Marfin Stadium

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = New Panathinaikos Sports Complex
Marfin Stadium
nickname =


fullname =
location = Votanikos, Athens
broke_ground = 8th September, 2008
renovated =
opened = Season 2010-11
closed =
demolished =
owner = Municipality of Athens, Panathinaikos A.O.
operator = Panathinaikos A.O.
surface =
construction_cost = 88.35 million €
architect = flagicon|Portugal Manuel Salgado
former_names = Votanikos Arena (Project name)
tenants =
seating_capacity = 46,000 "(Football Venue)", 8,000 & 3,000 "(Indoor Halls)"
dimensions = 105 x 68m

Marfin Stadium is the name for the proposed multi-use sports complex in Athens, Greece, that will host all departments of the Panathinaikos sports club. The arena will be located in the historic Votanikos area, west of downtown Athens.

Overview

The project is finalized and bulldozers have begun razing the area so that construction proper may begin. Even though detailed plans and timetables have not yet been unveiled, construction is expected to start by mid-2008. The duration of the project will be 19 months and will be undertaken by Aktor S.A. (Άκτωρ). The contract between the club and the company was signed on February 8, 2008 [http://www.enet.gr/online/online_text/c=115,id=16985608] .

While it was originally expected for the complex to be ready by the end of 2008, in time to host celebrations for the club's 100th birthday, Panathinaikos officials stated their intention to host the centennial celebration at the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, the team's historical home venue.

According to current plans, once completed, the sports complex will consist of a 46,000-seat football ground and two indoor halls: one for the volleyball teams and the smaller club departments (swimming, water polo, table tennis etc, with a capacity of 3,000), projected for the end of 2009, and another one for the basketball team (capacity of around 8,000), projected for 2012. While the capacity of the basketball arena will be suitable for domestic league games, it will not be adequate for Euroleague fixtures, as the minimum capacity for that competition will increase to 10,000 in 2009.

The new sports complex will replace the historic Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium (Leoforos). Panathinaikos now uses several different venues for its basketball and volleyball teams, pending construction of its new home. Refurbishment work has begun for the Leoforos grounds to host the football team for 2007/2008 Greek Super League and UEFA Cup season until the new complex is built.

The cost of the project is estimated at 80 million euros ex. VAT, with the total redevelopment budget for the Votanikos area exceeding 130 million euros, thus making it the biggest investment project undertaken in Athens in the post-Olympic era. The whole project will be financed jointly by the Municipality of Athens and the Greek Government and the land of the historic Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium will be gifted to the Municipality of Athens, to be made into a much-needed park in the middle of a densely populated residential and business area. The new complex will be leased to Panathinaikos for 99 years, in return of an annual fee, while commercial development of the complex (shops etc) will belong to the Municipality of Athens.

The Votanikos area, to the west of downtown Athens, is a sizeable industrial zone that has been in decline for several decades. It currently houses mostly vacant, dilapidated storage and industrial facilities and has been in urgent need of redevelopment and improvements in infrastructure.

Naming

As it was announced the stadium will be named Marfin Stadium. After an agreement with the municipality of Athens Marfin Egnatia Bank and Marfin Investment Group took the naming rights for a 10-year period offering about 20 million Euros.

New Football Venue Information

* Capacity 46.000 seats (fully covered) + future extensions
* UEFA Rating: 4 Stars at initial completion, but planned to meet all 5 Star requirements with future expansion (54.000 seats)
* Dimensions: 105 x 68m
* 1600 lux lighting
* Parking: 4000 car seats
* VIP & Business Seats: 3.500
* VIP Class Room : 4.000 square metres
* Press Area: 500 square metres with full equipment
* Control Room with full coverage of the Stadium

Source: [http://www.goalday.gr/article.asp?catid=5104&subid=2&pubid=397849 www.goalday.gr]

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbcKiJPVDHQ The new stadium presentation video on YouTube!]
* [http://www.diplianaplasi.com/ The website of the company responsible for the plan]
* [http://www.euro2day.gr/news/enterprises/122/articles/354206/Article.aspx Article about the naming rights]