Galgenwaard Stadium

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Galgenwaard Stadium
Galgenwaard Stadium
South stand of the Galgenwaard Stadium
Earlier names

Nieuw-Galgenwaard Stadium (2004–2009)

Data
place Herculesplein 241 3584 AA Utrecht , The Netherlands
NetherlandsNetherlands
Coordinates 52 ° 4 '42.1 "  N , 5 ° 8' 45"  E Coordinates: 52 ° 4 '42.1 "  N , 5 ° 8' 45"  E
opening May 21, 1936
August 22, 2004
First game FC Utrecht - RBC Roosendaal 5-1
Renovations 1981, 2001
surface Natural grass
architect Zwarts & Jansma Architects
capacity 24,426 seats
playing area 105 × 68 m
Societies)
Events

The Galgenwaard Stadium is a football stadium in the Dutch municipality of Utrecht . The football club FC Utrecht plays its home games here. The history of the stadium, which was reopened in 2004, began in the 1930s .

history

Early years

The stadium from the air with the two high-rise apartment buildings

The city of Utrecht needed a sports facility where all kinds of sports could be played. After some difficulties such as finding a suitable location and the global economic crisis , construction began.

Picture of the old stadium from 1936

The sports facility was opened on May 21, 1936. In addition to the soccer games of USV Hercules and DOS Utrecht, cycling races , greyhound races , athletics and gymnastics also took place. Congresses of Jehovah's Witnesses were also held. The games were well attended and on Sundays thousands came to the 16,000-seat stadium.

Nieuw Galgenwaard

After more than 45 years, the time of the first stadium came to an end. After a game between FC Utrecht and PSV Eindhoven , the arena made way for a new venue. In 1982 "Nieuw Galgenwaard" was opened. It was one of the most modern stadiums at the time. A ditch around the playing field made fences unnecessary.

In the summer of 1998, the Utrecht stadium became the venue for the men's and women's hockey world championships . For the first time these were held together in one place. For this, the natural grass was exchanged for an artificial grass . The host Netherlands won the men's tournament. The Australians won the women’s race.

renovation

After twenty years, the arena was expanded and modernized. The main stand was moved to the north and opened for the 2001/02 season. A year later, the opposite stand was ready. The stands behind the gates were also renewed. Since then, the stadium has had almost 24,500 seats.

Behind the stadium there is a sports hall that is used for basketball , volleyball and gymnastics . Two residential towers called “Apollo-Residence” were built next to the arena. Since January 1, 2002, the stadium has officially been named "Stadion Galgenwaard".

In 2005, the Junior World Cup took place in the Netherlands . Ten games of these in Utrecht, including the final. Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 with two goals from Lionel Messi .

In 2017, the soccer stadium was one of seven venues for the women's European soccer championship .

From season 2018/19 it is in the seat stadium on the Bunnikside Tribune 500 secure standing ( Safe Standing enter). For this, part of the block K is converted. The club responded to the request of the fans.

See also

Web links

Commons : Stadion Galgenwaard  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ stadionwelt.de: Utrecht: Introduction of Safe Standing article from January 16, 2018