Expo Tel Aviv

Expo Tel Aviv
Pavilion 1 (Central) in October 2014.
Address 101 Rokach Boulevard
Location Tel Aviv, Israel
Coordinates 32°06′19″N 34°48′31″E / 32.10528°N 34.80861°E / 32.10528; 34.80861Coordinates: 32°06′19″N 34°48′31″E / 32.10528°N 34.80861°E / 32.10528; 34.80861
Owner Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality
Operator The Israel Trade Fairs & Convention Center Ltd.
Architect Aryeh Elhanani
Opened 1959
Renovated 2011 (Pavilion 10)
Expanded 1983, 2003 (Pavilion 1)
2015 (Pavilion 2)
Demolished 2010 (1959 pavilion)
Former names
Israel Trade Fairs and Convention Center
Tel Aviv Convention Center (2014–18)
Theatre seating
6,090 (360° stage) (Pavilion 1)[1]
9,628 (360° stage) (Pavilion 2)[2]
Enclosed space
  Total space 75 acres (30 ha)
  Exhibit hall floor 50,000 m2 (540,000 sq ft)
5,100 m2 (55,000 sq ft) (Pavilion 1)[3]
6,470 m2 (69,600 sq ft) (Pavilion 2)[4]
Parking 2,200 spaces
Public transit access Tel Aviv University railway station
Website
www.fairs.co.il/en/

Expo Tel Aviv (formerly the Israel Trade Fairs and Convention Center (Hebrew: מרכז הירידים והקונגרסים בישראל) and later Tel Aviv Convention Center (Hebrew: מרכז הירידים - תל אביב), however commonly known locally as Gnei Hataarucha (Exhibition Grounds) and also as Tel Aviv Fairgrounds), is located on Rokach Boulevard in northern Tel Aviv, Israel, adjacent to the Tel Aviv University railway station. It serves as a venue for a variety of events, including concerts, exhibitions, trade fairs and conferences.

Established in 1932 as "Yarid HaMizrach" in site of the Levant Fair beside the Tel Aviv Port, it hosts up to 2.5 million visitors and between 45 and 60 major events annually. The fairground has ten halls and pavilions and a large outdoor space including an amusement park. Nearby is the Drive in Arena which was built on the grounds of what was once Israel's only drive-in theater.

On 13 September 2018, it was announced that it will host the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest between 14 and 18 May. The venue has been renamed Expo Tel Aviv (International Convention Center).[5]

History

Aerial view of the Levant Fair in the 1930s
Tel Aviv round pavilion, built in 1959 and demolished in 2010

The Levant Fair was an international fair site next to the Tel Aviv Port established in 1933 as an idea that was held in 1932, to showcase the accomplishments of the pre-state Jewish community in the sphere of industry. After the success of the first fair, permanent structures were built on a plot of land at the northern end of Dizengoff street on the banks of the Yarkon River. Fairs were held in 1934 and 1936 with pavilions and halls constructed for the participating countries. The chief architect was Aryeh Elhanani. A flying camel became the official logo. Richard Kaufmann planned the pavilion layout. Other leading architects were Arieh Sharon and Joseph Neufeld. The pavilions were designed in the International Style.[6]

In 1959, the fairgrounds were moved to their present location on 101 Rokach Boulevard (near the Yarkon Park and the Tel Aviv University), and the new site was inaugurated with an exhibition marking Tel Aviv's 50th Jubilee. In 1983, the convention center opened within the fairgrounds and at the end of 2003 the "Pavilion No. 1" was opened. It has 20,000 m² of exhibition space and is the largest object of its kind in Israel and in the Eastern Mediterranean.

In 2010, the "round pavilion" in the fairground was demolished. In its place began the construction of a new 10,000-seat congress and convention center called "Bitan 2" (Pavilion 2), which was inaugurated in January 2015.[7] The new pavilion hosted the 2018 European Judo Championships from 26–28 April.[8]

Entertainment

In recent years, the center has been used for many musical concerts and shows. To date, the convention center has hosted such musicians as Iggy Pop, Nine Inch Nails, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Placebo, Dream Theater, Lady Gaga, Pitbull, Kaiser Chiefs, Simple Plan, Tokio Hotel, Faith No More, MGMT, Dinosaur Jr., LCD Soundsystem, The Drums, PIL, Missy Elliott, Akon, David Guetta, Avicii, Kygo, Hardwell, Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Steve Aoki, Bob Sinclar, Skazi, Infected Mushroom, Offer Nissim, Astrix and Balkan Beat Box, among others.

In 2011, the center hosted Megadeth, Moby, Interpol, Mark Ronson, Suede, Blonde Redhead, Jane's Addiction, Roxette, and again Dream Theater.

On 13 September 2018, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) & Israeli broadcaster Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) announced that the center will host the Eurovision Song Contest 2019. The semi-finals will be held on 14 & 16 May 2019, with the final taking place on 18 May 2019.[5]

See also

References

  1. http://www.fairs.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/bitan1_consept.pdf
  2. http://www.fairs.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/pavilion-2_hadmayut_13.09.16.pdf
  3. "Tel Aviv Convention Center: Pavilion 1". Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  4. http://www.fairs.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/pavilion-2_shivuk_new.pdf
  5. 1 2 "Tel Aviv to host Eurovision 2019! - Eurovision Song Contest Israel 2019". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  6. "The International style". www.artlog.co.il. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  7. "Pavilion 2 opens at Tel Aviv Convention Center". Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  8. "EUROPEAN JUDO CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018 TEL AVIV". EJU.net - European Judo Union. Retrieved 25 June 2018.

Media related to Israel Trade Fairs & Convention Center at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by
Altice Arena
Lisbon
Eurovision Song Contest
Venue

2019
Succeeded by
TBD
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