- Amsterdam ArenA
Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Amsterdam ArenA
nickname =
fullname =
location =Amsterdam ,Netherlands
coordinates = coord|52.3141|4.9419|display=inline
broke_ground =
built = 1994–1996
opened =August 14 ,1996
renovated =
expanded =
closed =
demolished =
owner =Gemeente Amsterdam Stadion Amsterdam N.V.
operator =
surface =
construction_cost = €140 million
architect =
structural engineer =
services engineer =
general_contractor =
project_manager =
main_contractors =
former_names =
tenants =AFC Ajax (1996–present)Amsterdam Admirals (1996–2007)
seating_capacity = 51,628 seats (matches) 68,000 seats (concert s)
dimensions = 235 × 180 × 78 m
scoreboard =Amsterdam ArenA is a
stadium inAmsterdam ,Netherlands . The stadium was built from 1993 to 1996 at a cost of €140 million, and was officially opened onAugust 14 ,1996 . It has been used forassociation football ,American football ,concert s, and other events. The stadium has aretractable roof combined with agrass surface. It has a capacity of 51,628 seats during sports matches and 68,000 places during concerts.The stadium is the home of the association football club
AFC Ajax (1996–present) and was the home of the now-retired American football clubAmsterdam Admirals (1996–2007). It was one of the stadiums used duringUEFA Euro 2000 . Dutch and international artists gave concerts in the ArenA, such asAndré Hazes andThe Rolling Stones . Every year the dance event Sensation is held in the stadium.History
Amsterdam was one of six cities that bid to host the
1992 Summer Olympics . In 1986, a new Olympic stadium was designed, with a football field and an athletics track. It was to be built in the area of Strandvliet inAmsterdam Zuidoost . After Amsterdam lost the bid toBarcelona in October 1986, the plans for the new stadium were abandoned. In 1987, the Stichting Amsterdam Sportstad (English: "Amsterdam Sports City Foundation") was established, which made new plans for a sports stadium with an all-seated capacity of 55,000. In 1990, a new design was made based on both previous designs, with a football field, an athletics track, and completely covered by a roof. By this time,AFC Ajax needed a new stadium, because their old stadium De Meer no longer had sufficient capacity.nl icon [http://www.amsterdamarena.nl/filestore/?dl=258 The making of Amsterdam ArenA] . Amsterdam ArenA. Retrieved on2008-06-08 .]Once more the design was altered: the athletics track was removed, the capacity was reduced to 50,000 seats, and the fixed roof was replaced by a
retractable roof . In 1992, theGovernment of Amsterdam authorised the plans for the stadium with a "Transferium" where people could transfer from their car to various forms of public transportation. In 1993, the Government of Amsterdam changed the development plan of the location and gave a permit to build the stadium.The first pile of the
deep foundation of the stadium was placed onNovember 26 ,1993 . The construction work would take almost three years. The highest point of the building was reached onFebruary 24 ,1995 , after the roof construction was raised. The fly-over from the public road to the parking facilities was opened onMarch 13 ,1996 . The Amsterdam ArenA received 180,000 visitors during the construction work, until the stadium was closed fromJuly 1 ,1996 until the opening ceremony. The Amsterdam ArenA was officially opened onAugust 14 ,1996 by Queen Beatrix. [nl icon [http://www.amsterdamarena.nl/over_amsterdam_arena/wist_je_dat/ Wist je dat...] . Amsterdam ArenA. Retrieved on2008-06-08 .]The Queen opened the Amsterdam ArenA by making a curtain fall inside the stadium. This revealed the world's largest painting "De Zee" (English: "The Sea") of 80 × 126 metres. Two-dimensional ships were placed on the sea representing the clubs in the "
Eredivisie ".Trijntje Oosterhuis sang thehymn "De Zee", composed for the opening ceremony byJohn Ewbank . An eight-daytorch relay with 375 runners over 1400 kilometer through the Netherlands reached the stadium. The first runner wasJohan Cruijff starting in the old stadium De Meer, the last runner wasFrank Rijkaard arriving in the new stadium Amsterdam ArenA. After the grass was revealed and the roof opened, an inaugural football match was played between AFC Ajax andAC Milan .The construction of the Amsterdam ArenA cost €140 million.nl icon [http://www.amsterdamarena.nl/docs/pdf_facts_figures.pdf Facts & figures] . Amsterdam ArenA. Retrieved on
2008-06-09 .]The stadium combines a retractable roof with a grass surface. This caused some problems in the beginning: the grass rolls would not grow in the shade of the open roof and had to be replaced up to four times a year.
