Sant Jordi
Barcelona's largest indoor arena, host of Olympic events and world championships.
Palau Sant Jordi (Catalan pronunciation: [pəˈlaw ˈsaɲ ˈʒɔɾði], English: St. George's Palace) is an indoor sporting arena and multi-purpose installation that is part of the Olympic Ring complex located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Designed by the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, it was opened in 1990. The maximum seating capacity of the arena is 17,960. Since the inauguration, it is the largest indoor arena by capacity in Spain. The Palau Sant Jordi was one of the main venues of the Summer Olympics hosting the artistic gymnastics, handball, and volleyball events. Today, it is used for a variety of indoor sport events as well as for concerts and other cultural activities, due to its great flexibility.
- Date
- April 23
- Patron Saint
- Saint George
Lore & Background
The Palau Sant Jordi opened in 1990, designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki as part of the Olympic Ring complex. It was one of the main venues of the Summer Olympics, hosting artistic gymnastics, handball, and volleyball events. The arena has a maximum seating capacity of 17,960, making it the largest indoor arena by capacity in Spain since its inauguration. It has hosted major sporting events including the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics, three EuroLeague Final Fours, and the EuroBasket from the quarterfinals on. The arena also hosted the Davis Cup final between Spain and the Czech Republic, with Spain winning 5–0. It was the main venue for the FINA World Championships, where a temporary regulation swimming pool was installed, and again for the FINA World Championships ten years later. It was one of six sites that hosted the World Men's Handball Championship including the final, and one of six sites to host the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. On 5 October, the arena hosted an NBA preseason game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and local team FC Barcelona Regal.
In Their Own Story
The Davis Cup final, the 89th edition of the most important tournament between nations in men's tennis, saw Spain face Australia. Over three days, from 8 to 10 December, the arena's 17,960 seats filled with fans witnessing Spain claim their first Davis Cup title. The victory was decisive: Spain defeated Australia, securing the trophy on home soil. The arena later hosted another Davis Cup final between Spain and the Czech Republic, where the Spaniards again triumphed 5–0. Beyond tennis, the arena has transformed for swimming events: during the FINA World Championships, a temporary regulation swimming pool was installed inside the venue, allowing it to host world-class aquatic competitions. The same role was played for the FINA World Championships a decade later, when Barcelona hosted the Championships again after 10 years.
Reader's Guide
Palau Sant Jordi is located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, as part of the Olympic Ring complex. Designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, it opened in 1990 with a maximum seating capacity of 17,960, making it the largest indoor arena in Spain. The venue hosted artistic gymnastics, handball, and volleyball during the Summer Olympics. For sporting events, the arena has been the venue for the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics, three EuroLeague Final Fours, and the EuroBasket from the quarterfinals on. It also hosted the Copa del Rey. For the FINA World Championships, a temporary regulation swimming pool was installed. The arena was one of six sites for the World Men's Handball Championship (including the final) and one of six for the FIBA Basketball World Cup. On 5 October, it hosted an NBA preseason game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and FC Barcelona Regal. Behind the main building, the 3,000-seat Sant Jordi Club opened and is available for smaller events.
Did You Know?
- Palau Sant Jordi has a maximum seating capacity of 17,960, making it the largest indoor arena by capacity in Spain since its inauguration in 1990.
- The arena was designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki.
- A temporary regulation swimming pool was installed inside the arena for the FINA World Championships.
- The 3,000-seat Sant Jordi Club is located behind the main building.