Metalist Stadium
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| Former names | Tractor Stadium (1926-1940) Dzerzhinets Stadium (1940-1967) |
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| Location | Kharkiv, Ukraine |
| Coordinates | 49°58′51.09″N 36°15′42.13″E / 49.9808583°N 36.2617028°E |
| Broke ground | 1925 |
| Opened | September 12, 1926 |
| Renovated | December 31, 2008 |
| Owner | Metalist Kharkiv |
| Surface | Grass |
| Architect | Z. V. Permilovskyi |
| Capacity | 43,000 (football) |
| Field dimensions | 105 x 68m |
| Tenants | |
| Metalist Kharkiv | |
Oblasny SportKomplex (OSK) Metalist, commonly known as Metalist Stadium, is a multi-use stadium in Kharkiv, Ukraine. It is currently used chiefly for football matches and is the home of FC Metalist Kharkiv. The stadium, which has been named a reserve venue for Euro 2012, currently seats 43,000.
[edit] History
Construction was begun on the stadium in 1925 by order of Artem Mikoyan. Opened on September 12, 1926 the new stadium was known as "Traktor," as it was then being sponsored by the local tractor production plant. Prior to World War II the facility was renamed Dzerzhynets Stadium in honor of Felix Dzerzhinsky, the first head of the Cheka. Since 1967 it has borne its present moniker; in that same year, the capacity of the stadium reached 10,000.
[edit] Renovations
Including improvements currently underway, the stadium has undergone four renovations over the course of its history. The first of these took place in the mid-1960s, when the western section of the structure was renovated. The next, begun in 1970 and finished four years later, saw the addition of the north and south stands, raising capacity to 30,000. Also added were the stadium's first roof and drainage system, as well as floodlighting, an information panel, and a hotel, located under the north stand and gymnasium.
A third renovation, begun in 1979 to renovate the east and south stands, was in fact completed only recently. After the demolition of the south stand in that year, construction was halted indefinitely, resuming only in 1998 after a delay of nearly twenty years. Upon resumption, a new east stand and a partially reconstructed south stand were erected.
Metalist's fourth set of renovations is ordered in preparation for Euro 2012. South stand has already been completed and a completely new East stand has been built, raising the capacity to 43,000. Roof replacement, other general modernizations and aesthetic improvements are set to be completed by the end of 2009.
[edit] External links
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