Parking at the Lotto Arena in Antwerp

Parking at the Lotto Arena Antwerp

Parking at the Lotto Arena in Antwerp

The Lotto Arena is one of Antwerp’s premier event venues, located in Merksem at Schijnpoortweg 119. With a capacity of approximately 8,000 for concerts and 5,200 for basketball, it is the home of the Antwerp Giants (Windrose Giants Antwerp) and hosts international touring acts who choose the more intimate setting of the smaller hall.

Reserve your parking via SparkSpot

Via SparkSpot you reserve a private parking spot close to Lotto Arena (Deurne, Borgerhout, Merksem) at a fixed price, with no surprises. For most Lotto Arena events, official car parks are available without reservation — but for sold-out concerts or double-event nights with AFAS Dome, pre-booking is strongly recommended.

Lotto Arena vs AFAS Dome: sister venue, different parking strategy

The Lotto Arena and the AFAS Dome share the same Sportpaleisplein in Merksem at Schijnpoortweg 119. They are separate venues with separate entrances and different capacities:

• Lotto Arena: about 8,000 seats for concerts, 5,200 for basketball. Opened in 2007.
• AFAS Dome: up to 23,000 seats. Formerly the Antwerps Sportpaleis (renamed in 2024).

Parking pressure for a Lotto Arena event is usually lower than for a sold-out AFAS Dome show — you can often park without booking ahead. But when both venues run events on the same evening (paired concerts, or an Antwerp Giants home game alongside an AFAS Dome concert), parking pressure across the complex doubles and pre-booking via SparkSpot is strongly recommended.

One annual exception: “Night of the Giants” takes place at the AFAS Dome, not the Lotto Arena, even though it is an Antwerp Giants event. For that single night each year, follow the AFAS Dome tips → sparkspot.be/en/parking/afas-dome-antwerpen.

Looking for an AFAS Dome event? Use our dedicated page → Parking AFAS Dome (Sportpaleis) Antwerp. The general advice overlaps, but the parking strategy differs because of the larger crowd.

Paid car parks near Lotto Arena

Lotto Arena and AFAS Dome share the same parking infrastructure — six official paid car parks around the Sportpaleisplein complex. Each car park is listed below with address, price and LEZ status. For most Lotto Arena events (smaller venue, local audience) these car parks are readily available without reservation. For large concerts or paired-event nights with the AFAS Dome, booking ahead via SparkSpot is recommended.

Tip for Antwerp Giants season-ticket holders: pick one regular car park for the whole season — Stuivenberg-EFFIA (€4) or Carrette (€8) — building a habitual route saves time at every home game.

International visitors: if you are arriving by car from Brussels or the Netherlands, the most convenient parkings are Vaart and Carrette (both outside the LEZ — no diesel norm headache). Spoor Oost and Stuivenberg-EFFIA are cheaper but inside the LEZ — see the LEZ section for what that means for your vehicle.

Park & Ride and the tram to Lotto Arena

To skip traffic and parking stress, the city-edge Park & Rides are the smartest pick. Lotto Arena visitors park for free at the four official P+R locations: Luchtbal, Merksem, Olympiade and Boechout. Your event ticket often doubles as a De Lijn public-transport pass — check your e-ticket.

⚠ Important — Schelde tunnel closure 4 May 2026 – end of March 2027

Between 4 May 2026 and end of March 2027 a major renovation of the Antwerp pre-metro is under way. The Schelde tunnel is closed — there are NO trams between Linkeroever and the right bank during this window. P+R Linkeroever is therefore temporarily unusable for Lotto Arena visitors. Use one of the east-side P+Rs instead: Luchtbal, Merksem, Olympiade or Boechout.

Important: P+R parking is free with a valid De Lijn ticket (MOBIB card or paper ticket). Without a ticket, drivers pay a parking fee. For Antwerp Giants home games, your match ticket often doubles as a transit pass — check your e-ticket or antwerpgiants.be.

Antwerp Giants basketball and concert nights: parking by event type

The Lotto Arena combines sport and music. Parking pressure varies sharply by event type — a midweek Antwerp Giants home game needs a different strategy than a sold-out concert night. Below are our tips by category.

Antwerp Giants home games (Windrose Giants Antwerp)

The Antwerp Giants — officially Windrose Giants Antwerp — play most home games at the Lotto Arena. The hall is configured to 5,218 seats around the basketball court. The crowd: mostly season-ticket holders, repeat visitors, a local Antwerp audience with routine driving routes.

