The Swiss Life Hall is an events venue in Hannover’s “Sportpark.” Visit this popular live music arena at night for a rock or pop concert, or attend a trade show or book or art fair at the weekend.
Until recently, the Swiss Life Hall was known as the AWD Hall. The building was originally designed as an indoor sports venue and opened its doors as the “Stadionsporthalle” in 1964. The Swiss Life Hall still hosts sports games, but now also includes cultural and trade shows on its events calendar.
The hall is an unassuming brick building in a sports park overlooking the Maschsee, a recreational lake in central Hannover. The low-set building may look simple from an architectural point of view, but it’s what happens inside that makes it shine.
Music lovers from all over the Lower Saxony region feel right at home here. They often say that the Swiss Life Hall has better acoustics than the city’s bigger concert arenas. The Swiss Life Hall can hold around 5,800 people, with a combination of seating and standing places available during concerts. There is a canteen as well, so grab a typical German bratwürst with fried onions in a bun or a quick pizza before the start of the show if you are feeling hungry.
The big hall is easily converted to host a wide range of events, with plenty of room for extra seating and stalls in the central hall. Some come here mainly for theater shows, stand-up comedy acts and musicals, while others may know the building primarily as a regional trade show and corporate events building.
The Swiss Life Hall is located in Mitte, the central district of Hannover. Charges apply for most events and you can book tickets online. The venue is easily reached by public transportation because it is so close to the HDI Arena and Schützenplatz, two other major events venues. You can also park for free in one of the “Park-and-Ride” (P+R) lots on the city’s fringe and from there take public transportation to Mitte. There are several commercial parking garages near the hall, for those happy to pay for parking.
