Farmasi Arena
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Farmasi Arena is an indoor multipurpose arena, located in the region of Barra da Tijuca, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is one of the indoor arena with largest capacity in the country, with 15,430 people for sports and up to 18,768 for concerts.
The arena is named for the Turkish cosmetics company Farmasi through a naming rights deal closed in 2024. Priorly, the arena was sponsored by the American cosmetics company Jeunesse Global from 2017 to 2023, and British bank HSBC. The arena was completed in July 2007 and was first known as Arena Olímpica do Rio (Rio Olympic Arena), which it was known as during the 2016 Summer Olympics. From December 2007 to March 2008, plus the months between Jeunesse's deal expiring and Farmasi taking over, it was known as RioArena.
Sports
The arena was built to host basketball and gymnastics during the 2007 Pan American Games. In December 2007, it started being operated by GL events, who also operates the nearby Riocentro Convention Center and the Riocentro Sports Complex, and started hosting many concerts from a variety of artists. It has also hosted the UNESCO teleton, Criança Esperança, after 2008, replacing Ginásio do Ibirapuera in São Paulo as the main venue. Starting on 29 March 2008, it was renamed as the HSBC Arena, as part of a naming rights agreement with the bank.
The arena hosted UFC's first event in Brazil in thirteen years, UFC 134: Silva vs. Okami, which took place on August 27, 2011. Nine other UFC events have since been held in the arena: UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes, on January 14, 2012; UFC 153: Silva vs. Bonnar, on October 13, 2012; UFC 163: Aldo vs. Korean Zombie on August 3, 2013; UFC 190: Rousey vs. Correia, on August 1, 2015; UFC 212: Aldo vs. Holloway, on June 3, 2017; UFC 224: Nunes vs. Pennington, on May 12, 2018; UFC 237: Namajunas vs. Andrade, on May 11, 2019; UFC 283: Teixeira vs. Hill, on January 21, 2023; UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg, on May 4. 2024 and UFC Fight Night: Oliveira vs. Gamrot, on October 11, 2025.
An NBA game between the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards was also held at HSBC Arena in 2013. The arena also hosted the 2014 edition of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup between Flamengo and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The NBA also hosted a preseason game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat on 11 October 2014, as part of the NBA Global Games.
The venue hosted gymnastics during the 2016 Summer Olympics, and wheelchair basketball during the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
In 2017, the arena hosted the 2017 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational.
In November 2018, the arena hosted the Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Season 8 Pro League finals.
In November 2022, the arena hosted the Champions Stage of the IEM Rio Major 2022, the eighteenth Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Major Championship. The Major was the first held in Brazil and the first held in South America for CS:GO.
Concerts
Queen + Paul Rodgers concluded their Rock the Cosmos Tour at the arena on 29 November 2008. Demi Lovato performed at the arena for her South American Tour 2010 on May 27, 2010. Miley Cyrus performed at the arena for her Gypsy Heart Tour on May 13, 2011, and it was Cyrus' first concert in Brazil.
On March 27, 2011, Iron Maiden's performance at the arena had to be postponed to the following night after a security barrier collapsed during the opening song. The entire audience was allowed to attend the following night's show, although those who could not attend were given a refund.
Other stars like Beyoncé, Amy Winehouse, Now United, Ariana Grande, Green Day, Ed Sheeran, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Radiohead, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Twenty One Pilots performed at the venue.
Performers
Gallery
- HSBC Arena facade, during the 2007 Pan American Games
- Aerial picture of the arena in 2016.
- Inside the HSBC Arena, in a men's basketball game at the 2007 Pan American Games
- 2007 Pan American Games
- Outside the Arena during the 2016 Summer Paralympics
- 2016 Summer Paralympics wheelchair basketball games
See also
External links
- (in Portuguese) (in English)
- (in Portuguese)
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byGinásio José Corrêa Barueri, São Paulo | FIBA Intercontinental Cup Final Venue 2014 | Succeeded byGinásio do Ibirapuera São Paulo |