Farmasi Arena
| Company type | Indoor arena |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports and entertainment venue |
| Founded | July 2007 |
| Headquarters | Rio de Janeiro , Brazil |
Area served | Brazil |
Key people | GL events (manager) |
| Products | Sporting events, concerts, esports tournaments |
Farmasi Arena is a versatile indoor venue situated in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It stands as one of the largest indoor facilities in the nation, accommodating up to 15,430 spectators for sporting events and expanding capacity to 18,768 for concert audiences.
The current name was adopted following a naming rights deal in 2024 with Farmasi, a Turkish cosmetics brand. Before this, from 2017 until 2023, the arena was sponsored by the American cosmetics company Jeunesse Global, and prior to that by the British financial institution HSBC. The facility was completed in July 2007 and was originally known as Arena Olímpica do Rio during the 2016 Olympic Games. Between December 2007 and March 2008, as well as during the gap between Jeunesse Global's and Farmasi's sponsorships, it operated under the designation RioArena.
Sports
Constructed initially to host basketball and gymnastics competitions for the 2007 Pan American Games, the arena has been managed by GL events since December 2007. This company also oversees the nearby Riocentro Convention Center and Sports Complex, broadening the arena’s function to include concerts and significant public events. In March 2008, a naming rights agreement with HSBC led to the venue being renamed HSBC Arena.
The site has been the stage for numerous prestigious sports occasions. Notably, it marked UFC’s return to Brazil with UFC 134: Silva vs. Okami in August 2011 and hosted eight additional UFC events through 2024. The arena also featured NBA preseason games: Chicago Bulls versus Washington Wizards in 2013 and Cleveland Cavaliers against Miami Heat in 2014 as part of NBA Global Games. Additionally, it was the location for the 2014 FIBA Intercontinental Cup contested by Flamengo and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
During the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, the arena served as the gymnastics competition site and later accommodated wheelchair basketball during the Paralympic Games. In the esports domain, it hosted several major tournaments including the 2017 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational, the Season 8 Pro League finals for Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege in 2018, and in November 2022, it presented the Champions Stage of IEM Rio Major 2022—the first Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major held within Brazil and South America.
Concerts
The arena was the final stop for Queen + Paul Rodgers on their Rock the Cosmos Tour on November 29, 2008. Demi Lovato performed here during her South American Tour on May 27, 2010. Miley Cyrus gave her inaugural Brazilian concert at this location on May 13, 2011, as part of her Gypsy Heart Tour.
On March 27, 2011, an incident occurred during an Iron Maiden concert when a security barrier collapsed early in their performance; consequently, the event was postponed. Attendees were offered tickets to a rescheduled show or full refunds.
Other prominent performers who have appeared at this venue include Beyoncé, Amy Winehouse, Now United, Ariana Grande, Green Day, Ed Sheeran, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Radiohead, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Twenty One Pilots.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Indoor arenas in Brazil
- HSBC buildings and structures
- Sports venues in Rio de Janeiro (city)
- Venues of the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Olympic gymnastics venues
- Sports venues completed in 2007
- Mixed martial arts venues in Brazil
- Basketball venues in Brazil
- Volleyball venues in Brazil
- Barra Olympic Park
- Judo venues