[3] Apart from hosting Redhawks hockey matches, the arena is a significant venue for team handball, floorball, concerts, and other events.

[8] The venue attendance record for ice hockey was set on 12 November 2008, when Malmö Redhawks hosted Leksands IF in front of 13,247 people.

This led to the decision to build Hyllie station in 2001, as a part of the tunnel project, to boost the development of the new district.

However, the Redhawks were convinced when Percy Nilsson of Parkfast AB contributed seven million kronor to help with their financial situation.

[12] The main contractors for the building of the arena were Parkfast AB, with the collaboration of the structural engineer Byggteknik i Skåne.

[13] Malmö Arena was inaugurated on 6 November 2008 with a large concert featuring a variety of artists, among them Robyn, Helen Sjöholm, Sanne Salomonsen, and Jill Johnson.

The naming rights were eventually sold to Malmö Stad for 10 years in a deal worth 50 million kronor.

[10] Nilsson wished for the arena to have "Malmö" in its name as the new association football stadium in the city, Swedbank Stadion, did not.

[16][17] Malmö Arena hosted the playoff finals of the men's and women's Swedish national team handball championship in 2010 and 2012.

[22] Many other major athletes refused their invitations for a variety of reasons, causing the competition to attract only meagre interest from the public.

[23] Rihanna was scheduled to bring her Loud Tour to Malmö Arena on 31 October 2011, but the event was cancelled with only a few hours' notice because of health issues, although she eventually performed at the venue in August 2016.

[24] As well as religious events during the 499th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in the special Catholic–Lutheran dialogue with Pope Francis and Bishop Munib Younan which was held on 31 October 2016.

[25] Other international artists who have performed at the arena are Bob Dylan,[26] Cliff Richard,[27] Tom Jones,[28] Lady Gaga,[29] and many others.

SVT also expressed the desire to host the contest at a slightly smaller venue and city than previous years.

The total floor area of the entire arena, including corridors and interior space, is 51,000 m2 (550,000 sq ft).

The arena also features an indoor ice rink training facility located to the north of its main concourse.

[40] The training facility was originally located and visible outside the arena building, but has since been covered by real estate.

[43] The stadium is also located close to the partially underground railway station Hyllie, which opened in December 2010 as a part of the Citytunnel project.