Sign up for IQ Index
The latest industry news to your inbox.
Click the interactive map below to explore 69 market reports
An online directory of 590+ arenas is here
In Bogotá, capital of South America’s fourth-biggest economy, consumer sentiment has turned a little cautious this year, but this key touring stop still has plenty of momentum – as well as providing an object lesson in the power of a good arena.
The 13,000-capacity Movistar Arena, operated by Colombiana de Escenarios – a joint venture between Movistar Arena Chile owner HLR Group and Colombian ticketing market leader Tuboleta – anticipated the ever-expanding South American arena circuit and continues to reap the benefits.
“Right now, we are the number-one venue in Colombia,” says Movistar Arena Colombia general manager Luis Guillermo Quintero. “We set quite a high standard in terms of putting Colombia on the touring map, so whenever an act wants to tour South America, they come to Bogotá, and they come to the Movistar Arena.”
Renovated in 2018 (and formerly known as Coliseo Cubierto El Campín), the venue will bring in 130 shows this year, alongside a further 40 to 50 private and corporate events, and while Quintero notes ticket sales are a little softer than before, he is clear that the market remains strong.
“Inflation here in Colombia is hitting pretty hard, but the big names are selling out, both in stadiums and in arenas,” he says, noting big-selling shows for Karol G and Iron Maiden later this year at Movistar Arena, “but for smaller names or local names, it’s harder.”
“Inflation here in Colombia is hitting pretty hard, but the big names are selling out, both in stadiums and in arenas”
The Movistar is expecting Niall Horan, Juanes (two nights), and André Rieu (five) at the time of writing, among numerous others, and continues to push a sustainable agenda, presenting an orchid, Colombia’s national flower, to every visiting artist and planting 3,000 trees and counting in their name.
The new player in Bogotá is Medplus Coliseum, the baby of Colombian-born US promoter Henry Cardenas, which launched in 2022 with a 20,000-capacity+ main room, more than 750m2 of LED screens, ten loading and unloading docks, and a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces. Roger Waters, Imagine Dragons, and two nights of Luis Miguel were among last year’s highlights, with Marc Anthony, Ana Gabriel, Feid, and Twenty One Pilots all coming later this year.
The second city of Medellín is fast rising, too, and is set to gain a 16,000-capacity multipurpose arena, costing more than
$50.6m, by 2026. Built by CLK Group, the company behind Tuboleta and promoter TBL Live, Arena Primavera is projected to host 600,000 spectators across 75 events each year.
“We are convinced of the potential of the entertainment market in Medellín and [the administrative department of] Antioquia, which has become a musical and cultural reference for the country, a must-stop for national and international artists,” says Hernando Sánchez, CLK general manager. “Therefore, a venue is needed to place the department as a leader in the global arena circuit.”