Arena
The industrial charm of the past is still present in the walls of the building. Today, graffiti adorns the old brick walls, while modern technical equipment guarantees unique concert experiences in a subcultural atmosphere - almost on a daily basis. In 1976, the former slaughterhouse was occupied by activists, who were campaigning for a rescue of the area and its use as a location for youth culture, alternative culture and counterculture. More than 200,000 people are purported to have visited the premises during the occupation and Leonhard Cohen was not the only singer to describe the area as the "best place in Vienna".
Today, the Arena is Austria's largest alternative culture and communication center. The range of events is enormous: Big names from the international music scene, such as Sonic Youth, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Arctic Monkeys, have already stood on the stage of the large hall. With the Dreiraum and the small hall, the Arena also has two more stages, which offer the ideal setting for smaller concerts and artistic ideas. During the summer months, the approx. 400 square meter lawn area in the courtyard of the Arena becomes one of the most beautiful open-air venues in Austria. In the unique ambience of the old slaughterhouse, the Arena summer cinema also shows a selection of alternative film highlights every year.
