From Sportpaleis to AFAS Dome: An icon through the ages

A dream in concrete and steel

In the late 1920s, a group of visionaries in Antwerp dreamed of an indoor cycling track unlike any other. Not just a track, but the largest in Europe, crowned with a roof that defied gravity without a single supporting pillar. On January 11, 1932, the first stone was laid in Merksem for an ambitious structure: 88 meters wide, 132 meters long, and a roof spanning 11,600 m²—a feat never before seen in construction. Just 21 months later, on September 11, 1933, the Sportpaleis opened its doors, despite countless challenges with contractors overwhelmed by the scale of the project.

The glory days of the Six-Day Races

From 1934 to 1983 (with an unsuccessful revival attempt in 1987), the Sportpaleis became legendary for its Six-Day cycling races. Champions like Ronsse, Kaers, Van Steenbergen, Merckx, Sercu, De Vlaeminck, and Maertens raced on its 250-meter wooden track. The venue also hosted boxing matches, gymnastics, basketball, figure skating, and ice hockey. Starting in 1934, the Flemish National Song Festival became a fixture here.

World War II left deep scars. Bombs, shells, and shrapnel battered the building. A bomb even struck the roof but failed to explode. The track lay in ruins, the hall severely damaged.

From sports to spectacle

After liberation, a new course was set. Sports alone could no longer cover the repair costs. The Sportpaleis transformed into a stage for grand shows and international stars: Wiener Eisrevues, Harlem Globetrotters, Holiday on Ice, Disney on Parade, Russian dance ensembles, the Moscow Circus… Later came music legends: Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Prince. Sports remained with boxing, the 1969 World Cycling Championship, the Antwerp Jumping (from 1975), and the prestigious ECC Tennis Tournament (1982).

Hard times and Night of the Proms

City 7, organizer of the ECC Tennis Tournament, took over the financially struggling Sportpaleis from the De Winter family. The 1980s saw new classics emerge: Night of the Proms (1985), the Diamond Awards Festival, and The Golden Years. Night of the Proms, created by students Jan Van Esbroeck and Jan Vereecke, quickly became a staple event. Yet decline continued. Despite government support, bankruptcy followed in April 1996. Curators turned to Van Esbroeck and Vereecke to temporarily manage the venue.

Revival and renewal

In 1997, the Antwerp Provincial Government and private partner ASB (with participation from Night of the Proms) purchased the Sportpaleis. Operations shifted to Antwerps Sportpaleis NV, including PSE-Belgium (Van Esbroeck and Vereecke), Ahoy Rotterdam, On the Rox (Herman Schueremans), and MOJO. The “Grand Old Lady” underwent a facelift: safety upgrades, a new front building (1999), a Hospitality Center (2005), and a striking blue energy roof (2010). Inside, renovations continued: a new balcony (2011), permanent stands (2012), and the removal of the cycling track (2013). Capacity grew to 23,001 visitors, and accessibility improved significantly.

From Sportpaleis Group to be•at

The Sportpaleis became Belgium’s largest event hall and part of Sportpaleis Group, later renamed be•at. The group expanded with acquisitions: Trixxo Arena and Trixxo Theater in Hasselt (2012), Forest National (2013), Stadsschouwburg Antwerpen and Capitole Gent (2014). Thanks to this dynamic approach, be•at became a trusted name in the event industry.

A new chapter: AFAS Dome

Since September 1, 2025, this iconic venue proudly bears the name AFAS Dome, marking a long-term partnership with AFAS Software. This collaboration promises innovation: smart technologies, enhanced facilities, immersive spaces, and an exclusive VIP zon e. AFAS and be•at share a vision that blends progress with respect for history—a future where every concert and event writes a new chapter in this legendary story.