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Frankfurt arena plans approved in principle

Long-held hopes for a multifunctional arena in Frankfurt, Germany, have been given a significant boost after the city council approved the plans in principle.

The 15,000-cap venue would host concerts and other events, as well as serving as the home venue for local professional basketball club Skyliners Frankfurt and ice hockey team Löwen Frankfurt.

The proposed site is located next to 51,500-cap stadium Deutsche Bank Park – home to Bundesliga football club Eintracht Frankfurt and a popular concert venue in itself.

“The decision in principle now finally creates the basis for starting planning and implementation,” says Frankfurt lord mayor Mike Josef. “This brings us closer to the actual goal that has been planned for this area for more than 20 years.”

The scheme, which already has planning permission, was backed by the council at a meeting on Friday (17 January) and will now be discussed in parliament before reverting to the authority for the final decision.

“We have been waiting for the construction of a multifunctional hall for over a quarter of a century”

“We have been waiting for the construction of a multifunctional hall for over a quarter of a century,” says Gunnar Wöbke, managing partner of Skyliners Frankfurt. “One of my biggest dreams in life will come true if the city council also votes yes. We can then look to the future with real optimism.”

Frankfurt’s biggest indoor live music venue is currently the 13,500-cap Festhalle. In 2019, one of Canada’s largest private firms, The Katz Group of Companies, revealed its ambition to build the largest indoor arena in Germany next to Frankfurt Airport, but the project stalled.

Separate German arena projects are also underway in Munich, where Bavaria-based developer SWMunich Real Estate is planning a 20,000-cap venue supported by more than €300 million of private sector investment, while a city council-backed 7,000-cap multipurpose complex is on the cards in Würzburg.

 

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DEAG hits the brakes on re-IPO

German live entertainment powerhouse DEAG is postponing its return to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

The group was due to list in Q1 2024 with an offer consisting of a capital increase of €40-50 million, together with an additional offering of existing shares from the holdings of current shareholders.

However, DEAG today (1 February) announced that the management board has decided to continue conversations with investors at a later date as it is “currently in advanced conversations with several acquisition targets in accordance with its growth strategy, particularly in the Ticketing segment”.

The Berlin-headquartered firm first went public in 1998 and delisted in January 2021 in the wake of the pandemic after accepting a takeover offer from its largest single shareholder Apeiron Investment Group and its Malta-based subsidiary Musai Capital.

“The management board has decided to continue conversations with investors at a later date”

The company announced it would re-list on 18 January 2024, adding that the proceeds would be primarily used to further accelerate its growth “in line with its Buy & Build acquisition strategy”, with a focus on “high margin” ticketing businesses and live entertainment opportunities.

According to DEAG, the news was met with “overwhelming positive feedback” and resulted in “numerous conversations with investors on the growth of the company and new entertainment formats”.

DEAG subsidiaries include Kilimanjaro Group (UK), Wizard Promotions (DE), UK Live, My Ticket (DE, AT, UK) and Belladrum Tartan Heart festival (UK). The live entertainment group announced a “consolidation break” in early 2023 after acquiring 15 companies in the previous two and a half years, including Scottish promoter Regular Music, Ireland’s tickets.ie. platform and German festivals Indian Spirit, Classic Open Air and Airbeat One, along with CSB Island Entertainment, Fane Productions, Gigantic.com and C² Concerts.

In its most recent financial results, released last November, DEAG reported a decline in sales from €235.1 million to €213.3m and in EBITDA from €20.3m to €13.8m in the first nine months of the corresponding financial year.

 

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Protests at Roger Waters’ Frankfurt concert

A protester stormed the stage with an Israeli flag during Roger Waters’ contentious concert in Frankfurt last night (28 May).

Frankfurt City Council and the state of Hesse had attempted to block the Festhalle performance, citing allegations of “persistent anti-Israel behaviour” from the former Pink Floyd bassist, who it claimed was “considered one of the most widely spread antisemites in the world”.

