Mannheim – There is a sporting and cultural gold rush in Mannheim at the moment because – with the help of Drees & Sommer – one of the city’s dreams is taking shape in a very modern form: the Arena Mannheim. The groundbreaking ceremony on December 9, 2002 marked the beginning of construction of the largest multifunctional arena in Baden-Württemberg. And already – long before the Adler-Mannheim (Mannheim Eagles) hockey team speed on to the ice for the first time, there’s music in the air, or Olympic Gold gleams – records are being broken. A high-tech hall with a gross volume of 403,000 cubic meters is taking shape which, at a price of Euro 80 million, is the last word in ecological operation. This is being ensured by Drees & Sommer’s project management team and technical & economic controlling. Says Drees & Sommer General Manager Thomas Jaißle of the hall: “Its utilization concept and the innovative building services technology make it ideal for events of all types.”. One example: Drees & Sommer found an environmentally compatible solution for operation of the ice arena during ice-hockey games. And afterwards, the arena can be changed, as required, to a forum for theater, boxing, riding, tennis or for major cultural events with up to 15,000 visitors. Financing is being undertaken by co-founder of SAP, Dietmar Hopp who, together with his son Daniel Hopp, owns the Adler Mannheim hockey team. In addition to the arena, he will be creating VIP boxes, a business club, a terrace restaurant, and a team pub for Adler fans. Drees & Sommer is there to ensure that that the project stays on budget and on schedule as the ambitious plans take shape – ensuring that the visitors can stream into the arena as planned in Spring 2005.

Drees & Sommer
December 13, 2002