Amsterdam ArenA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Amsterdam ArenA | |
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| Location | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Built | 1994-1996 |
| Opened | 1996 |
| Owner | |
| Construction cost | € 96 million |
| Tenants | |
| Ajax Amsterdam (Eredivisie) 1996- Amsterdam Admirals (NFL Europa) 1997- |
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| Capacity | |
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The Amsterdam ArenA is a stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Initially, it was planned as the centrepiece of Amsterdam's bid for the 1992 Olympic Games. Amsterdam lost the bid to Barcelona and the plans for the stadium were altered to build a general sports and events arena instead. Today, the stadium is home to football club Ajax, and NFL Europa franchise Amsterdam Admirals.
The stadium, which opened in 1996, is one of the first in the world to combine 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. Its all-seated capacity is 51,628. The estimated cost of the stadium is around € 96 million. The inaugural match was between the home team Ajax Amsterdam and AC Milan. Tina Turner was the first singer who gave a concert in the ArenA during her Wildest Dreams world Tour, with more than 150,000 people attending the three concerts in September 1996.
[edit] Trivia
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'.
Strangely enough the Amsterdam ArenA lacks an Amsterdam Admirals sign above the entrance gates, there is however an Ajax sign above the entrance gates.
[edit] Other events
Despite frequent complaints about the acoustics of the Arena, concerts are often held here. Stars such as Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, David Bowie, Bon Jovi, Eminem, Robbie Williams, Andre Hazes, The Rolling Stones, Céline Dion, U2, Metallica and Madonna have played the venue over the years.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Olympiastadion Munich |
UEFA Champions League Final Venue 1998 |
Succeeded by Camp Nou Barcelona |
| Euro 2000 venues | ||
 Netherlands |
Amsterdam ArenA (Amsterdam) - Gelredome (Arnhem) Philips Stadion (Eindhoven) - De Kuip (Rotterdam) |
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 Belgium |
Jan Breydel Stadion (Bruges) - King Baudouin Stadium (Brussels) Stade du Pays de Charleroi (Charleroi) - Stade Maurice Dufrasne (Liège) |
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| Current Stadiums in NFL Europa |
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| Amsterdam ArenA | AOL Arena | Commerzbank-Arena | LTU Arena | Olympiastadion | RheinEnergieStadion | ||
| Football venues in the Netherlands | |
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| Eredivisie | |
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Abe Lenstra Stadion | Amsterdam ArenA | Arke Stadion | DSB Stadion | Euroborg | Galgenwaard | Gelredome | De Goffert | Het Kasteel | De Kuip | Mandemakers Stadion | Parkstad Limburg Stadion | Philips Stadion | Polman Stadion | Rat Verlegh Stadion | Willem II Stadion | Woudestein | Zuiderpark Stadion | |
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| Eerste Divisie | |
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Adelaarshorst | Sportpark Berg & Bos | De Braak | Cambuur Stadion | De Geusselt | GN Bouw Stadion | Haarlem Stadion | Jan Louwers Stadion | De Koel | Kras Stadion | Langeleegte | Mitsubishi Forklift Stadion | Oosterenkstadion | Schoonenberg Stadion | TOP Oss Stadion | Univé Stadion | RBC Stadion | De Vliert | De Vijverberg | Wagner & Partners Stadion | |
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| Future stadiums | |
| Defunct stadiums | |
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Alkmaarderhout | De Baandert | Diekman | Kaalheide | De Meer | Monnikenhuize | Olympisch Stadion (Amsterdam) | Oosterpark Stadion |
