LANXESS Arena and Henkelmännchen Arch
Why is it significant?
Tilt your head back and gaze up at the colossal white steel arch spanning eighty-four meters into the sky above the LANXESS Arena at Willy-Brandt-Platz.
Key Facts
| Place | LANXESS Arena and Henkelmännchen Arch |
|---|---|
| Address | Willy-Brandt-Platz 3, 50679 Cologne, Germany |
| Geo Coordinates | 50.93850, 6.98250 |
| Part of Walk | Deutz, Rhine Boulevard and Right Bank: Roman Castrum, Cathedral Skyline and Riverfront Parks |
| Generated | Generated |
Tilt your head back and gaze up at the colossal white steel arch spanning eighty-four meters into the sky above the LANXESS Arena at Willy-Brandt-Platz. Inaugurated in 1998 as the Kölnarena, this futuristic entertainment colosseum is the largest multipurpose indoor arena in the Federal Republic of Germany, with a maximum capacity of twenty thousand spectators for world-class sporting events and international music tours.
Examine the soaring parabolic steel arch that spans the entire building like an enormous handle. Cologne citizens affectionately nicknamed the monumental structure the Henkelmännchen, referring to the traditional metal lunch pails with arched carrying handles once carried by nineteenth-century factory workers. Far from merely decorative, this ingenious arch physically suspends the entire arena roof without internal supporting pillars, guaranteeing perfect sightlines from every seat.
The arena is the celebrated home stadium of the Kölner Haie, or Cologne Sharks, one of the most successful and fiercely supported ice hockey franchises in European sports history. On match nights, over eighteen thousand passionate fans pack the stands, turning the arena into a roaring sea of red and white as the Sharks battle their traditional rivals. The intricate stone carvings and historic architectural details continue to captivate historians and travelers from around the world. Generations of dedicated Cologne residents have cherished this distinctive landmark, preserving its remarkable legacy for the future.
Global music legends from Tina Turner and Prince to Madonna and Metallica have rocked this stage, establishing the venue among the top three best-attended entertainment arenas in the world alongside London's O2 and New York's Madison Square Garden. Walking through these storied avenues offers a profound sense of how Cologne evolved across two millennia of dramatic European history. The harmonious interplay between ancient Rhenish heritage and vibrant contemporary neighborhood culture defines the unforgettable character of this location.
Stroll northward along Justinianstrasse toward Deutz-Mülheimer Strasse to discover the contemporary glass corporate boulevards of MesseCity Cologne.