Velodrom

Pumping thighs, nail-biting sprints and high-speed chases are what make the world-famous Six-Day Race one of the highlights of Berlin’s sporting calendar. The Velodrom is where the exciting races are held, and the 250-metre track is regarded as one of the fastest in the world. The Six-Day Race is the perfect mixture of top-class cycling, musical events and shows, and has a tradition going back more than 100 years.

Sport, concerts and shows

As well as the traditional highlight in January, there’s plenty for fans of other sports to enjoy at the Velodrom, including table tennis, basketball tournaments, motocross and figure skating.

The state-of-the-art circular arena in Prenzlauer Berg is also a venue for shows and concerts. Renowned musicians such as Robbie Williams, The Cure and Aurora have played here in front of up to 12,000 fans.

From a multi-purpose hall to a modern arena

In GDR times, what is now the site of the Velodrom was occupied by the Werner-Seelenbinder-Halle, a multi-purpose hall for sports events, party conferences and concerts. After the old hall was demolished, the Velodrom was completed in 1997. It was originally conceived as part of Berlin’s bid to host the Olympics.

The Velodrom is located beside the swimming and diving centre at the Europasportpark (SSE). Both venues are almost completely sunk into a plateau, so that from outside you can only see the spectacular, wood-panelled roofs, with apple trees growing on them. The inconspicuous exterior belies the actual size of the hall, and in particular the roof structure, which is unique in Europe.

From the circle line to the cycle track

It’s not only the cyclists at the Velodrom who are fast – you can get there quickly too. The arena is directly at Landsberger Allee station on Berlin’s S-Bahn circle line. The Velodrom is also easily reached by tram, only eleven minutes’ ride from Alexanderplatz.

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