Just when it seemed that Bristal City’s new stadium plans had gotten hopelessly stuck, hope is glimmering again as a claimant behind a legal challenge withdrew from the case.

First plans for a new Bristol City were presented in 2007, and a planning permission was granted in 2010. However, as the stadium is planned in a green belt on the southern edge of the city of Bristol, protesters who wanted to see the site turned into a town green (legally protected green land) challenged the decision.

An independent inquiry ruled in their favour, after which the Bristol City council decided to turn half of the land into a town green, leaving the rest to be used for the stadium. This decision was again challenged, with the claimant demanding a judicial review, but while the review was still in process, the claimant has now decided to withdraw from the case.

Bristol City has welcomed the decision, and, assuming the immediate termination of the judicial review, announced to take a fresh look at the stadium plans. Lawyers acting for the protesters however said that the notice was invalid and want a substitute to replace the original claimant.

A High Court judge will now have to take the final decision on whether the review should continue, which is expected to take at least a month.

Bristol City’s new stadium, which was a selected playing venue in England’s failed 2018 World Cup bid, is planned to have a capacity of 30,000, with an expansion option to over 40,000 places. Due to an ongoing series of legal problems, the progress on the £92 million project has considerably slown down, and the club is currently not working with any fixed timeline.

Stadium render: © Bcfc.co.uk

New Hope for Bristol City Stadium Plans

The Arena Lviv replaced FC Karpaty’s old Ukrayina Stadium which got built in 1963. Construction started in 2008 and was completed late 2011 at a total cost of 2.29 billion Ukrainian Hryvna.

The stadium officially opened on the 29^th of October 2011 with a theatre show. The first match was played a good two weeks later, a friendly between the Ukrainian and Austrian national teams which ended in a 2-1 win for the hosts.

During the Euro 2012 Championships three group matches will be played at the stadium.

Getting there

The Arena Lviv lies in the far south of the city of Lviv, just outside the urban limits, at about 8 kilometres of Lviv’s city centre and about 10 kilometres from the Central Rail station (which lies west of the centre).

The stadium lies near the crossing of the M10 and M06, and can thus be easily reached by car. The M06 connects with Lviv city centre in almost a straight line.

Tickets

Tickets for FC Karpaty games can be bought at the box office of Karpaty’s old Ukrayina Stadium which is located about 3.5 kilometres south-east of Lviv’s city centre. Ticket can currently not be bought at the Arena Lviv due to a lack of box offices, but this may change in the future. It may be wise to inform at the Karpaty Fanat Store in Lviv’s city centre (3 Voronoha Street) about current arrangements.

Ticket prices range from UAH 20.00 to UAH 100.00. For five top matches ticket prices are increased to between UAH 30.00 and UAH 150.00.

Relevant Internet links:

FCKarpaty.lviv.ua – Official website of FC Karapaty Lviv.
Ct.lviv.ua – Culture and tourism in Lviv.

Arena Lviv

Both are amongst Mexico’s biggest clubs, not as big as América and Chivas (who make up the Súperclasico), but definitely big in terms of titles and support. Cruz Azul had its hey days in the 1970s, and has been a constant force in recent years. A well-run club, but with its last title in 1997 (and Mexico hands out two a year). The Pumas are on the rise, and have celebrated most of their successes in the last decade, with the last title less than a year ago.

The match got played at Estadio Azul, the city’s third biggest stadium, but more compact, which means stands and fans closer to the pitch than at the Azteca and Olímpico. Whereas Azul has regularly trouble filling up the stadium for a standard league match, the stadium was about 80% packed for the derby, with both sets of fans peacefully mixing up and an electric atmosphere.

The game could not match the atmosphere though, and ended in a 1-1 draw, something which has not really helped any of the clubs in their quest for this season’s title.

Derby Day in Mexico City

Spanish football federation REFE has made the decision that this year’s Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Bilbao will not be played at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. It however has not taken a decision yet on where the final will be played, with three stadiums still in contention.

The decision follows a week of controversy during which the Madrid vs Barcelona rivalry flared up again, but this time without any action on the field.

Traditionally the final of the cup is played at the stadium of the previous edition’s winner, in this case Real Madrid, however REFE never makes a decision until both finalists are known so that the final will be played at a neutral venue with a big enough size.

Estadio Santiago Bernabéu however seemed like the perfect and logical option, as Real Madrid has not made the final, and because it lies at almost equal distance from Bilbao and Barcelona and is big enough to host the sizeable amounts of fans that are expected to attend. Three years ago the same teams played the final at Estadio Mestalla, which is considerably smaller, with the result that thousands of Bilbao fans left outside the stadium without a ticket.

But just as both clubs had stated their preference for the Bernabéu, the announcement of Real Madrid came that the stadium was not available to host the final as building works were scheduled for that week. The real reason, of course, was that Real Madrid did not feel like seeing Barcelona celebrating a Copa win at their stadium. Nor hear both set of fans (from Catalonia and Basque Country) whistle during the Spanish national anthem.