However, a German court ruled the gig must be allowed to go ahead, concluding that blocking it would infringe upon the 79-year-old’s free speech rights.

According to The Times of Israel, one protester rushed the stage, while groups of protesters dispersed in the crowd also waved large Israeli flags and briefly sang Am Yisrael Chai (The people of Israel live) while clapping.

Euronews reports that several Jewish groups, politicians and an alliance of civil society groups gathered for a memorial ceremony and a protest rally prior to the concert yesterday evening. The Festhalle was the site of the deportation of 3,000 Jews to their deaths during the Holocaust, just after Kristallnacht.

“Against this historical background, the concert should not have taken place under any circumstances,” says Sacha Stawski, a member of the Frankfurt Jewish community and head of Honestly Concerned, which helped organise the protests.

Waters, who added a string of dates in South America to his This Is Not a Drill Tour last week, took legal action against moves to cancel the show, branding it “unconstitutional”, “without justification, and based upon the false accusation that Roger Waters is antisemitic, which he is not”.

“My recent performance in Berlin has attracted bad faith attacks from those who want to smear and silence me”

Meanwhile, German police are investigating Waters after he wore what appeared to be a Nazi SS uniform during his concert at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin on 17 May. The BBC reports that Waters wore a long black overcoat with a red armband and also aimed an imitation machine gun into the audience. Displaying Nazi symbols is banned in Germany, except for artistic or educational reasons.

“We are investigating on suspicion of incitement to public hatred because the clothing worn on stage could be used to glorify or justify Nazi rule, thereby disturbing the public peace,” says German police spokesman Martin Halweg. “The clothing resembles the clothing of an SS officer.”

Waters has issued a robust defence of his actions.

“My recent performance in Berlin has attracted bad faith attacks from those who want to smear and silence me because they disagree with my political views and moral principles,” he says in a statement. “The elements of my performance that have been questioned are quite clearly a statement in opposition to fascism, injustice, and bigotry in all its forms. Attempts to portray those elements as something else are disingenuous and politically motivated. The depiction of an unhinged fascist demagogue has been a feature of my shows since Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” in 1980.

“I have spent my entire life speaking out against authoritarianism and oppression wherever I see it. When I was a child after the war, the name of Anne Frank was often spoken in our house, she became a permanent reminder of what happens when fascism is left unchecked. My parents fought the Nazis in World War II, with my father paying the ultimate price.

“Regardless of the consequences of the attacks against me, I will continue to condemn injustice and all those who perpetrate it.”

 

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Wizard sells 250k tickets for summer rock shows

Germany’s Wizard Promotions has revealed it has sold more than 250,000 tickets for heavy rock shows this summer.

The Frankfurt-based promoter’s run of dates kicks off this weekend with rock veterans Scorpions, who bring their Rock Believer tour to Dortmund’s Westfalenhalle on Sunday 14 May, followed by arena gigs in Mannheim, Hannover, Stuttgart and Berlin.

Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe will follow at the end of May, with concerts by Iron Maiden and Papa Roach coming up in June alongside Kiss, who will mark their German swansong with five farewell shows, concluding at Cologne’s Lanxess Arena on 2 July.

“It will certainly be an emotional moment to see the band leave the big stages in Germany for the last time after so many decades of working together, but we are all the more looking forward to working on new topics and artists that we are already familiar with will employ in the future,” says Wizard MD Oliver Hoppe.

“Concerts and spectacular stage programs are irreplaceable”

Wizard Promotions has announced 300 shows across all genres for 2023, also including the likes of Ingrid Andress, Larkin Poe and Ane Brun, while debut tours are currently being planned with Awfultune and SKAAR,

In addition, Wizard is expanding its country music division to showcase artists such as Luke Combs, Kane Brown, Jon Pardi, Sean McConnell and Morgan Wade.

“Every artist and every band that belongs to us has their own idea of ​​where we want to go with them,” adds Hoppe. “Above all, we know everyone personally and they know us. I’m at at least one show with every group that we have on the street, especially with young bands.”

