March 11, 2026

Brussels Expo Opens 10,000 m² Terminal 1 at Heysel

November 7, 2025
80096

Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Brussels Expo reopened Palace 1 as Terminal 1, a 10,000 m² digital centre with gaming and tech attractions. CEO Denis Delforge expects 1 million visitors yearly within 3 years.

As VRT News reported, Palace 1 at the Heysel has been renamed Terminal 1 and officially reopened as a new digital entertainment centre at Brussels Expo. The hall, once used for major trade fairs, has been turned into a 10,000-square-meter experience space filled with technology and gaming attractions. 

According to Denis Delforge, CEO of Brussels Expo, Terminal One is unique:

“I don’t know of any other similar offering. It’s a mix of experience and encounters, so you’re not sitting at home behind a screen, but the technology has to draw you here.”

What makes Brussels Expo’s Terminal 1 the new digital landmark at Heysel?

Visitors to Terminal 1 can explore a large immersive exhibition on Pompeii, which uses projections and sound effects to recreate the ancient city. The venue also includes an e-sports arena where competitions are hosted, an interactive karting track, and a Formula 1 simulator offering a lifelike racing experience. 

The creation of Terminal 1 is part of Brussels Expo’s plan to modernise and attract new audiences. The site will no longer be used for traditional fairs, focusing instead on permanent and interactive experiences. The management expects to welcome 1M visitors annually within 3 years. 

The change from Palace 1 to Terminal 1 is part of a larger plan to renew the Heysel site in Brussels. The area has a long history as a venue for major events since it 1 opened in 1935 for the World Expo. Over time, the halls at Brussels Expo have hosted trade fairs, concerts, and international exhibitions. In recent years, fewer visitors have attended traditional fairs, leading to a move toward more interactive and digital attractions.

Eurotoday is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

Comments

20 responses to “Brussels Expo Opens 10,000 m² Terminal 1 at Heysel”

  1. Ship Whip Avatar
    Ship Whip

    Finally, a place where we can all gather and pretend we’re not just scrolling through our phones at home! Who needs real-life interactions when you can race a simulator instead? 😂🏎️

    Reply
  2. Mirage Avatar
    Mirage

    Ah, nothing like turning a historic venue into a digital playground! Just what we needed: a high-tech funhouse where instead of mingling over a cuppa, we can all stare at screens together. 🤷‍♂️

    Reply
  3. Rooster Avatar
    Rooster

    Brilliant! Because nothing says “cultural heritage” quite like turning a historical venue into a tech playground. Can’t wait to see a million tourists racing virtual F1 cars while Rome burns in the background. 🚗💨

    Reply
  4. mad kid Avatar
    mad kid

    Oh, look at Brussels trying to keep up with the digital age—because who needs history when you’ve got a karting track and a Formula 1 sim? 🎮🏎️ Just what we needed, another place to pretend we’re racing while sitting on our backsides! 😂

    Reply
  5. Freesia Avatar
    Freesia

    Turning Palace 1 into Terminal 1 is quite the leap, isn’t it? Who knew we needed a gaming HQ at the Heysel – next, they’ll be selling fries with that F1 simulator! 🍟🎮

    Reply
  6. Blood Taker Avatar
    Blood Taker

    Oh, brilliant move, turning a historic venue into a glorified arcade—who needs trade fairs when you can have kids racing virtual F1 cars? 🎮💨 Just what Brussels needed, another place for techies to ignore real life! 😂

    Reply
  7. Wild Tesla Avatar
    Wild Tesla

    Oh joy, because nothing screams “culture” like a digital karting track and an e-sports arena in a place once graced by trade fairs—truly the height of Brussels sophistication, innit? 😏

    Reply
  8. Gullyway Avatar
    Gullyway

    So, we’ve turned a grand palace into a tech playground—brilliant! Can’t wait to see our esteemed guests trading in fine art for gaming consoles. 🎮🤷‍♂️

    Reply
  9. Lucifurious Avatar
    Lucifurious

    Looks like Brussels is trying to upgrade from waffles to virtual reality – because who needs real-life interactions when you can simulate a karting race instead? 🎮🙄

    Reply
  10. Heaven Sent Avatar
    Heaven Sent

    Oh, brilliant! Because who really wants to experience the charm of Brussels when you can just sit in a digital arena pretending to race F1 cars? 🙄🎮

    Reply
  11. raid bucker Avatar
    raid bucker

    Oh great, just what we needed—another digital playground in Brussels! Because who doesn’t want to swap the charm of a traditional fair for an e-sports arena and a karting track? 🎮🏎️

    Reply
  12. Bourbon Mirage Avatar
    Bourbon Mirage

    Looks like Brussels is trading in its stately palaces for a tech playground – who knew the future of entertainment included a side of e-sports and karting? 😂 Quite the upgrade from sipping coffee while discussing politics, eh?

    Reply
  13. Ozzie Treat Avatar
    Ozzie Treat

    Isn’t it just charming how they’ve transformed a historical exhibition space into a gamer’s paradise? I can already hear the sounds of joy—or is that just my wallet weeping? 🎮💸

    Reply
  14. Delirious Supernova Avatar
    Delirious Supernova

    Oh great, just what we need—another high-tech playground to distract us from the fact that we still can’t find a parking spot in this city. Who knew the future of leisure was just a racing simulator away? 😂

    Reply
  15. K-9 Avatar
    K-9

    A 10,000 m² gaming paradise? Just what we needed to distract us from the usual bureaucratic fun in Brussels! 🎮💼

    Reply
  16. Fast FLAK Avatar
    Fast FLAK

    So, we’ve gone from hosting trade fairs to high-tech gaming arenas—just what every city needs, right? Who wouldn’t want to race virtual cars instead of enjoying a nice Belgian beer? 🍻💻

    Reply
  17. bitmap Avatar
    bitmap

    So, we’re trading in the charm of old fairs for a shiny digital playground, eh? Can’t wait to see all the million visitors, just as long as they remember to leave their screens at home! 😂

    Reply
  18. Bad Beh8vior Avatar
    Bad Beh8vior

    Oh joy, just what Brussels needed—another place to stare at screens instead of enjoying a good frites! 🎮🍟 Can’t wait to see 1 million visitors a year—bet they’ll all be queuing for the “authentic” Pompeii experience. 🏛️

    Reply
  19. Tall Sally Avatar
    Tall Sally

    Oh great, just what we needed – a 10,000 m² playground for adults to forget their responsibilities while pretending they’re in Pompeii. Who knew Brussels was just one gaming terminal away from being the next Silicon Valley? 🎮🕹️

    Reply
  20. Bat Magenta Avatar
    Bat Magenta

    Terminal 1, eh? Just what Brussels needed—more gaming and tech distractions to keep us from the real joys of life, like waiting for the tram in the rain! 🙄🎮

    Reply

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