Budapest Arena

The Night We Filled Hungary’s Largest Venue

For the next big chapter of our Lights OFF party series, we wanted something bold. Something different. Something that felt impossible.

We knew we wanted to create a massive Halloween event, so — in true 2010s fashion — we announced the show without a venue. Thousands immediately clicked “going” on Facebook. That was September.

We needed branding. We needed artists. We needed production. But most importantly, we needed a venue worthy of the vision.

“Why don’t we try the Arena?”

Dozens of options came and went. None of them felt right.

Then, half-jokingly, I said:“Why don’t we try the Arena?”

I expected laughter. Instead, my business partner simply replied:“…well, why don’t you ask them?”

Ten minutes later, the email was sent. Forty-eight hours later, the director of the Budapest Arena invited me, a colleague, and our co-organiser for a personal meeting.

We sat down.He looked at us and asked one simple question:“Alright boys — what do you want?”

I was 21 years old, and I knew this needed more than a casual request. So we printed a full-colour, 4–5 page presentation showcasing our previous events, audience numbers, visuals, and achievements.

We presented. He nodded. The meeting ended with: “We’ll send you a quote soon.”

The email that changed everything

I had a number in my mind — a limit.If they came in below it, we would make this insane dream happen.

A couple of days later, the email arrived.I opened it… saw the number…and I started crying.

Because I knew:we were going to organise an event in Hungary’s most iconic arena.

Doubt, fear, and pushing through

Our co-organisers panicked.

“What if we can’t fill it?”“What if we lose everything?”

But I pushed everything off the table — literally and metaphorically.“No. We’re doing this.”

Then came the ticketing debate.Our university-focused partners insisted on keeping the prices extremely low: 1 ,500–2,000 HUF (which even today would only be around 3,000–4,000 HUF). We agreed. It was risky, but it was the right thing to do.

11,500 people. Sold out at midnight.

On the night of the event, 11,500 people came.

Around midnight, we had to announce SOLD OUT, because no more tickets could be sold.The Arena was full.Hungary’s largest indoor venue.Filled by a team of 21-year-olds, with a lineup made almost entirely of Hungarian DJs.

But the moment that stayed with me forever was the look in the director’s eyes during that first presentation. It felt like he was seeing a younger version of himself in me.Maybe that’s why he gave us a chance.Maybe that’s why the offer was so incredibly generous.

“You surprised us.”

The director came to the event personally.

At the follow-up meeting, he told us we had surprised them —that they hadn’t believed we could pull this off with such professionalism and such numbers,especially with a local lineup in a venue usually filled by the biggest global stars.

We laughed together about it afterwards.They said they’d probably drink their share of the profit at a bar.And honestly, after filling the Arena, we had just enough left for one big team dinner.

But none of that mattered.

What this story is really about

This story isn’t about money. It’s about how a 21-year-old kid was given a chance — and fought for it, worked for it, believed in it — and how far you can go when one key person sees something in you that others don’t.

It’s about grabbing the opportunity, holding onto it with both hands, and writing a small but unforgettable piece of history into the world of Hungarian events.

And these moments — these impossible, unbelievable moments — are exactly what we continue to chase with SkyFall.