Hoppe concludes: “Concerts and spectacular stage programs are irreplaceable. Live experiences are a cultural asset that we love – and which was sorely missed, not least by the fans, during the pandemic. Loud guitars, choirs from the crowd of spectators , but also the quiet, intimate show moments are finally back and the longing for them is great.”

 

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Roger Waters vows to play Frankfurt gig

Roger Waters says he is pressing ahead with his planned Frankfurt performance next month, despite the city’s attempts to cancel the show.

Waters’ Festhalle date on 28 May, which forms part of the German leg of his This Is Not a Drill tour, has become shrouded in controversy over allegations of antisemitism levelled against the 79-year-old Pink Floyd co-founder.

A statement issued by Frankfurt City Council said: “The background to the cancellation is the persistent anti-Israel behaviour of the former Pink Floyd frontman, who is considered one of the most widely spread antisemites in the world.

“He repeatedly called for a cultural boycott of Israel and drew comparisons to the apartheid regime in South Africa, and put pressure on artists to cancel events in Israel.”

However, an update posted on Waters’ Instagram page indicates the concert will proceed as scheduled.

Frankfurt Council were legally required to respond to Roger Waters’ interim injunction by midnight April 14. Did they? Nobody knows”

“Frankfurt Council were legally required to respond to Roger Waters’ interim injunction by midnight April 14. Did they? Nobody knows,” says the post. “We can only guess at what’s going on in Frankfurt. Are they playing for time? Who knows? Not that it matters much. We’re coming anyway! Because human rights matter! Because free speech matters!”

Waters said last month that he was taking legal action, describing the moves to cancel the concert as “unconstitutional”, as well as “without justification, and based upon the false accusation that Roger Waters is antisemitic, which he is not”.

American journalist Katie Halper launched a petition last month, backed by a raft of high-profile signatories, demanding for Waters’ upcoming concerts in Germany to be allowed to go ahead. Almost 35,000 people have now signed the petition including artists Eric Clapton, Brian Eno, Nick Mason, Peter Gabriel and Tom Morello.

“We artists, musicians, writers, and other public figures and organisations are deeply disturbed by the recent efforts by German officials to discredit and silence musician Roger Waters,” it reads.

“Officials in Germany, concert organisers, and music platforms must not succumb to the pressure of those individuals and groups who would rather see Waters’ music removed than engage with the issues his music highlights. We call on those who have cancelled Waters’ concerts to reverse their decisions.”

 

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Artists support Roger Waters over German gig ban

Artists including Eric Clapton, Brian Eno, Nick Mason, Peter Gabriel and Tom Morello are among more than 10,000 people to have signed a petition demanding for Roger Waters’ upcoming concerts in Germany to be allowed to go ahead.

Waters was scheduled to perform at Munich’s Olympiahalle and Festhalle Frankfurt on 21 and 28 May, respectively, as part of the German leg of his This Is Not a Drill tour.

However, the dates have become shrouded in controversy, with Munich City Council and the city of Frankfurt attempting to block the Pink Floyd co-founder from performing over allegations of antisemitism.

In response, Waters said last week that he is taking legal action over the “unconstitutional” move, which he says is “without justification, and based upon the false accusation that Roger Waters is antisemitic, which he is not”.

“Mr Waters believes that if this blatant attempt to silence him is left unchallenged it could have serious, far-reaching consequences for artists and activists all over the world,” concluded the statement issued by the 79-year-old’s management.

“We… are deeply disturbed by the recent efforts by German officials to discredit and silence musician Roger Waters”

Launched by American journalist Katie Halper, the new petition is backed by a raft of high-profile signatories also including intellectual Noam Chomsky, actor Susan Sarandon, film directors Ken Loach and Terry Gilliam, and musician Robert Wyatt.

“We artists, musicians, writers, and other public figures and organisations are deeply disturbed by the recent efforts by German officials to discredit and silence musician Roger Waters,” it reads.

