Ruud Bongers

Ziggo Dome

From a window at the Amsterdam ArenA, two gentlemen, including the first employee of the Ziggo Dome, D. Damman, gazed over at the parking lot opposite the stadium. Consultations were held and an idea was born. In 2008, the first plans for a new concert location took shape on the back of a cigar box. A first sketch of a then nameless Ziggo Dome. The idea also arose elsewhere. The Black Box organisation in Delft had been playing with the same idea. At first, both parties came together but eventually decided to part ways and Black Box continued the project independently. In order to build a music venue with the best acoustics, partners needed to be found and a vision needed to be developed. Starting with a vision. The new location would be designed especially for live music. Good sight lines were needed for optimum enjoyment of the concert, perfect acoustics, comfortable chairs, and plenty of catering facilities. ‘Single purpose design, multi-use' became the overall leading term. This concert venue should also be able to host other events where no concessions had to be made in the premises of the auditorium. Everything had to serve two audiences: the fan and the artist with his or her management. For these two groups, the keyword was: optimum experience.