Metalist Stadium

Oblast Sports Complex Metalist
Former names	Tractor Stadium (1926–1940) Dzerzhinets Stadium (1940–1967)
Location	Kharkiv, Ukraine
Coordinates	49°58′51.09″N 36°15′42.13″E / 49.9808583°N 36.2617028°E / 49.9808583; 36.2617028
Broke ground	1925
Opened	September 12, 1926
Renovated	December 5, 2009
Owner	Metalist Kharkiv
Surface	Grass
Architect	Z. V. Permilovskyi
Capacity	38,633[1] (football)
Field dimensions	105 x 68m
Tenants
Metalist Kharkiv UEFA Euro 2012

Oblast Sports Complex "Metalist" (Ukrainian: Обласний спортивний комплекс «Металіст»), commonly known as Metalist Stadium (Ukrainian: Стадіон «Металіст»), is a multi-use stadium in Kharkov, Ukraine. It is currently used chiefly for football matches and is the home of FC Metalist Kharkiv. The stadium, which is a venue for Euro 2012, currently seats 38,633.

History

Construction was begun on the stadium in 1925 by order of Anastas Mikoyan on the site of the Holy Spirit cemetery. 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.

Renovations

Metalist arena

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. The architect for the project was Yu. Tabakova. 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 was begun in 1979 to renovate the East and South stands but was 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. The South Stand has already been completed and a completely new East Stand has been built. Roof replacement, other general modernizations and aesthetic improvements are set to be completed by the end of 2009. On December 5, 2009 there was an opening of the renovated stadium at the day of the 50 anniversary of the president of the Metalist Kharkiv, Oleksandr Yaroslavsky.^[2]

The South Stand contains a three story shopping mall - business center "Metalist-Arena". The offices are rented here by UkrSibbank, several local businesses, and other banks. There are pharmacy, medical office, tour agencies, and many more.

References

1. ^ http://metallist.kharkov.ua/about_stadium.html
2. ^ The new architectural monument in Kharkiv (Ukrainian)

External links

• Metalist-Arena.com
• WebCams
• Metalist Stadium Photos
• Virtual tour of the stadium Metalist