And though both Barcelona and Bilbao requested a final at the Bernabéu, REFE decided to give in to Madrid, and elect a different stadium.

With Camp Nou ruled out, that only left Estadio Vicente Calderón, Estadio de Mestalla (both a capacity of 55,000), and Estadio La Cartuja in Seville (capacity 60,000) big enough to host the final. What further complicates the decision however, is that Bruce Springsteen is giving a concert at La Cartuja on the 13th of May, and Coldplay one at Vicente Calderón on the 20th of May, and that it won’t be clear what the impact will be on the pitch.

REFE has stated to make a final decision later this week or early next week, making for another week of speculation, and another week in limbo for the fans eager to make travel arrangements.

Photo: © Flickr user BrainMaY

No Copa del Rey Final at the Bernabéu

The stadium got built in 1937, and opened on the 27^th of November of that year with a league match between Catania and Foggia.

Since the 1960s the club has been considering the option of building a new stadium, with the biggest complaint being the poor visibility caused by the athletics tracks around the pitch, but plans have never materialised into concrete actions.

The stadium got renovated in 1991 and 1997, reducing its capacity from about 35,000 to its current total. The stadium was renamed in 2002 after former club president Angelo Massimino.

There is some uncertainty on the actual capacity of the stadium, with estimates ranging from 21,000 to 30,000, but recent sold out matches suggest a maximum of around 23,000 seats, or possibly even a lower capacity of in the 21,000s.

Getting there

Stadio Angelo Massimino is located north-west of Catania’s historic city centre, about 2 kilometres from Piazza Duomo, but less than 1.5 kilometres from the more northern Piazza Stesicoro. Walking to the stadium will likely not take more than 30 minutes.

The stadium lies in a dense urban neighbourhood and may be difficult to locate by car. From the A18 north, take the exit for Catania (Centro). Follow the road into town for about 4 kilometres, and continue straight on after the second tunnel onto the Via Vincenzo Giuffrida. After about a kilometre turn right onto the Via Gabriele D’Annunzio. Follow for almost 2 kilometres and turn right into the Via Giussepe Fava. The stadium lies in front of you.

From the Central Rail station one can catch bus 4-7. Get off at Piazza Spedini. The bus can also be boarded at Piazza Stesicoro. Buses however only run once every hour.

Line 431N is an alternative that goes more regularly (at least every half an hour). Get off at the corner of Via Cifali and Via Beccario. From there it’s a few minutes walking. The bus passes also through the historic centre (Via Vitt. Emanuele).

Address: Piazza Spedini, 95125 Catania

Tickets

Tickets for Catania matches can be bought via the Listicket / Lottomatica sales outlets. The one at the Via Plebiscito 8 is the closest to the city centre (a few blocks south of Duomo), whereas the one at the Via Giuseppe Fava 69 the closest to the stadium.

Tickets can also be bought at the gates of the stadium on the day of the match. Catania only rarely sells out a match.

Ticket prices depend on the opponent and are determined on a per match basis. For lower-level opponents tickets start at €10.00 for the curves, ranging from €25.00 to €100.00 for the long ends. For higher-level opponents prices may start at €30.00 for the curves, going up from €50.00 to €180.00 for the long ends.

Relevant Internet links:

Cataniacalcio.it – Official website of Catania Calcio.
Apt.catania.it – Tourism website for the province of Catania.
Amt.ct.it – Catania public transport information.

Stadio Angelo Massimino

Last Saturday Fenerbahçe played its second match with a women and kids only crowd at the Şükrü Saracoğlu. The match is the result of a creative solution by the club after the Turkish FA initially told the club to play two matches behind closed doors as a result of fan violence during a pre-season friendly. Fenerbahçe in turn proposed to only let in women and kids, which was accepted by the football association.

The first women and kids only match was played in September, the second on Saturday. Both times the stadium was completely packed with all 50,000 places taken.

It looked like this:

Photo: Flickr user bixentro.

Another Ladies Night at Fenerbahce

Artificial turf may be making a come-back in the English Football League any time soon. The turf, increasingly popular in the European football leagues, had been banned from the Football League in 1995, but the governing body last week announced to start a consultation round which may lead to a change of rules.

In the 1980s four English clubs, Preston, QPR, Luton and Oldham, made the switch to artificial turf,  but after a review in 1989 the FA decided to ban artificial surfaces. However, the turf of that time was nowhere near the quality of the turf today, and several clubs in the lower leagues have been tentatively informing on the possibilities of a rule change.

As the main benefits of playing on artificial turf are generally mentioned cost savings, increased revenue, and less postponed matches.

Though having a higher initial cost, artificial surfaces have less regular maintenance costs. Money could furthermore be saved by having the first, reserve, and youth teams train and play at the same pitch. Higher income could be achieved by opening the stadium up for more outside events without any negative effects on the condition of the pitch.