Tip: pick one regular car park for the entire season. Stuivenberg-EFFIA (€4, inside LEZ) is the cheapest option for Euro 6+ diesels and all petrol vehicles from Euro 3 upward. To stay outside the LEZ: Carrette (€8) or Vaart (€10). Parking pressure is generally manageable, even 30 minutes before tip-off — no booking needed except for play-off games.

Annual exception: “Night of the Giants” takes place at the AFAS Dome (not the Lotto Arena) with a larger crowd and higher parking pressure. For that single night, follow our AFAS Dome tips.

International concert nights

The Lotto Arena attracts international touring acts who specifically choose a smaller, more intimate 8,000-seat hall. Think singer-songwriters, jazz greats and alternative-rock acts. For sold-out concerts the parking pressure approaches AFAS Dome levels — reserving via SparkSpot is strongly recommended, or pick a P+R and ride the tram.

Tip: when both AFAS Dome and Lotto Arena run events the same evening, parking pressure across the complex doubles. Cross-check both venue calendars (afas-dome.be and lotto-arena.be) before booking.

Comedy, theatre and children’s shows

The Lotto Arena also hosts regional comedy nights, theatre productions and children’s shows with moderate crowds. Parking pressure is light and all official car parks are readily available without reservation. Stuivenberg-EFFIA (€4) is the absolute cheapest pick if your vehicle clears LEZ rules.

Corporate events and awards

Some corporate parties, award shows and B2B conferences run at the Lotto Arena in the early evening. On weekdays this overlaps with office commuter traffic in the area — leave 30 minutes earlier than usual to absorb the spillover.

Antwerp Low Emission Zone 2026

Antwerp has had a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) since 2017 covering the entire inner city and parts of Linkeroever. The Lotto Arena sits just outside the LEZ, but several of the official paid parkings (Spoor Oost, Antwerp Ring Center, Stuivenberg-EFFIA) are inside it. Plan your route and parking based on your vehicle.

Who is allowed inside the LEZ?

• Diesel: minimum Euro 6 (since 1 January 2025).
• Petrol, CNG or LPG: minimum Euro 3.
• Electric and hydrogen vehicles: always allowed.
• Hybrids: follow the standard of the combustion engine.

What does a fine cost?

A first offence costs €150. A second and third offence within the calendar year cost €250 and €350 respectively. ANPR cameras register every licence plate entering the zone — the fine follows automatically.

Day pass for exceptional trips

If you exceptionally need to enter Antwerp with a non-compliant vehicle, you can buy a day pass for €35. Maximum 12 day passes per calendar year. Reserve via slimnaarantwerpen.be — same day or in advance.

SparkSpot tip if you’re unsure about LEZ

Visiting from abroad? Many international rental cars are recent enough (Euro 6 diesel or Euro 4+ petrol) to enter the LEZ. Check your registration certificate (field V.9). Or play it safe: park at P+R Boechout, Merksem, Olympiade or Luchtbal — all four are outside the LEZ. Free with a valid De Lijn ticket. From any P+R, Lotto Arena is 15 to 30 minutes by tram.

Kiss & Ride and alternative transport

Not everyone who attends a Lotto Arena event parks there. For drop-off, carpool, cycle and taxi/Uber users, dedicated facilities exist — shared with the neighbouring AFAS Dome.

Kiss & Ride zone

The official Kiss & Ride zone for both Lotto Arena and AFAS Dome is next to the Gabriël Theunisbrug bridge, by the Albertkanaal.

• From the Antwerp Ring: take Tweemontstraat, turn left under the Gabriël Theunisbrug, and follow Schijnpoortweg toward the venues.
• From Merksem: take the Gabriël Theunisbrug, turn right at the end, and join the queue.
• For pick-up: be at the Kiss & Ride zone at the latest 15 minutes before the end of the show.

Carpool via Slinger

Slinger is the official carpool partner of both Lotto Arena and AFAS Dome. Via the widget on lotto-arena.be/mobiliteit/met-de-auto, offer a ride or join one. Especially useful for Antwerp Giants season-ticket holders who travel the same route to every home game.

By bike

Lotto Arena is reachable by bike via a well-developed cycle network from Antwerp city centre, Merksem and Deurne. Guarded bicycle parking is available on the Sportpaleisplein and at the Sport stop. International visitors arriving by train: combine a train to Antwerpen-Centraal with a Velo Antwerp shared bike from the station — about 20 minutes by bike to the venue.

