Key facts
Club: Heracles Almelo | Opening: 1999 | Capacity: 12,080 seats
History and description
Erve Asito, previously called Polman Stadion, replaced Heracles’ old stadium on the Bornsestraat. It opened on 10 September 1999 with a league match versus FC Zwolle (1-1) and was the first stadium in the Netherlands to have a pitch of artificial turf.
Polman Stadion could initially hold 6,900 seats, but after the club’s promotion to the Eredivisie in 2005 a further 1,600 seats were added by extending the stands on the long sides down to pitch level.
Heracles, however, kept selling out in the Eredivisie, and therefore soon after started investigating the options for further expansion or building a new stadium. Initially, the club preferred the latter option, and plans were presented for a new 15,000-all seater stadium, called the Ten Cate Arena.
However, these plans fell through as the club could not get the approval for the retail space that was necessary to fund the project, and therefore attention shifted to expanding the Polman Stadion.
In March 2014, the club finally received the go-ahead for the expansion that would add a second tier to the stadium and raise capacity to just over 12,000 seats. The expansion was completed at the start of the 2015-16 season.
The stadium got renamed in 2019 to Erve Asito following a new naming rights sponsorship deal.
How to get to Erve Asito
Erve Asito is located in the south of the city of Almelo at about 2.5 kilometres from the city centre and central railway station.
The stadium can be easily reached from the A38 motorway that runs south of the city (and connects with the A1 slightly further east). Take exit 30 Almelo-Zuid, and take the N349 toward the city. Follow for about 2 kilometres until the crossing with the city’s ring road. Turn left and follow the signs for Stadion.
Buses 21 and 22 connect the stadium with Almelo’s central train station and city centre. Take the bus in the direction of Windmolenbroek and get off at stop Stadion (line 21) or Nieuw Witvoet (line 22). The ride will only take 6 minutes and buses generally leave every ten minutes.
Address: Stadionlaan 1, 7606 JZ Almelo
Heracles Almelo Tickets
Tickets for Heracles matches can be bought online, or at the club’s Fanshop at the stadium.
Heracles used to require possession of a Heracles Club Card to be able to buy tickets, but have recently relaxed this requirement and nowadays more games go on general sale.
If tickets remain available, these can also be bought on the gate on the day of the match, but the same Club Card requirements may apply. Heracles don’t normally sell save for high-profile games, but booking in advance is nonetheless advised.
Ticket prices range from €20.00 for a seat behind one of the goals to €28.00 for a central seat at one of the long sides. Prices are increased with €5.00 for a few high-profile matches.
Email ticketing@heracles.nl for more information.
Photos of Erve Asito
Useful Internet links
Heracles.nl – Official website of Heracles Almelo.
Vvvalmelo.nl – Website of the Almelo tourist office.
9292ov.nl – Public transport journey planner.