“The Frankfurt City Council says that they cancelled Waters’ concert ‘set a clear signal against anti-Semitism’, describing the musician as ‘one of the most widely spread anti-Semites in the world’. As evidence, the council says that Waters ‘repeatedly called for a cultural boycott of Israel and drew comparisons to the apartheid regime in South Africa and put pressure on artists to cancel events in Israel’.

“There is no other evidence other than these two claims: that Waters has supported the Palestinian-led cultural boycott of Israel campaign and that he has compared contemporary Israel’s government to the apartheid regime in South Africa. Neither of these claims is unique to Waters or outside the boundaries of mainstream public opinion.”

It concludes: “Officials in Germany, concert organisers, and music platforms must not succumb to the pressure of those individuals and groups who would rather see Waters’ music removed than engage with the issues his music highlights. We call on those who have cancelled Waters’ concerts to reverse their decisions.”

 

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Roger Waters takes legal action over axed gigs

Roger Waters is taking legal action over moves to cancel his upcoming concerts in Frankfurt and Munich.

The Pink Floyd co-founder was scheduled to perform in Germany at Barclays Arena in Hamburg (7 May), Cologne’s Lanxess Arena (9 May), Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin (17-18 May), Munich’s Olympiahalle (21 May) and Festhalle Frankfurt (28 May) as part of his This Is Not a Drill tour.

However, the dates have become shrouded in controversy, with the city of Frankfurt attempting to block Waters from performing over allegations of antisemitism. The site is also of historical significance as Jewish Telegraph Agency notes that the Festhalle was the site of the deportation of 3,000 Jews to their deaths during the Holocaust, just after Kristallnacht.

A statement issued by Frankfurt City Council says: “The background to the cancellation is the persistent anti-Israel behaviour of the former Pink Floyd frontman, who is considered one of the most widely spread antisemites in the world.

“He repeatedly called for a cultural boycott of Israel and drew comparisons to the apartheid regime in South Africa, and put pressure on artists to cancel events in Israel.”

Munich City Council is also looking to ban the 79-year-old from performing in the city, alleging that he “keeps stirring up antisemitic resentment”, as well as “spreading conspiracy ideologies that relativise and justify Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine”.

“Mr Waters has instructed his lawyers to immediately take all necessary steps to overturn this unjustifiable decision”

However, through a statement issued by his management, Waters has hit back at the “unconstitutional” course of action, which he says is “without justification, and based upon the false accusation that Roger Waters is antisemitic, which he is not”.

“As a result of this unilateral, politically motivated action, Mr Waters has instructed his lawyers to immediately take all necessary steps to overturn this unjustifiable decision to ensure that his fundamental human right of freedom of speech is protected and that all of those who wish to see him perform, are free to do so in Frankfurt, Munich and in any other city in any other country,” reads the statement.

“Mr Waters believes that if this blatant attempt to silence him is left unchallenged it could have serious, far-reaching consequences for artists and activists all over the world.”

Last month, a cross-party group of politicians in Germany joined forces to demand the cancellation of Waters’ Cologne date due to his comments on the war in Ukraine. Two scheduled concerts by Waters at Tauron Arena in Krakow, Poland, were cancelled last year over the same issue.

Subsequently invited by Moscow to address the UN Security Council via video link last month, Waters used the platform to condemn Russia’s “illegal” invasion of Ukraine “in the strongest possible terms”, but repeated his claim that it “was not unprovoked, so I also condemn the provocateurs in the strongest possible terms”.

 

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Inside the busiest stadium in Europe

Germany’s Deutsche Bank Park was the busiest stadium in Europe for concerts this summer – and is set for an even better 2023, according to management.

Home of Bundesliga football club Eintracht Frankfurt, the 51,500-cap venue (44,000 for concerts) drew combined crowds of 800,000 to its 18 gigs – more than any other stadium in Europe – including shows by Coldplay (two), Ed Sheeran (three), Iron Maiden, and Elton John.

