Karen Demirchyan Complex
| Կարեն Դեմիրճյանի անվան մարզահամերգային համալիր | |
 | |
 The main entrance to the complex | |
| Location | Tsitsernakaberd hill, Yerevan, Armenia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°11′17″N 44°29′00″E / 40.18806°N 44.48333°ECoordinates: 40°11′17″N 44°29′00″E / 40.18806°N 44.48333°E |
| Owner | Government of Armenia |
| Operator | Ministry of Defence |
| Capacity |
Sports Hall: 8,008 seats Concerts Hall: 2,008 seats |
| Construction | |
| Opened | October 31, 1983 |
| Renovated | 2005–2008, reopened October 31, 2008 |
| Construction cost | US$ 47.7 million for renovations |
| Architect |
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| Website | |
| http://www.scc.am/ | |
Officially Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex (Armenian: Կարեն Դեմիրճյանի անվան մարզահամերգային համալիր), also known as Demirchyan Arena, Sports & Music Complex, or simply Hamalir (for complex in Armenian), is a large sports and concert complex with 184 stairs leading up Tsitsernakaberd hill which dominates over the western parts of Yerevan, near the Hrazdan River gorge. The complex consists of two main halls; the Concerts hall and the Sports hall, in addition to the large foyer, Hayastan conference hall and Argishti hall designated for diplomatic meetings, exhibitions and other events.
In August 2015 the government of the Republic of Armenia decided to sell the complex to a private firm with plans to renovate the complex and turn it into a "family-oriented center".
History
The complex was opened in 1983 but forced to close within a year and a half after a fire in 1985.[1] A renovation process took place until the end of 1987 when it was ready again to host concerts and sport events. The complex was designed by a group of Armenian architects: A. Tarkhanian, S. Khachikyan, G. Pogosyan and G. Mushegyan. The construction process was supervised by engineers: Hamlet Badalyan (chief engineer) and I. Tsaturian, A. Azizian and M. Aharonian.
In 1990 Ian Gillan's band has played concerts there. 32nd Chess Olympiad also took place at Demirchyan complex.
In 1999, shortly after the assassination of the former speaker of the Armenian parliament Karen Demirchyan in the Armenian parliament shooting, the complex was renamed in honour of him, for his contribution in the construction and the renovation of the complex during the Soviet era.
On October 9, 2005, the complex was sold for US$5.7 million. The contract was signed between the Armenian Government and the Russian BAMO Holding Company. Murad Muradian, an Armenian from Moscow, the head of the BAMO holding, attempted to gain the support of Yerevan citizens who were hesitant about the privatization of the building. Two conditions were put forward by Armenian president Robert Kocharian: The name of the complex must not be changed and it must preserve its functional meaning. The organization agreed to these conditions and a commitment to make an investment of nearly 10 million US dollars was envisaged for the upcoming 3 years.[2]
The renovation process took almost 3 years and its cost grew up to 42 million US dollars, thus turning the complex to a modern and a high level sports and concerts arena.
On October 31, 2008,[3] exactly after 25 years of its first inauguration, the second opening ceremony of the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex took place with the presence of president Serzh Sargsyan, catholicos Karekin II, Karen Demirchyan's son Stepan Demirchyan and widow Rima, and a huge crowd of Yerevan's residents. Song concerts and ice skating shows were included in the ceremony. The Russian figure skating legend Evgeni Plushenko was the surprise guest and performer of the day.
In August 2014, due to the accumulated debts of the owners, the Government of Armenia transferred the ownership of the complex to the Ministry of Defense.[4]
In August 2015, the government of the Republic of Armenia decided to sell the complex to NTAA Investment Group LLC, which planned to spend 4 years turning the complex into a "family-oriented center" that will include "hotels, [an] indoor waterpark, concert halls, meeting rooms, restaurants, shops and a casino."[5]
General information
The complex has a unique design, an outside view of the whole construction reminds the shape a big bird opening its wings. Its architectural concepts include a turning tribune of 1,008 seats, that can rapidly connect the two big halls to reveal additional seating, a concept for which the architects were awarded the USSR State Prize, the highest of its kind, in 1987.
Currently, the sports hall is mostly used for figure skating shows and events all around the year. It was also the home of World Youth Boxing Championship in May 2009.
Events
After its renovation in 2008, the sports hall hosted a concert of one of the most renowned singers of Armenia and Armenian Diaspora, Harout Pamboukjian, while the concerts hall hosted the celebration concert of the 80th anniversary of the worldwide known Armenian musician and composer Djivan Gasparyan with songs and plays performed by Flora Martirosyan, Peter Gabriel, Pedro Eustache, Alan Parsons Project, Boris Grebenshchikov and others. The complex has also hosted many concerts performed by Paul Baghdadlian, André, Hayko, Arman Hovhannisyan and other Armenian singers.
- On 22 March 2009 the Canadian singer Garou performed at a concert in the sports hall.[6] within the frames of the Francophonie Days in Armenia.[7]
- On 22 May 2009 British rock band Jethro Tull performed a concert in the sports hall.[8]
- On 16 October 2009 the concerts hall was crowded with rock fans who came to enjoy the performance of the British rock band Uriah Heep.
- During April, 2010, the arena hosted the 2010 IIHF World Championship (Division III) ice hockey tournament, where the Armenian team took a silver medal for Division III play after losing in the finals against North Korea.
- On 25 May 2010 the English rock band Deep Purple performed a charity concert with more than 10,000 fans filled the arena. The concert was a benefit performance, with proceeds going towards the construction of a music school in Gyumri, devastated by the 1988 earthquake.[9]
- On 12 August 2010 the Armenian-American rock singer Serj Tankian of the System of a Down, performed at the complex.[10]
- On 26 October 2010 Joe Cocker performed a concert in the concert hall.
- On 18 March 2011 international singer Lara Fabian performed at a concert in the sports hall within the frames of the Francophone Days in Armenia.
- On 3 September 2011 Vic Darchinyan defended his IBO bantamweight title beating Evans Mbamba during a fight of 12 rounds.
- On 3 December 2011 the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2011 was held in the sports hall.[11]
- On 10 September 2012 Armenian rock-band Dorians among with special guests Glenn Hughes and Derek Sherinian gave a joint concert.
- In June 2013 Russian rock-band DDT, while being first time in Armenia, performed a concert in the concert hall.
See also
References
- ↑ "Yerevak magazine". Yerevak.am. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
- ↑ "The site of Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex". Hamalir Demirchyan Arena. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
- ↑ "Panorama news Armenia". Panorama.am. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
- ↑ Hamalir transfer
- ↑ "Yerevan's Sports & Concerts Complex to be sold to private firm". PanARMENIAN.net. 2015-08-13. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
- ↑ "Panorama News Armenia:Garou visiting Armenia". Panorama news. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
- ↑ "Armenia Info news & events: Garou "It is a great honour and pleasure for me to sing in Yerevan"". Armenia Info. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
- ↑ Setlist of Jethro Tull's concert
- ↑ "Latest news: Armenian Leaders Bang Heads at Deep Purple Concert". Eurasianet.org. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
- ↑ "Seferian: Tanking Up on Music and Activism: Serj Tankian in Yerevan". Armenianweekly.com. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
- ↑ Siim, Jarmo (2011-01-18). "Armenia to host Junior Eurovision in 2011". EBU. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
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