Globen was inaugurated on 19 February 1989 after a construction period of less than three years. The first major event was the Melodifestivalen 1989. On February 2, 2009, the naming rights to the Stockholm Globe Arena were officially acquired by Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson, and it became known as the Ericsson Globe.
Tenants
The Globe is primarily used for ice hockey, and is the former home arena of AIK, Djurgårdens IF, and Hammarby IF. It opened in 1989 and seats 13,850 for ice hockey games, but is also used for musical performances as well as other sports than ice hockey, for example futsal. It is owned by FCA fastigheter. The third team to play a home game in their league was Huddinge IK, followed by Hammarby IF and AC Camelen. The first international game played in Globen was between Hammarby IF and Jokerit a couple of weeks before the grand opening, although the players were only 12 years old at the time and it was a friendly game. The arena has been the home of the finals of Sveriges Television's yearly music competition Melodifestivalen until 2012. Ericsson Globe has hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 and Eurovision Song Contest 2016. It will host several matches of the 2023 World Men's Handball Championship with Sweden co-hosting alongside Poland.
Artwork
A small cottage in aluminum with a base was placed upon the Globe on May 26, 2009. The artist's intention with the arrangement is to illustrate two important symbols for Sweden: the high-technology Globe building and the traditional, simple small countryside cottage in Falu red with house corners painted in white. The house was positioned some distance from the exact top position of the Globe. The artist hopes he will eventually manage to place a similar cottage on the Moon. The cottage remained on the Globe until October 2009.
Skyview
Skyview is an exterior inclined elevator which transports visitors to the top of the arena for a virtually unobstructed view of Stockholm. It has two spherical gondolas, each able to accommodate up to 16 passengers, which travel along parallel tracks on the exterior of the south side of the globe. Skyview opened in February 2010 and carried 160,000 people during its first year of operation.