It also hosted the inaugural edition of the continent’s largest K-pop festival Kpop.Flex in May, with organisers reporting that more than 70,000 tickets were sold in 84 countries.

“The summer 2022 of course benefited from postponed shows from 2020 and 2021, which finally happened this year,” Eintracht Frankfurt Stadion MD Patrik Meyer tells IQ. “But we were able to add quite a lot of new shows as well and we are very proud that we were part of the development of the first K-pop Festival in a European stadium – something we worked on for years and that could finally happen in May 2022.”

Kpop.Flex will return to the Frankfurt venue for a second edition from 17-18 June next year. It also shows on sale by Depeche Mode (29 June & July 1), German singer Herman Gronemeyer (2 June) and “the biggest club in the world”, BigCityBeats World Club Dome, from 9-11 June.

“The bookings for 2023 are very good and we continue projects like Kpop.Flex, World Club Dome and Monster Jam”

“2023 looks even better than 2022,” says Meyer. “The bookings for 2023 are very good and we continue projects like Kpop.Flex, World Club Dome and Monster Jam. With those events, we already fill six days on a yearly or at least regular basis.

“We are looking forward to work with our promoters and partners next year after our record summer this year. In 2023, we will act as a promoter for three shows and as a major project we will be hosting a NFL game in November – a project we won through a tough tender process and that we are delighted about. It is important is, of course, that we provide a full heavy load pitch cover as well as many ‘promoter-friendly’ facilities in our stadium, making it ‘ready to go’ for shows of any kind.”

The stadium is featured as part of the Germany market report in the latest issue of IQ, out now, and Meyer suggests its ability to diversity has been central to its success.

“Since we started as an operator for the stadium in Frankfurt we were always driven to have as many events as possible,” he explains. “In that sense, we tried to be a good and reliable partner for promoters and agencies. We also did our own event development for things like the Handball World Record or the Orchestra World Record, which allows us to understand the needs and challenges maybe a bit more than other operators.

“Creating ideas for events and approaching partners with those concept is something we do all the time. Sometimes we are laughed at – sometimes we initiate something new – we keep going anyway.”

 

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The LGBTIQ+ List 2022: Can Büyükcinar, Wizard Promotions

The LGBTIQ+ List 2022 – IQ Magazine’s second annual celebration of queer professionals who make an immense impact in the international live music business – was published in the Pride edition (issue 112) this month.

The July 2022 issue, which is available to read now, was made possible thanks to support from Ticketmaster. 

To get to know this year’s queer pioneers a little better, we interviewed each individual on their challenges, triumphs, advice and more.

Throughout the next month, IQ will publish a new interview each day. Catch up on the previous interview with Alexandra Ampofo, promoter at Live Nation-owned Metropolis.

The series continues with Can Büyükcinar (he/him/his), head of operations at Wizard Promotions in Germany.

 

Tell us about a personal triumph in your career
Of course, I could mention the biggest shows and tours that I have contributed to so far, but actually it was the past two years that showed me that, even under the most adverse circumstances in our industry, I managed to make the best out of the given situation. We made it through this pandemic craziness by developing our company, employing new digital processes and even relocating our entire office to a new, stylish site in the heart of Frankfurt.

What advice could you give to young queer professionals?
From time to time, this business can be tough as hell and some of the old hands in the industry might think your opinion is not as valuable, particularly if they cling to prejudices. Don’t let them get you down, be calm, do your thing and prove them wrong! They might not say anything, but they will realise how wrong their assumptions were.

Tell us about a professional challenge you’ve come across as a queer person in the industry.
I am afraid most of us queer people can relate to Kelly Clarkson’s What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger. But gladly, I was never subject to direct discrimination in my industry experience so far. Of course, the live industry was and sometimes is a place with very patriarchic-dominated structures and old boy beliefs, but my growing up in a low-income Muslim society in Berlin gave me the toolbox to overcome these biases.

