photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation
With Stockholm’s Avicii Arena serving as the main venue for the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, it’s a great time to reflect on how the legendary Swedish DJ for whom the rink is named has impacted our sport.
Arguably no DJ in music history created more memorable big room EDM anthems. That legacy – spanning three studio albums and more than 50 singles – garnered the Stockholm native the love and admiration of hockey players and fans alike. Hits like “Wake Me Up,” “Levels,” and “Hey Brother” continue to fuel dressing room playlists, pre-game warm-ups, and hockey games worldwide.
The NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes chose Avicii’s “The Nights” as their goal song for three seasons. Meanwhile, Swedish goalie Anton Forsberg had a picture of Avicii (born Tim Bergling) painted by artist David Gunnarsson on the side of his mask in 2018 when he played for the Chicago Blackhawks. The tribute came after Avicii’s untimely death at age 28 earlier that year.
The Tim Bergling Foundation was established in 2019 by his family to raise awareness around mental health issues. The renaming of the Swedish capital’s premier hockey rink as Avicii Arena – previously known among Swedes as “Globen” – came in 2021.
Arguably no DJ in music history created more memorable big room EDM anthems. That legacy – spanning three studio albums and more than 50 singles – garnered the Stockholm native the love and admiration of hockey players and fans alike. Hits like “Wake Me Up,” “Levels,” and “Hey Brother” continue to fuel dressing room playlists, pre-game warm-ups, and hockey games worldwide.
The NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes chose Avicii’s “The Nights” as their goal song for three seasons. Meanwhile, Swedish goalie Anton Forsberg had a picture of Avicii (born Tim Bergling) painted by artist David Gunnarsson on the side of his mask in 2018 when he played for the Chicago Blackhawks. The tribute came after Avicii’s untimely death at age 28 earlier that year.
The Tim Bergling Foundation was established in 2019 by his family to raise awareness around mental health issues. The renaming of the Swedish capital’s premier hockey rink as Avicii Arena – previously known among Swedes as “Globen” – came in 2021.
This arena, which accommodates more than 13,000 spectators for hockey, has a storied history. Classic Swedish hockey clubs that have played home games here include Djurgarden and AIK. And the NHL has staged both pre-season and regular-season games here at intervals since 2000.
Originally built in 1989, it was the world’s largest spherical building with a diameter of 110.4 metres before being surpassed by Las Vegas’s Sphere (150 metres) in 2023. Avicii Arena was extensively renovated in 2024 and reopened in February this year with better sightlines, acoustics, and other amenities. Besides Avicii, famous musicians who have performed here range from U2 and Metallica to Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish.
Some of the best-known and catchiest World Championship theme songs have echoed within these walls. Those include “Nu tar vi dom” (1989), “Den glider in” (1995), and “En for alla for en” (2013). Of course, 2013 also witnessed one of the great moments in Tre Kronor history when the Sedin twins led the way in a 5-1 gold-medal win over Switzerland, breaking the 27-year-old “home ice curse” at the World Championship.
Originally built in 1989, it was the world’s largest spherical building with a diameter of 110.4 metres before being surpassed by Las Vegas’s Sphere (150 metres) in 2023. Avicii Arena was extensively renovated in 2024 and reopened in February this year with better sightlines, acoustics, and other amenities. Besides Avicii, famous musicians who have performed here range from U2 and Metallica to Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish.
Some of the best-known and catchiest World Championship theme songs have echoed within these walls. Those include “Nu tar vi dom” (1989), “Den glider in” (1995), and “En for alla for en” (2013). Of course, 2013 also witnessed one of the great moments in Tre Kronor history when the Sedin twins led the way in a 5-1 gold-medal win over Switzerland, breaking the 27-year-old “home ice curse” at the World Championship.
Team Sweden wins the gold medal game at the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Richard Wolowicz
Avicii belongs to a long line of ultra-melodic Swedish pop stars with global reach, such as ABBA, Europe, Roxette, and Ace of Base. His tunes are sure to be in the mix throughout this year’s Worlds.
Between games, fans who want to delve deeper into the music can visit the Avicii Experience. This interactive museum is located in Sergels Torg just steps from the T-Centralen Metro station. It features replicas of the artist’s childhood bedroom and Los Angeles studio, awards Avicii won, VR karaoke, and more.
The other venue for the 2025 Worlds is Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, Denmark. The 2010-built arena will host preliminary-round games and two quarter-finals before the tournament wraps up with the semi-finals and medal games in Stockholm.
Between games, fans who want to delve deeper into the music can visit the Avicii Experience. This interactive museum is located in Sergels Torg just steps from the T-Centralen Metro station. It features replicas of the artist’s childhood bedroom and Los Angeles studio, awards Avicii won, VR karaoke, and more.
The other venue for the 2025 Worlds is Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, Denmark. The 2010-built arena will host preliminary-round games and two quarter-finals before the tournament wraps up with the semi-finals and medal games in Stockholm.