Black Sea Arena is an indoor arena located on the coast of the Black Sea in Shekvetili, Guria, Georgia, some 45 km north of Batumi, the country's second largest city.
The venue, designed by the architects from the German company Drei Architekten, is the largest open concert hall in the Caucasus. The oval shaped auditorium, with a capacity of 9,000 seats configured in circular grandstands, has a retractable roof and rotatable facade panels.
The American singer-songwriter Christina Aguilera performed at the official opening of the Black Sea Arena on July 30, 2016. Since then it has hosted various events, including the concerts of rock bands Aerosmith and Scorpions, Elton John, The Black Eyed Peas, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Jessie J, Vanessa Mae, CeeLo Green, Ennio Morricone, The Killers, OneRepublic. Numerous concerts featuring Georgian stars were also held at Black Sea Arena.
Concerts
Cancelled Concerts
Controversies
In June 2024, English group Massive Attack canceled a concert at the Black Sea Arena, originally scheduled for 28 July, in response to the Georgian government's repression of the nationwide civil protests against law proposals that could have restricted freedom of press and LGBT rights in the country. The venue's management initially attributed the cancellation to "unforeseen circumstances"; however, the band later explained their decision in a statement, writing quote, "At this moment, performing at the state-owned Black Sea Arena could be seen as an endorsement of their violent crackdown against peaceful protests and civil society".
Notes
References
External links
Media related to Black Sea Arena at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