“Growing up in a low-income Muslim society in Berlin gave me the toolbox to overcome these biases”

One thing the live industry could do to be a more inclusive place
I think it is vital that we (and privileged individuals, in particular) step in and speak up whenever we observe unacceptable and discriminatory behaviour such as misogynistic comments. Secondly, representation matters, and we should not underestimate the influence diverse bookings can have. It might require some courage, but it is not only the morally fair strategy – there’s obviously a business case to cater to more diverse audiences.

A cause you support
I feel deeply connected to Kreuzberger Kinderstiftung, a Berlin-based charity that promotes educational equality. Eleven years ago, I received a scholarship through them and therefore experienced myself how impactful it can be to provide opportunities for young people.

The queer act you’re itching to see live this year
I am quite impressed by Lil Nas X’s artistic music videos, so I’m excited to see him in Berlin later this year.

Your favourite queer space
My favourite queer spaces are not specific venues but the audiences of artists who are supportive of the queer community, such as Adele, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Harry Styles, Beyoncé or Cher. Listening to great pop live performances, surrounded by a queer audience – that is a real happy place for me.

 

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Europe’s first K-pop fest sold 70,000+ tickets

Europe’s first K-pop festival reportedly sold more than 70,000 tickets in 84 countries.

Staged by K-Pop Europa in partnership with PK Events and Korean broadcaster SBS Television Network, the 44,000-capacity Kpop.Flex festival took place at the Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany, over the weekend (14–15 May).

Due to the huge demand for the event, the organisers have already gone on sale with a second edition, set for 17–18 June 2023 at the Frankfurt arena.

K-Pop Europa is also planning to expand its brand with other new dates and locations over the coming year via a partnership between the UK’s Live Company Group and Germany’s Explorado Group.

A statement from the agencies says: “South Korea is now the seventh largest music market in the world, and audiences for K-Pop are growing at an explosive rate. The high demand for KPop.Flex tickets and the rising star profile in Western media show that the K-Pop wave is not going to ebb away.”

Kpop.Flex featured live performances from acts including EXO member Kai, AB6IX, (G)I-DLE, NCT Dream, Enhypen, Mamamoo, Monsta X and IVE.

The event also featured a Korea Festival, a fan fest arranged by the Korean Tourism Organisation with food stalls and special presentations of Korean music and cultural assets.

While the in-person event is over, the organisers are gearing up for a ticketed global live stream of the event on 29 May.

For €14.95, ticket buyers can enjoy a 90-minute ‘digital experience’ and participate in fan-exclusive group chats.

“South Korea is now the seventh largest music market in the world, and audiences for K-Pop are growing at an explosive rate”

K-Pop Europa isn’t the only promoter bringing K-pop to Europe. It was recently announced that TEG MJR is to promote the UK’s first-ever K-pop festival, taking place in London this summer.

HallyuPopFest, previously held in Singapore in 2018 and 2019, is scheduled for 9 and 10 July at OVO Arena Wembley (cap. 12,500).

According to a new report, more than 2.8 million fans are forecast to attend K-pop events outside of Korea in 2022.

South Korea-based financial investment company Hyundai Motor Securities (HMS) projects that acts represented by management firm HYBE, such as BTS, Tomorrow X Together and Enhypen, will draw 1.27m concertgoers outside their homeland on their own.

South Korea’s capital city, Seoul, is also gearing up for growing demand for the genre, with the development of two new arenas dedicated to K-pop.

K-pop, media giant CJ ENM and AEG have begun construction on an arena in the capital’s Goyang City, slated to open in 2024.

The venue, dubbed CJ LiveCity Arena, is reportedly designed to accommodate 20,000 indoor attendees, with the capacity to extend to another 40,000 outdoors.

Meanwhile, South Korean IT giant Kakao and the Seoul metropolitan government will start building a K-pop arena in Seoul’s northern Dobong district, this June.

Expected to be complete in October 2025, Seoul Arena will reportedly include a concert venue boasting state-of-the-art sound equipment, with a seating capacity of around 19,000 and a maximum capacity of 28,000 for standing events.

 

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