Opponents of artificial pitches have often argued that the use of artificial pitches leads to increased injuries, that the ball behaves differently, and that the home team has an advantage by being used to the different conditions. And though this may have been the case of the artificial surfaces of the eighties, there is currently no evidence (pdf) that supports any of these claims.

FIFA has been more supportive than the FA, and has already created its own certification of artificial turf, as well as started a preferred producer initiative. Artificial pitches are allowed in most competitions, however to host a European Cup final real grass is required. FIFA does also add that their recommendation to use artificial pitches only applies for regions where weather conditions negatively affect the use of a natural pitch.

Luzhniki is probably the highest-profile stadium with an artificial pitch, but they are fairly common in, for example, the Norwegian league, and have also recently been introduced in the Serie A by Italian sides Cesena and Novara, in Ligue 1 by French clubs Lorient and Nancy, and have already been used for several years by Dutch Eredivisie sides Heracles Almelo and Excelsior.

Stadiums in the other top European leagues, the Bundesliga and Primera División, are however still exclusively equipped with natural pitches, and it is also not likely that the smell of grass will disappear from the Premier League any time soon. For England’s lower leagues though, tradition may soon have to give in for plastic.

Football League Expresses Interest in Artificial Pitches

Catania chairman Pulvirenti has announced the club’s plans for the construction of a new stadium. At a press conference that was planned for the upcoming Juventus-Catania fixture, the chairman took the word and announced that the club has started a process that should result in a new stadium in a few years time.

Catania is currently playing at Stadio Angelo Massimino, which has long been outdated, and does not meet modern requirements. It’s athletics tracks have furthermore been a source of dissatisfaction since the 1960s.

A site has already been selected in the suburb of Librino, in the far south-west of the city. The club is still working on the technical details, though is aiming at a capacity of 35,000, with all seats covered. No visual renders have been presented yet.

The project will have a total budget of €100 million. Pulvirenti will have a meeting with delegates from the province on Monday, and further meetings are planned with the local city council. The chairman expects to have the final plans ready in six months.

A few months ago other Sicily club Palermo also announced their plans for a new stadium, and Sardinia club Cagliari is in an advanced stage of planning a new arena as well, though at the same time also struggling with the local bureaucracy.

Photos: © Flickr user Leandro Neumann Ciuffo

Catania Chairman Reveals New Stadium Plans

In the early decades of the 20^th century Manchester City played their home matches at Hyde Road, but after the ground got severely damaged in a fire, plans were made to move to a bigger ground.

Maine Road opened on the 25^th of August 1923 with a match between Manchester City and Sheffield United (2-1). The stadium could hold about 85,000 spectators, which made it the largest stadium in England after Wembley.

A record attendance was achieved in 1934 when 84,569 spectators visited an FA Cup match between City and Stoke. Just after the war the club shared Maine Road with local rivals Manchester United after Old Trafford had gotten damaged during an air-raid.

In the late 1950s the Main Stand got redeveloped and renamed The Kippax Stand. Further smaller improvements were made in the years following, and in the 1970s a new North Stand was constructed.

In the 1990s City followed the Taylor Report requirements in redeveloping the ground into an all-seater. This included the construction of two new stands: first in 1993 the Platt Lane Stand, and one year later the demolishing of the Kippax terraces and construction of a new three-tier all-seater stand.

Plans for further redevelopments were made, but abandoned after the club relegated in 1996. The club eventually decided to move away from Maine Road when the City of Manchester Stadium got available after the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

The final capacity of the stadium was 35,150 seats. The last match at Maine Road was played on the 11^th of May 2003, which got won 0-1 by visitors Southampton.

Despite early redevelopment plans, the stadium got finally demolished in late 2003, and subsequently replaced with a housing development.

Maine Road was located in the south of Manchester, in the Moss Side area.

Maine Road

Stadion Poljud was built in 1979 to host the 1979 Mediterranean Games. The stadium, with its two arced roofs, is intended to have the shape of a seashell.

The stadium could initially hold 50,000 fans, but this was later reduced when the stadium got converted into an all-seater.

The stadium has athletics tracks running around the pitch, and regularly hosts major athletics events.

Getting there

Stadion Poljud is located in the north of the city of Split on the shores of the Adriatic Sea. The stadium lies only a kilometres north of Split’s historic city centre, and can thus be easily walked to.

Alternatively one can take bus 3 from the eastern side of the historic centre (from streets Zagrebačka or Zvonimira). Take the bus in the direction of Lora. Buses go every 15 to 20 minutes. Bus 17 to Studentski Dom is a good alternative.

Bus 7 furthermore connects the stadium with the eastern parts of Split.

Address: 8. Mediteranskih Igara 2, Split

Tickets

Tickets for Hajduk games can be bought online, at the stadium, or at the CroFanShop in the historic centre (street Marmontova).

Relevant Internet links:

Hajduk.hr – Official website of HNK Hajduk Split.
Visitsplit.com – Official website of the Split tourist board.
Promet.split.hr – Split public transport information.

Stadion Poljud