Spodek – the icon of Katowice #LoveKatowice

Not far from the market square (some 500 metres) in the immediate vicinity of our congress is Katowice's most recognisable architectural icon, the Spodek (meaning flying saucer). The unusual and bold structure, which was built in 1971, still impresses with its shape today. Among other things, Spodek is a sports facility with a sports and entertainment hall and a swimming pool - it hosts numerous sporting events of world championship rank, e.g. in men's volleyball. In winter, the Spodek is transformed into an ice rink for local residents.

International Congress Centre and Spodek. The central part of the photo shows people enjoying the Centrum Kato initiative. Source: DronoArt

The Spodek is also the arena for great entertainment events. It is in the Spodek that the likes of Sting, Jean Michel Jarre, Chris Rea, Cliff Richard, Joe Cocker, Tina Turner and many others have performed. The square next to the Spodek has been hosting a New Year's Eve concert in cooperation with national television for several years, while in the summer the space is transformed into an extraordinary outdoor venue. From Thursday to Sunday, you can spend time there with food trucks and kraft beer as part of the Centrum Kato initiative. In 2016, Spodek hosted the largest e-sports event for the first time, the Intel Extreme Masters. Every year, the event attracts several hundred thousand gaming fans from all over the world. Besides sports and concerts, it also hosts car shows, dog shows and other trade fairs.