Stadium: Metalist Stadium (Kharkiv)
Opening: December, 2009
Capacity for EURO 2012: 30.000 seats
Total capacity: 38.633 seats
506 VIP seats
660 seats for mass-media
240 seats for commentators
102 for disabled people and their guides
Type: universal (with all-weather running tracks)
Direction: Plehanovska St., 55. Kharkiv
Public transport: metro/tramway/bus
In 1925 the USSR Government decided to construct the sports arena in Kharkiv, then-capital of Soviet Ukraine. In one year the worker of the local plant of the trains production built football camp, running tracks, asphalt cycle track and one stand for 5.000 spectators. Stadium was named “Tractor”. Beside cycle, track and field tournaments and football matches “Tractor” hosted skater competitions.
During Second World War the stadium already under the name “Zenit” was destroyed. The first reconstruction came to the stadium in 1947.Then cycle track was eliminated and the arena received other name - “Dzerzhunets” in honor of Felix Dzerzhinsky. So in 1956 it was renamed into “Avangard”. Finally in 1967 after the stand reconstruction (it was amplified till 10.000 seats) arena got the ongoing name “Metalist”. Also it was the first stadium in USSR that had the drainage system beneath its football lawn and it was considered one of the best football camps in the whole Europe. For 80-ies the Kharkiv Stadium could seat eight times more spectators than in the day of its opening. 42.000! In 1992 the stadium and its box-offices was enlisted in the Register of the Ukraine’s Cultural and National Patrimony.
The 2007 is the year when the complex reconstruction of the whole sports arena “Metalist” began. All historical sightsee was kept but the stadium became one of the best sports arenas in Ukraine. The western stand (the first one) and the north one were reconstructed, the southern one completed and the eastern one built from the fundament. The stadium is surrounded by “spider’s paws” – specific supports that maintain the roof of arena. Very powerful illuminating system also installed at the roof and it allowed refusing the usage of light pylons. Not only exterior design resembles the spider, but also the flying video camera. It moves due to moving ropes and shifts like a spider in the web. It allows shooting the video from every point above the football camp.
The Sports Complex “Metalist” includes main and additional football camps, football school for children with eight camps and buildings for young sportsmen’s temporary living, six gyms, basketball grounds and tennis courts, hotel and medical center for sportsmen. Stadium is situated near the Kharkiv international airport and railroad station, two metro stations and bus stops.
According to the UEFA’s plans, Kharkiv Stadium will host three group B matches of EURO 2012.
Opening: December, 2009
Capacity for EURO 2012: 30.000 seats
Total capacity: 38.633 seats
506 VIP seats
660 seats for mass-media
240 seats for commentators
102 for disabled people and their guides
Type: universal (with all-weather running tracks)
Direction: Plehanovska St., 55. Kharkiv
Public transport: metro/tramway/bus
In 1925 the USSR Government decided to construct the sports arena in Kharkiv, then-capital of Soviet Ukraine. In one year the worker of the local plant of the trains production built football camp, running tracks, asphalt cycle track and one stand for 5.000 spectators. Stadium was named “Tractor”. Beside cycle, track and field tournaments and football matches “Tractor” hosted skater competitions.
During Second World War the stadium already under the name “Zenit” was destroyed. The first reconstruction came to the stadium in 1947.Then cycle track was eliminated and the arena received other name - “Dzerzhunets” in honor of Felix Dzerzhinsky. So in 1956 it was renamed into “Avangard”. Finally in 1967 after the stand reconstruction (it was amplified till 10.000 seats) arena got the ongoing name “Metalist”. Also it was the first stadium in USSR that had the drainage system beneath its football lawn and it was considered one of the best football camps in the whole Europe. For 80-ies the Kharkiv Stadium could seat eight times more spectators than in the day of its opening. 42.000! In 1992 the stadium and its box-offices was enlisted in the Register of the Ukraine’s Cultural and National Patrimony.
The 2007 is the year when the complex reconstruction of the whole sports arena “Metalist” began. All historical sightsee was kept but the stadium became one of the best sports arenas in Ukraine. The western stand (the first one) and the north one were reconstructed, the southern one completed and the eastern one built from the fundament. The stadium is surrounded by “spider’s paws” – specific supports that maintain the roof of arena. Very powerful illuminating system also installed at the roof and it allowed refusing the usage of light pylons. Not only exterior design resembles the spider, but also the flying video camera. It moves due to moving ropes and shifts like a spider in the web. It allows shooting the video from every point above the football camp.
The Sports Complex “Metalist” includes main and additional football camps, football school for children with eight camps and buildings for young sportsmen’s temporary living, six gyms, basketball grounds and tennis courts, hotel and medical center for sportsmen. Stadium is situated near the Kharkiv international airport and railroad station, two metro stations and bus stops.
According to the UEFA’s plans, Kharkiv Stadium will host three group B matches of EURO 2012.
