymore 24 April Hans Zimmer EU Tour 2022 6 May Dua Lipa Future Nostalgia Tour 42,550 / 42,550 (100%) $2,241,927 7 May 13 May Tool Tool in Concert 2022 6 June Kiss End of the Road World Tour 12 June Eric Clapton Summer 2022 European Tour 15 June Alicia Keys Alicia + Keys World Tour 16 June 50 Cent Tour 2022 21 June Green DayFall Out BoyWeezer Hella Mega Tour 28 JuneBillie EilishHappier Than Ever, The World Tour20,793 / 20,793 (100%)$1,472,283 7 JulyHarry StylesLove On Tour18,245 / 18,245 (100%)$1,207,376 15 July Queen + Adam Lambert The Rhapsody Tour 27 OctoberKendrick LamarThe Big Steppers Tour17,624 / 17,624 (100%)$1,314,179 23 November The Cure Lost World Tour 8 December Volbeat Servant of The Road World Tour
2023 Date Main performer(s) Tour / Concert name Tickets sold Total gross notes 26 January Robbie Williams XXV Tour 24 February Lizzo The Special Tour 10,677 / 11,305 $626,180 14 May Roger Waters This Is Not A Drill 20 May Depeche Mode Memento Mori World Tour 16,668 / 16,668 (100%) $1,668,464 13 July Iron Maiden The Future Past Tour 17 September Celine Dion Courage World Tour 18 September 20 September 21 October Madonna The Celebration Tour 22 October 12 November Queens of the Stone Age The End is Nero Tour
2024 Date Main performer(s) Tour / Concert name Tickets sold Total gross notes 21 MayOlivia RodrigoGuts World Tour 22 May5 AprilSimple Minds2024 Global Tour 8 June Jonas Brothers Five Albums. One Night. The World Tour 9 JulyTravis ScottCircus Maximus Tour 3 AugustJustin TimberlakeThe Forget Tomorrow World Tour 4 August 3 October Janet Jackson Janet Jackson: Together Again
2025 Date Main performer(s) Tour / Concert name Tickets sold Total gross