| Blue Water Arena | |
|---|---|
| Former names | Esbjerg Idrætspark (and Esbjerg Stadion) (1955–2007) |
| Location | Gl. Vardevej 62 6700 Esbjerg |
| Built | 1955 |
| Opened | 1955 |
| Renovated | 1999, 2004, 2009 |
| Owner | Esbjerg Municipality |
| Operator | Sport & Event Park Esbjerg |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction cost | 105,000,000 DKK[nb 1] |
| Architect | Friis & Moltke[nb 1] |
| Structural engineer | Grontmij Carl Bro[nb 1] |
| General Contractor | Davidsen Partnere[nb 1] |
| Capacity | 18,000 (11,451 seats) |
| Record attendance | 22,000 (Esbjerg fB vs. KB, 1961) |
| Field dimensions | 105 x 68 m |
| Tenants | |
| Esbjerg fB (Danish Superliga) (1955–present) European Youth Olympic Festival (1999) |
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Blue Water Arena (former Esbjerg Idrætspark and Esbjerg Stadion) is a football stadium located in Idrætsparken Gl. Vardevej, Esbjerg, Denmark and is the home ground of Esbjerg fB. It has a capacity of 18,000 of which 11,451 is seated. It is currently the second biggest stadium in Jutland, and the fourth biggest in Denmark.
In 1999, the stadium was venue of the football tournament at the European Youth Olympic Festival.
On account of the 2008 UEFA qualifier fan attack resulting in the forbidding of play of UEFA qualifier matches for Denmark within 250 km of Copenhagen, the Blue Water Arena was mentioned as the only possible venue within Denmark in which Denmark UEFA qualifier home games can be held as it is the biggest stadium in the country more than 250 km from Copenhagen. UEFA later changed the verdict, and on July 9 2007 the Danish Football Association announced that the games against Spain and Liechtenstein would be played in Århus and the games against Latvia and Iceland would be played in Copenhagen.
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Blue Water Arena has twice been used as home ground for the Danish national team. Further it has been venue of several youth national matches:[1]
| Date | Home team | Res. | Away team | Competition | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 June 1952 | Denmark U-21 | 3–2 | Sweden U-21 | Friendly match | 6,600 |
| 10 October 1954 | Denmark B | 1–2 | Sweden B | Friendly match | 15,467 |
| 19 May 1956 | Denmark U-19 | 1–2 | England U-19 | Friendly match | 5,000 |
| 5 November 1961 | Denmark U-21 | 0–0 | Poland U-21 | Friendly match | 5,800 |
| 21 June 1966 | Denmark | 1–3 | Portugal | Friendly match | 14,500 |
| 26 May 1969 | Denmark U-21 | 0–3 | Switzerland U-21 | Friendly match | 4,500 |
| 14 November 1972 | Denmark U-23 | 0–2 | Poland U-23 | 1974 UEFA European Under-23 Football Championship qualifying | 1,100 |
| 4 September 1974 | Denmark U-21 | 2–2 | Belgium U-21 | Friendly match | 2,000 |
| 31 October 1979 | Denmark U-18 | 1–3 | England U-18 | 1980 UEFA European Under-18 Football Championship qualifying | ? |
| 13 April 1994 | Denmark U-17 | 4–1 | Austria U-17 | Friendly match | ? |
| 13 July 1999 | Denmark U-16 | 3–2 | Rep. of Ireland U-16 | 1999 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival | ? |
| 14 July 1999 | Denmark U-16 | 0–2 | Switzerland U-16 | 1999 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival | ? |
| 15 July 1999 | Denmark U-16 | 2–1 | Iceland U-16 | 1999 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival | ? |
| 14 November 2009 | Denmark | 0–0 | South Korea | Friendly match | 15,789 |
| 15 November 2011 | Denmark | 2–1 | Finland | Friendly match | 14,137 |
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