Taipei Arena, covering 21,000 square meters with five floors above ground and two below, is Taiwan's first world-class large-scale multipurpose stadium. As well as the main building, which can seat 15,000, there is an ice rink available year-round which can accommodate 800 people.

In the future, as well as world-class sporting events, the arena will also through joint efforts promote classical music and cabarets, including concerts of a scale rivaling those at Hong Kong Coliseum, and even host religious gatherings. It is expected to hold more than 200 cultural events a year, attracting total crowds of around two million. The Asiaworld mall, on neighboring Nanjing East Road, has already experienced a big boost from the arena, and is preparing major sales in concert with the arena's events.

Taipei Arena is a project of the Taipei City Government, with usage rights awarded to Eastern Media Group for nine years at a cost of NT$1.58 billion. EMG aims for the project to break even in three years, so one can imagine the arena is going to have to see a lot of use and have a schedule packed tight with popular shows and events for them to be able to achieve that lofty goal.

Chao Yi, chairman of Eastern Arena Management Co., says that in the 21st century every major international city will be fighting for big creative and cultural events, and he expects to be able to attract top-class performance and exhibition organizations to the arena, both boosting the multiculturalism and vitality of Taiwan's capital city and raising the artistic and cultural level of the city's residents. When international organizations are evaluating whether or not to visit a new foreign city, Chao says, the most important factor is whether or not that area's venues are up to scratch. In the past a number of groups were less than keen to visit Taiwan, primarily because suitable locations were too few.

Prior to the opening of the arena, all the major international cultural events were held at the National Concert Hall and National Theater, both parts of the National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center. However, because there were too many events, the schedule was incredibly tight and even the world-famous Cloud Gate dance troupe were only able to perform for a maximum of eight days. Tickets were hard to get, leading audiences to grumble and performers to complain about the not insignificant costs. On top of this, these two locations refuse to host pop music concerts, leaving popular performers often fretting about finding a location. With the arena now open, Cloud Gate can perform for 35 days in a row, and Taiwanese superstar Wu Bai can hold concerts in the same venue. If 5000 people per show isn't going to cut it, extra performances can be added.

Whereas in the past venues were limited and didn't attract the attention of international performers, it looks like the future will see a much bigger number coming to Taiwan.

Arena sports director Fu Ta-jen says that they expect local basketball fans to soon be able to see the Harlem Globe-trotters in action at the arena, giving Taiwanese a little something new. At the moment the biggest project is inviting teams from the NBA to play, but with this having to work in with the NBA season and the significant costs involved, this isn't anticipated to be possible until 2006 or 2007.

The most special thing about Taipei Arena, aside from the eyecatching metallic dome, is that it has 48 boxes, a pioneer amongst domestic performance locations. Each box has 15 seats, and the boxes and VIP rooms are all linked. Members can hold private parties in the VIP rooms, as well as watching events from the boxes. They can also make use of the arena's club, including the gym, with no limit on number of uses per year. It looks like Taipei Arena is about to light up the entertainment and leisure lives of the citizens of Taipei.

But during the grand opening of the arena, many were complaining that they had to have their bags searched before entering, and that their cameras were taken from them and left in a rough pile. Not only this, but they were also prohibited from taking in their own food and drink, and were thus at the mercy of the high prices of the arena food vendors.

Whether or not the Taipei Arena is set to usher in a new age for entertainment in Taipei looks set to depend on the quality of service provided by the operators and the appreciation of culture in the general populace.