MET Arena Székesfehérvár

The arena that ushered in a new era in Székesfehérvár

There are some buildings that not only serve a new function in a city’s life but also give it a new identity. The Alba Arena in Székesfehérvár-now known as the MET Arena Székesfehérvár-is one such building.

The arena is simultaneously a sports hall, a concert venue, and a regional event center, and in just a few years it has become one of Székesfehérvár’s most recognizable contemporary buildings. Built alongside Budai út, near the M7 highway, this multifunctional arena is now not only a key venue for the city’s sports life but also a new hub for cultural and business events.

The arena’s history began more than a decade ago

The idea for the new Székesfehérvár ice arena first came up publicly in 2013. The city’s goal was to create a multifunctional facility that would simultaneously serve ice sports, major events, and the region’s cultural life.

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In the following years, the conceptual designs were completed, and work began on preparing the site and developing the necessary infrastructure. However, the project has been a long and bumpy road. The project entered new phases several times, was rescheduled, and, following new public procurement procedures, construction finally began in 2021 and was completed in 2024.

Shortly after its completion, the arena became one of Székesfehérvár’s new landmarks. Thanks to its curved facade, evening light shows, and monumental massing, it is now a recognizable feature of the city’s western approach axis from afar.

Six steel elements, six days, and an engineering challenge

The structural construction of the Alba Arena was one of the most complex domestic arena construction projects in recent years. The nearly 22,000-square-meter, four-story building encompasses a 120×120-meter, long-span hall space. Nearly 6 kilometers of piles were driven for the foundation, while the building’s monolithic structure required approximately 20,000 cubic meters of concrete and more than 2,000 tons of reinforcing steel.

One of the most spectacular engineering moments of the construction was the installation of the roof structure. The 15 steel truss support elements, each nearly 60 meters long, were lifted into place using the country’s largest mobile crane over the course of six days.

The sheet-covered roof structure, spanning more than 14,000 square meters, is thus considered an outstanding project not only in terms of its size but also its structural complexity. Several member companies and strategic partners of KÉSZ Group participated in the project, particularly in the design, manufacture, and installation of the steel roof structure and the special sheet cladding.

During construction, nearly 4,000 people worked on the project, totaling more than 1.2 million man-hours—a figure that clearly illustrates the scale and complexity of the investment.

Where ice meets concert lights

The arena’s primary function is ice sports. As the new home of Hydro Fehérvár AV19, the building features a year-round ice surface that can be covered as needed, allowing the arena to be quickly converted for other events.

The seating system, which can accommodate up to 8,200 spectators, includes 1,500 movable elements, enabling the space to be used in various configurations. For sporting events, the ice rink layout accommodates approximately 5,200 spectators; for theatrical events, 3,000 people; while in a concert and large-scale event configuration, the capacity can be expanded to accommodate up to 8,200 people.

One of the most unique aspects of the arena’s operation is its flexibility. The same space can host a hockey game one day and a concert, conference, or musical production the next. The initial period following the opening immediately demonstrated this: the Hungary–Norway hockey game was followed by public skating, then concerts and musical productions.

The arena’s technological systems also support this multifunctionality. More than 80 percent of the water used for ice production is recyclable, and cooling and heating are provided by 204 ground-source heat exchangers. A unique feature of the building is that it has no gas connection; it operates entirely on a modern mechanical system powered by electricity.

One component of the central display system is a 9-ton center cube projector, which plays a key role in the visual experience during sporting events and concerts.

Székesfehérvár’s new landmark

The arena simultaneously strengthens Székesfehérvár’s identity as a sports city and its cultural role. While providing a modern home for ice sports, it also functions as a new concert venue, conference center, and community space.

The name change also reinforces this long-term role. The fact that the facility now operates under the name MET Arena Székesfehérvár clearly demonstrates that the building positions itself not only as a local sports hall but also as an event center of national significance.

Source of images: KÉSZ Group