One of Sweden's most traditional arenas was inaugurated as early as 1955 as an open arena. The roof was added in 1963 and today it is a multi-arena which, in addition to many hockey games, is also popular for concerts as well as other events.
Facts
Inaugurated: November 4, 1955
Architects: Paul Hedqvist (responsible architect), David Jawerth (roof designer)
...DN announced a competition to find a name for the arena? Among many suggestions were "The refrigerator" and "Finally" (from someone who was tired of waiting for a hockey arena).
The arena was eventually named Johanneshovs isstadion and in 1989 it was officially renamed Hovet (the nickname for Johanneshovs isstadion)
Audience capacity sport: ca 8 100
Audience capacity concert: ca 9000
Wow-moments
Sweden-Norway, 1955
The first hockey game was played at the inauguration - an international game that Sweden won with 7-2. The World Cup tournament at the same venue 8 years later became a great sporting and financial success that contributed to the interest in hockey exploding in Sweden.
ABBA, 1979
One of the world's most successful and beloved pop groups of all time got the whole Hovet dancing. It was ABBA's last arena gig in Sweden and "… ovations and applause after almost every song.",as it says in a newspaper review from then.
European Championship in boxing, 1957
Hovet has been used for other sports than hockey. Look closely at the picture and you see the boxing ring where Ingemar "Ingo" Johansson himself defended his title by a knockout in the fifth round against Henry Cooper.
The Beatles, 1964
"Twist and shout", "I want to hold your hand", "Can´t buy me love", "A hard day´s night". For 8 kr, the Swedish audience could experience these classics when The Beatles performed with 4 concerts during two summer evenings.
Lauryn Hill, 2019
The late 90's most influential album "The miseducation of Lauryn Hill" celebrated 20 years and one of the biggest R&B/hip hop stars of our time chose to celebrate at Hovet. A crowded arena witnessed her still unfailing flow between rap and great soul.
Stevie Wonder
We wish those days could come back once more - the two times the living legend was on the stage of Hovet. The first time was on his 31st birthday in 1981, followed by a long-awaited return in 1989.