Bern as a mecca for sports events
The sporting world will be looking to Bern several times in 2016. The European Artistic Gymnastics Championships will take place in the PostFinance Arena from May 25 to June 5. The European Beach Volleyball Championships will also be held in Biel at the beginning of June. Finally, the Tour de France, the most important cycling race in the world, will make a stopover in Bern from July 18 to 20, and the Swiss capital has already been a popular venue for sporting events in the past. The final of the 1954 Football World Cup, for example, which was held in the Wankdorf Stadium, is unforgettable. Germany defeated the highly favored Hungary 3:2 in the so-called "Miracle of Bern" and surprisingly became world champions. The 2008 European Football Championships were also played in Bern. The Swiss capital also hosted the Hockey World Championships in 2009, the European Figure Skating Championships in 2011, the Floorball World Championships in 2012, the European Mountain Bike and Trials Championships in 2013 and the Mixed Curling World Championships in 2015.Modern event locations
The PostFinance Arena in Bern is the largest ice rink in Switzerland and is also in demand for corporate events.It is no coincidence that so many well-known events take place in Bern. The region is characterized by its modern event locations. One example is the PostFinance Arena, which hosts the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships. With over 17,000 seats, it is the largest ice rink in Switzerland and was the main venue for the 2009 Ice Hockey World Championships. The arena was renovated in preparation for this major event. In addition to sporting events, workshops for 4 to 800 people can also be held in this stadium.Climbing in the stadium
The Stade de Suisse in Bern offers facilities for events with 10 to 1200 people.The Stade de Suisse is home to the football club BSC Young Boys and is the second largest stadium in Switzerland with a capacity of over 31,000 spectators. It was completed in 2005 and is not only used for football, but is also a multifunctional event and congress center. From small-scale workshops for 10 people or more to large-scale events for 1,200 people, the stadium offers all kinds of possibilities. The location is also suitable for team events. For example, it is possible to hold a climbing event in the Stade de Suisse. Various courses in the corridors and around the pitch invite you to an exciting mountain sports adventure.Beautiful arena in ThunThe Stockhorn Arena in Thun is somewhat smaller. The home of FC Thun offers space for 10,000 football fans and was opened in 2011. For companies, the smart arena offers seminar rooms in the VIP lounge, for example, with a unique view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains.New jewel in Biel
The latest gem in the canton of Bern is the Tissot Arena in Biel. Opened in summer 2015, the arena is both an ice hockey and a football stadium. The Tissot Arena offers versatile space for event ideas with rooms ranging from 20 m² to 10,000 m².Largest outdoor exhibition area in SwitzerlandFinally, BernExpo is Switzerland's largest open-air exhibition center with space for several tens of thousands of people. Events of all kinds can be held on the premises, from meeting rooms to 5,000-person congresses, from employee events to rock concerts or trade fairs, and there is much to suggest that Bern will remain a mecca for sporting events in the future. The canton's tourism organizations such as "BE! Tourismus AG" are doing their best to offer high-quality services and a warm welcome to guests at sporting events.
