Rita Ora to Perform at the Grand Opening of Westfield Hamburg

Hamburg is set to welcome the highly anticipated Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier, with a spectacular opening ceremony scheduled for April 8. The event will feature a performance by global pop sensation Rita Ora, who is slated to take the stage on June 21 at the waterfront promenade in HafenCity.

Initially, Rita Ora was scheduled to inaugurate the shopping center in April 2024. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, including a water damage incident, her appearance was canceled at that time. The Westfield Hamburg project, which encompasses not only retail spaces but also offices, residential areas, three hotels, and a cruise terminal, has faced numerous delays and budget overruns, escalating its costs from an initial estimate of one billion euros to a staggering 2.16 billion euros.

Located along the banks of the Elbe River, the Westfield shopping center boasts impressive architectural plans, covering 419,000 square meters of gross floor area. This includes 80,500 square meters dedicated to retail, 55,000 square meters for residential use, and approximately 65,000 square meters designated for office space. Additionally, the center will feature around 12,000 square meters allocated for cultural and entertainment purposes, as well as 8,000 square meters for dining options. Parking facilities will accommodate 2,500 vehicles, and there will be an underground bus terminal.

Reports suggest that Rita Ora will receive a significant six-figure sum for her performance at the event, which is open to the public at no cost. She expressed her excitement about the opportunity to finally perform at this prestigious opening, stating her fond memories of Hamburg and her eagerness to share a memorable evening with the audience.

The Westfield Hamburg project has been described as a 'millennium grave' due to the various challenges it has encountered during construction. On October 30, 2023, a tragic incident occurred on the site, resulting in the death of five Albanian construction workers when a scaffold collapsed into a lift shaft. The upcoming concert with Rita Ora is seen as a hopeful milestone in turning the tide for this once-controversial project.