Building and facilities
Its all-seated capacity is 51,628. During music concerts, the stadium has a maximum capacity of 68,000 visitors.
The parking capacity of the "Transferium" is 500 cars(inside); there are additional 12.000 spots outside.
The Amsterdam ArenA is one of two stadiums in the Netherlands that is rated with five stars by
UEFA , the other being theFeijenoord Stadion inRotterdam . [ [http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/4and5stars.html#stalis 5-star stadia] . Football temples of the world. Retrieved on2008-06-09 .]The Ajax Museum is located in the stadium, which shows the more than 100 years of history of Ajax. [ [http://english.ajax.nl/web/show/id=49214 The Museum] . AFC Ajax. Retrieved on
2008-06-09 .]The nearest train station is
Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA .port events
Association football
The inaugural match was between the home team Ajax and
AC Milan which ended in a 0-3 win by Milan. The first goal was scored byDejan Savićević .The stadium is the home of
AFC Ajax in the "Eredivisie ".The
UEFA Champions League 1997-98 final was played in the ArenA.It was also one of the stadiums in
UEFA Euro 2000 .After the death of
Rinus Michels in 2005, Ajax fans tried to convince the stadium's board to rebrand the stadium as the Rinus Michels Stadium. The board refused, however at every Ajax home game Ajax fans bring a large banner displaying the words 'Rinus Michels Stadion'.American football
The stadium was also the home of the
American football teamAmsterdam Admirals , until theNFL Europa ended its European competition in June 2007. [nl icon [http://www.nrc.nl/anp/sport/article731143.ece Admirals houdt op te bestaan] .NRC Handelsblad . Retrieved on2008-06-08 .] They played over 50 matches in the stadium from 1997 to 2007. [nl icon [http://www.amsterdamarena.nl/over_amsterdam_arena/wist_je_dat/ Wist je dat...] . Amsterdam Arena. Retrieved on2008-06-08 .]World Bowl IX was played at the ArenA in2001 , when theBerlin Thunder defeated theBarcelona Dragons .Music events
Tina Turner was the first singer who gave a concert in the ArenA during herWildest Dreams Tour , with more than 150,000 people attending the three sold-out concerts in September 1996. WhilstMichael Jackson played five nights at the ArenA during the 'HIStory World Tour in 1996 and 1997 to over 250,000 fans.Despite frequent complaints about the acoustics of the Arena, concerts are often held in the stadium. Stars such as
Tina Turner ,Michael Jackson ,Céline Dion ,George Michael ,David Bowie ,Bon Jovi ,Eminem ,Robbie Williams ,Andre Hazes ,Red Hot Chili Peppers ,Justin Timberlake ,The Rolling Stones , Genesis,U2 ,Metallica , Madonna andThe Police have played the venue over the years.The stadium is also host to dance event Sensation.
Panoramic views
Panorama simple
fullwidth = 2393
fullheight = 475
caption = Panoramic view of the ArenA during the warming up before the match between Ajax and NEC onJanuary 16 ,2006
height = 200Panorama simple
fullwidth = 5466
fullheight = 600
caption = Panoramic view of the ArenA Boulevard onMarch 18 ,2008
height = 200References
External links
* [http://www.amsterdamarena.nl/ Amsterdam ArenA website]
* [http://english.ajax.nl/web/show/id=49214 Ajax Museum]
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