By taxi or Uber

Taxis and Ubers drop off at the Kiss & Ride zone. Antwerp taxi ranks are at the Sport stop and at Antwerpen-Centraal main station.

Visitors with reduced mobility

The Lotto Arena has dedicated accessible parking near the venue entrance. Visitors with a European disabled parking badge (blue badge) can use the designated accessible spaces. Contact Lotto Arena in advance for the most up-to-date accessible parking information for your specific event.

Discover Antwerp before or after the event

A Lotto Arena evening is often part of a longer day in Antwerp. Within walking and cycling distance of the Sportpaleisplein you will find the city’s most popular attractions — for both locals and visiting tourists.

City centre, Cathedral and Grote Markt

Antwerp city centre is 15 minutes by tram 6 or 12 from the Sport stop. There you will find the Cathedral of Our Lady (UNESCO), the Grote Markt with the City Hall, and the shopping streets of the Meir (one of Belgium’s busiest pedestrian streets). Tip: park near Lotto Arena first, use your De Lijn ticket or event ticket to ride into the centre, and head back toward show time.

Diamond District and MAS Museum

Antwerp’s Diamond District sits right next to Antwerpen-Centraal station — the world’s historic centre of the diamond trade. The MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) on Het Eilandje offers stunning views over the city and the Schelde river. Both are reachable in 10-15 minutes by tram or by Velo Antwerp shared bike from the venue.

Antwerp Zoo and family attractions

A short ride from the Lotto Arena lies Antwerp Zoo (one of Europe’s oldest zoos, next to Antwerpen-Centraal). An ideal combination if you are visiting a Lotto Arena children’s show and want to make a day of it.

Dining before or after

Het Eilandje (waterfront district) and the Theaterbuurt host most of the popular restaurants. Book a table around 17:00-18:00 and walk from Lotto Arena via Italiëlei to the centre (25 minutes). Or take tram 12 from the Sport stop to Groenplaats.

Arriving from abroad?

Antwerpen-Centraal is one of Europe’s most beautiful train stations and connects directly to the Eurostar and ICE network — Brussels (35 min), Amsterdam (1h 10), Paris (1h 50). For UK visitors the easiest combo is Eurostar to Brussels-Midi, transfer to ICE/IC to Antwerpen-Centraal, then 7 minutes by tram 5 or 6 to the Sport stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does parking near the Lotto Arena cost?

Official paid car parks around the Lotto Arena range from €4 (Stuivenberg-EFFIA) to €10 (Parking Vaart). Spoor Oost €6, Carrette and Gosselin €8 each, Antwerp Ring Center is event-dependent. Cheapest option: combine a free P+R (Luchtbal, Merksem, Olympiade or Boechout) with your De Lijn ticket — that’s €0 parking.

Is the Lotto Arena the same as the Sportpaleis?

No. The Lotto Arena is a separate venue, opened in 2007, seating about 8,000. The Antwerp Sportpaleis was renamed to AFAS Dome in 2024 — a much larger venue (up to 23,000) on the same Sportpaleisplein, next to the Lotto Arena. For AFAS Dome events: see sparkspot.be/en/parking/afas-dome-antwerpen.

Can I share parking if I visit both AFAS Dome and Lotto Arena the same evening?

Yes — all official car parks (Vaart, Spoor Oost, Carrette, Antwerp Ring Center, Stuivenberg-EFFIA, Gosselin) serve both venues. They stand right next to each other. However, simultaneous events double parking pressure across the complex. Pre-book via SparkSpot or pick a city-edge P+R for those nights.

Can I drive a diesel car to an Antwerp Giants home game?

The Lotto Arena sits outside the Antwerp LEZ — driving up to the venue is usually fine. But the cheapest parking (Stuivenberg-EFFIA, €4) is inside the LEZ, so your diesel must be at least Euro 6 (since 1 Jan 2025). Not compliant? Park at Carrette (€8) or Vaart (€10), both outside the LEZ.

Does my Antwerp Giants ticket double as a De Lijn travel pass?

For many home games, your match ticket includes a free De Lijn travel pass on the day of the game. That means you can park for free at a P+R and ride the tram to the Sport stop at no extra cost. Check your e-ticket or antwerpgiants.be — the policy can change per season.