Alfheim stadion

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Alfheim
nickname = "Fort Alfheim"Fact|date=November 2007


location = Tromsø, Norway
broke_ground =
opened = 1987
closed =
demolished =
owner = Tromsø IL
operator = Tromsø IL
surface = Artificial turf
construction_cost =
architect =
former_names =
tenants = Tromsø IL
seating_capacity = 7,500 (Football)

Alfheim stadion is the home ground of the Norwegian Premier League football club Tromsø I.L..

The pitch

The artificial grass pitch at Alfheim Stadium is the biggest in Norway, being 110 metres long and 70 meters wide. It is also the northernmost Premier Division stadium in Norway, making its under-soil heating a must-have.

Alfheim had natural grass until 2006. However, the condition of the pitch, especially during the winter months, received considerable criticism from sports pundits and visiting managers. Usually around October, when the Eliteserie is in its last rounds, winter sets in in Tromsø. This, along with the wear and tear from football matches and practicing sessions, caused the grass to disappear and reduced the pitch to a muddy field. To make up for this, Tromsø I.L. decided to install artificial turf at the stadium, and did so during the Eliteserie-break during the 2006 World Cup in Germany. To fund the new turf, Tromsø I.L. received contributions from several businesses in Tromsø, including 7.5 million NOK from an anonymous giver.

The stands

The East stand is an all seated covered stand which can accommodate about 2000 people. This is stand was built in the mid-eighties and is the oldest stand at Alfheim. It houses the clubs offices. At the back of the stand there is a row of executive boxes. Some controversy surrounded the East Stand during the 2004-season. Ringnes, a Norwegian brewery, complained about the clubs S.K. Brann and Tromsø I.L. being sponsored by the breweries Hansa Borg and Mack Brewery respectively. Advertising for alcohol is illegal in Norway. The result of this complaint for Tromsø I.L. was that the club had to remove all advertisements for Mack, including the seating arrangement on one of the stands that spelled out Mack. The seats were changed, making the stands spell out Tack in stead. Tack is a play on words, since it resembles the word Takk, Norwegian for "thank you", a gesture from Tromsø I.L. thanking Mack for the co-operation through a great deal of years. Ahead of the 2005-season, the former Mack-stands had been renamed to the Coop-stands, being sponsored by the Norwegian convenience store chain Coop. The West Stand was rebuilt during the 2005-season, meaning both sides now are seated and covered. Before the rebuilding the West Stand was an uncovered wooden stand. The West Stand has a capacity of approximately 4000, making it the largest stand at Alfheim. There are three media gantries suspended from the roof of the West Stand.

At the south end there is a temporary uncovered stand made of scaffolding, which sponsored name is Bautas. The South Stand has no seating, and can hold approximately 1500 fans. The visiting team supporters are allocated approximately 400 tickets at the east end of this stand. This number can be increased for cup matches. When Tromsø has played in European cup tournaments the South Stand has been closed due to safety regulations imposed by UEFA.

Until August 2007 there was a temporary uncovered stand at the north end which ran for about two thirds of the pitch, this was dismantled to allow place for a stage during a music festival. The north end is now filled with advertising hoardings. There are also a scoreboard and a stadium clock at the north end. Set back from the pitch at the north end is "TIL-huset", a building that previously housed the teams changing rooms.

Isberget, Tromsø I.L.'s supporter club are located at the north end of the west stand on match days. The supporter club have an office located in the east stand.

Details

Records

Record Attendance: 10,225 v Rosenborg on 15 August, 1990 (quarter final in the Norwegian Cup)

Average attendances

*Norwegian First Division
**2002: 2,941
*Norwegian Premier League
**2003: 4,413
**2004: 5,698
**2005: 5,064
**2006: 5,068
**2007: 6,050

Fort Alfheim

Because of Tromsø I.L.'s good home record in many seasons in the Eliteserie (e.g. 10 wins in 13 matches in the 2004-season), Alfheim Stadium has been given the nickname "Fort Alfheim", building on the image of Alfheim Stadium as being impregnable. Chelsea F.C., Galatasaray, and Red Star Belgrade have all experienced losing to Tromsø I.L. at Alfheim.

External links

* [http://www.til.no/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=238 360° panoramic view of the stands from the pitch]
* [http://www.isberget.no/tromso-il/alfheim/ Isbergets page about Alfheim] no icon