Key facts Club: Eintracht Frankfurt | Opening: 2005 | Capacity: 51,500 (9,300 standing) History and description The Commerzbank-Arena stands on the place of the old Waldstadion. The last match at the complete Waldstadion got played in 2002, after which the old stadium got gradually demolished while the new stadium was [...]
Key facts Club: Coventry City FC | Opening: 2005 | Capacity: 32,604 seats History and description Coventry City moved to the Ricoh Arena in 2005 after having played the previous 106 years at Highfield Road. Plans for the move were announced as early as 1997, but due to several delays [...]
Key facts Club: St Johnstone FC | Opening: 1989 | Capacity: 10,700 seats History and description McDiarmid Park was the first purpose-built all-seater stadium in the United Kingdom. The stadium replaced St Johnstone’s old Muirton Park, and resulted from an offer of retailer Asda to buy the land of Muirton [...]
Key facts Club: Chicago Fire | Opening: 2006 | Capacity: 20,000 seats History and description Toyota Park opened on the 11th of June 2006 with a match between the Chicago Fire and the New England Revolution (3-3). The stadium came at a cost $98 million. The project had be attracted [...]
A quick heads-up on some stadium-related news that has featured in weeks. With bad news for Bristol City, but good news for Bristol Rovers in their quest for a new stadium. With also featuring QPR and West Ham and their future stadium plans, and finally a French touch from across the Channel.
Orientation Wrocław is still relatively undiscovered, but a true gem. It can compete with Krakow in terms of beauty, but the hordes of tourists and accompanying tourist prices have not arrived (yet). It is the fourth largest city of Poland, but feels smaller and quieter than a city of its [...]
Following the pitch controversy after last week’s Champions League match between Milan and Barcelona, Milan chairman Galliani has confirmed that the club is looking into the options of changing the stadium’s natural pitch for a hybrid one with a synthetic base and natural top. The club hopes to soon reach [...]
Key facts Club: Real Club Celta de Vigo | Opening: 1928 | Capacity: 31,800 seats History and description Estadio Municipal de Balaídos opened in 1928 after a three-year construction period. The first match was played between Celta and Real Union on the 30th of December of that year (7-0). The [...]
From now on we will provide you every Monday evening with a report of the attendances of Europe’s major leagues (and soon the Major League Soccer). This report will generally be published on Monday evening, depending on what matches are still to be played. Here’s our first, discussing this weekend’s [...]
Key facts Club: FC Rubin Kazan | Capacity: 45,000 seats | Scheduled opening: 2013 | Status: under construction Description FC Rubin Kazan is currently building a new stadium with a capacity of 45,000 seats. Construction of the stadium started in May 2010 and is expected to be completed by the [...]
Key facts Club: Annecy FC and Evian Thonon Gaillard FC | Opening: 1964 | Capacity: 15,660 seats History and description Parc des Sports d’Annecy opened on the 18th of July 1964 with an athletics event. The stadium was for most of its history the sole home of Annecy FC, but [...]
Key facts Club: SK Rapid Wien | Opening: 1977 | Capacity: 17,500 seats History and description Gerhard Hanappi Stadion opened on the 10th of May 1977 with a friendly match between Rapid and the Austrian national team. The stadium was then still called Weststadion and could hold 19,600 spectators. The [...]
Maracanã reopens with first test match
The legendary Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro has reopened with a first test match after three years of building works. Before hosting another test match on the 15th of May, it will then officially open on the 2nd of June with a friendly between the Brazilian and [...]
Sampdoria take step closer to seafront stadium
Sampdoria have taken another step closer to realising a new seaside home after presenting their plans to a special committee of the city of Genoa. Sampdoria hope to build a new 30,000 all-seater in the place of the present Palasport indoor arena and [...]
West Ham receive 99-year lease for Olympic Stadium
West Ham have agreed a contract to move into the London Olympic Stadium from the start of the 2016-17 season. On Friday, the club finally received confirmation of the deal that follows on a long and torturous process and saw an earlier deal collapse.
Anji opens redeveloped Anji Arena
FC Anji Makhachkala have found a new home in the redeveloped Anji Arena, but while the Anji Arena has the look of a modern stadium, the rich Russian club of billionaire Kerimov and star player Eto’o hope that their stay at the new arena will only be a temporary one. [...]
Manchester City contemplate Etihad expansion
Manchester City appears to be considering expanding the Etihad Stadium with an extra tier to the Family and South Stand. This has become clear from a survey the club has sent out to its fans. The survey, which was sent by email, starts like [...]
Opening Grêmio Arena marks a new dawn in Brazilian football
The 2012 Brazilian Séria A season has just finished, but when the new season starts in May 2013, much will have changed. The reason for this is that the largest country of South America will be swept by a series of stadium openings in the next [...]
Real Madrid showcases four proposals for redeveloped Bernabéu
At the end of last Sunday’s member’s assembly, Real Madrid chairman Florentina Pérez had a little surprise for the socios. These were four models of four different proposals for the redevelopment of Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The models had been vigorously kept secret [...]
While it is not uncommon for shiny new stadiums to get built in places where you would not expect them, there is something even more special going on in Iraq right now: an actual stadium boom. The Arab country, still recovering from the war, has decided to put some of its oil money in a massive overhaul of [...]
Oh, how times can change. Let me give the word to Peter Storrie, ex-chairman of Portsmouth FC: Portsmouth is moving into a new dawn with the backing of owner Alexandre Gaydamak and these are very exciting times for the club both on and off the field. The new [...]
2012 review – the world of football stadiums
It is the end of December, which means that it is tradition to look back at the year we are about the finish. In our case, it means looking back at what happened in the fascinating world of football stadiums. The year 2012 came off the back of a prolific 2011 in terms of [...]
