Votanikos Arena
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 |
This article or section is about a planned or proposed stadium. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the construction and/or completion of the stadium approaches. |
| New Panathinaikos Sports Complex | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | Votanikos, Athens |
| Broke ground | Will start in 2007 |
| Opened | End of 2008 (expected) |
| Owner | Municipality of Athens, Panathinaikos A.O. |
| Operator | Panathinaikos A.O. |
| Construction cost | 75 - 80 million € |
| Architect |  Manuel Salgado |
| Tenants | |
| Panathinaikos AO | |
| Capacity | |
| 40,000 (Football Venue),
8,000 & 3,000 (Indoor Halls) |
|
| Dimensions | |
| 105 x 68m | |
Votanikos Arena is the temporary name for the proposed multi-use sports complex in Athens, Greece, that will host all Panathinaikos' departments. The arena will be located in the historic Votanikos area, west of downtown.
The project is currently nearing the end of the design phase, and detailed plans and timetables are expected by the end of 2006. Construction is expected to start within the first half of 2007, in order for the stadium to be ready to host Panathinaikos' 100th birthday celebrations by the end of 2008. According to current plans, once completed, it will consist of a 42,000 capacity football ground (all seated) and two indoor halls: one for the volleyball teams and the smaller of Panathinaikos' departments (swimming, water polo, table tennis etc, with a capacity of 3,000), projected for the end of 2008, and another for the basketball team (capacity of around 8,000), projected for 2012. (While the capacity of the basketball arena will be suitable for domestic league games, it will not be adequate for Euroleague fixtures, as the minimum capacity for that competition will increase to 10,000 in 2009.)
This new sports complex it will replace the historic Apostolos Nikolaidis (Leoforos) Stadium, that is now all but abandoned by the team. Panathinaikos now uses several different venues for its football, basketball and volleyball teams, pending construction of its new home.
The cost of the project is estimated at 80 million euros, with the total redevelopment budget for the Votanikos area exceeding 130 million euros, making it the biggest investment project undertaken in Athens in the post-Olympic era. The whole project will be financed jointly by the Municipality of Athens and the Greek Government. The complex will be leased to Panathinaikos for 99 years, in return of an annual fee, while commercial development of the complex (shops etc) will belong to the Municipality of Athens.
[edit] New Football Venue Information
- Capacity 42.000 seats (fully covered) + future extensions
- UEFA Rating: 4 Stars at initial completion, but planned to meet all 5 Star requirements with future expansion (50.000 seats)
- Dimensions: 105 x 68m
- 1600 lux lightining
- Parking: 4000 car seats
- VIP & Bussiness Seats: 3.500
- VIP Class Room : 4.000 square metres
- Press Area: 500 square metres with full equipment
- Control Room with full coverage of the Stadium
Source: www.goalday.gr
