Grand Arena Bordeaux, Entertainment arena in Floirac, France
Arkéa Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Floirac, near Bordeaux, designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti to resemble a pebble left on the shore by the Garonne. Its curved off-white concrete facade sweeps upward and carries the name "ARKEA ARENA" in dark block letters above rows of horizontal rectangular openings; the base is glazed with dark panels between thick vertical supports. Capacity ranges from 2,500 to 11,300 depending on the event.
Construction started in 2016 and the venue opened in 2018, marked by an opening concert from Depeche Mode. The project realized architect Rudy Ricciotti's vision for the Garonne riverbank.
The name comes from Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, which bought the naming rights for ten years on 3 October 2018; before that it was the Bordeaux Métropole Arena. Since June 2018, guided "Arena Tours" open the backstage on days without shows. The Cirque du Soleil brought its production "Ovo" in November 2018, with 28,000 spectators over seven performances.
On event days a shuttle bus runs from Porte de Bourgogne, a stop on the Bordeaux tramway network, starting about two hours before the show and ending roughly an hour after it finishes. The TBM network also serves the arena, reached from the ring road via its interchanges. A paid car park of 962 spaces adjoins the venue, and a VCUB bike station with 20 docking points plus 500 bicycle spaces stand nearby.
Architect Rudy Ricciotti designed the building to resemble a pebble left on the shore by the Garonne, which flows alongside the arena. The pale concrete facade carries the name "ARKEA ARENA" in dark letters above rows of rectangular openings.
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