Eden Arena
| Eden Arena | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Former names |
Stadion Eden (2008) Synot Tip Arena (2008–2012) |
| Location | Vršovice, Prague 10, Prague, Czech Republic |
| Coordinates | 50°04′03″N 14°28′18″E / 50.06750°N 14.47167°ECoordinates: 50°04′03″N 14°28′18″E / 50.06750°N 14.47167°E |
| Broke ground | 15 September 2006 |
| Opened | 7 May 2008 |
| Owner | Natland Group |
| Operator | SK Slavia Prague |
| Construction cost | 1 billion koruna |
| Architect |
Ing. arch.Martin Kotík Ing. arch.Daniel Dvořák Ing. arch.Leoš Zeman |
| Capacity | 20,800 |
| Field dimensions | 105 metres (115 yd) x 68 metres (74 yd) |
| Tenants | |
|
SK Slavia Prague (2008–) Bohemians 1905 (2010–2012) FC Viktoria Plzeň (for 2011-2012 UEFA Champions League) | |
Eden Arena (formerly known as Synot Tip Arena) is a football stadium, in Prague-Vršovice, Czech Republic.
The stadium has a capacity of 21,000 people and it is the most modern football stadium in the Czech Republic. It is the home venue of SK Slavia Prague and occasionally the Czech Republic national football team. Starting in the 2010–11 season, it is also the venue of Bohemians 1905 home matches for a period of five years. During the 2011–12 season the stadium hosted home matches for FC Viktoria Plzeň in the Champions League group stage.
The stadium was the venue for the 2013 UEFA Super Cup.[1]
History
In the early 1950s, Slavia was forced to leave its stadium at Letná and a new stadium was built at Eden in the Vršovice district. Its capacity was about 50,000 (mostly for standing). The wooden western (main) stand was taken from the old stadium at Letná, the rest of the stands were made of concrete. The stadium also featured an athletics track. The first match at this stadium took place on September 27, 1953, Slavia drew 1-1 against the team of Křídla vlasti Olomouc. Josef Bican scored the home team's goal.
Move
In the 1970s, it became apparent that Eden did not provide sufficient comfort for the visitors and started planning to build a new one in the same place. However, under the communist regime, the planning went quite slowly. Several projects were made, and the construction was finally to start in 1990. In 1989, Slavia moved temporarily to nearby Ďolíček stadium (home of FC Bohemians Prague, now known as Bohemians 1905) and the eastern stand was torn down. However, the overthrowing of the communist regime in 1989 delayed the construction. In the meantime, Slavia moved to Stadion Evžena Rošického, a stadium on the Strahov hill, which is large but uncomfortable and poorly accessible.
In the early 1990s, the whole construction was cancelled and Slavia moved back to Eden. A temporary stand was built in the place of former eastern stand, but it was clear that Eden was outdated and Slavia needed a new home ground. Several more projects were made, but Slavia was unable to raise sufficient funds and there were some legal problems, as the premises were owned by the government and it took a lot of effort to transfer them to Slavia. In 2000, the stadium was not eligible to host Czech league matches, so Slavia moved to the unpopular Strahov again.
New stadium
Slavia finally presented a project of the new stadium, but no construction started. In December 2003, the old Eden stadium was torn down and Slavia announced that the new stadium would be opened on October 19, 2005, however, by October 2005 the construction had not even started. It took another year to start. The project had to be scaled down to lower the construction cost from 1.8 billion Czech koruna to less than 1 billion. The construction eventually started in October 2006.
Despite the stadium not being fully finished, it was opened on May 7, 2008 with an exhibition match against Oxford University A.F.C.. Many former Slavia stars (such as Pavel Kuka, Patrik Berger, Jan Suchopárek and Ivo Knoflíček) took part in this match. Slavia won 5-0.[2]
The first competitive match at the new stadium was played on May 17, 2008 against Jablonec, the match ended 2-2, Slavia secured the Gambrinus Liga title in this final match of the 2007/08 season.
Sponsorship
In July 2008, it was announced that betting company Synot Tip had made an agreement with E Side Property Limited, the owners of the stadium, regarding a sponsorship deal regarding one of the stands.[3] In 2009, the stadium's name was officially changed to Synot Tip Arena.[4]
In 2011, Natland Group were announced as the new majority owners of the stadium.[5]
In 2012 it was announced that Synot would not be extending their sponsorship of the stadium past the end of the 2011–12 season.[6]
International matches
Eden Arena has hosted three competitive matches and one friendly match of the Czech national team.
Concerts
| Date | Performer(s) | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 3 June 2008 | Metallica | [7] |
| 8 August 2008 | Iron Maiden | [8] |
| 17 August 2008 | R.E.M. | [9] |
| 25 June 2009 | Depeche Mode | [10] |
| 20 July 2010 | P!nk | [11] |
| 7 May 2012 | Metallica | [12] |
| 11 July 2012 | Bruce Springsteen | [13] |
| 16 September 2012 | Coldplay | [14] |
| 24 June 2013 | Bon Jovi | [15] |
| 23 July 2013 | Depeche Mode | [16] |
| 29 July 2013 | Iron Maiden | [17] |
Other uses
The stadium is occasionally used for other events beside football, such as concerts or other sports matches.
The stadium was used for the final rugby matches of the 2008 and 2009–10 KB Extraliga seasons.[18][19]
There is a hotel and a fan shop in the northern stand, and various other facilities (bar, McDonald's, Komerční banka branch, offices) in the main stand.
References
- ↑ "Wembley, Amsterdam ArenA, Prague get 2013 finals". UEFA.com (Union of European Football Associations). 16 June 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
- ↑ "Czech champions Slavia too strong for Blues". Retrieved 13 Nov 2008.
- ↑ "Synot je partnerem stadionu v Edenu". ihned.cz (in Czech) (Hospodářské noviny). 18 July 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- ↑ "Když Slavia porazí Boleslav, bude mít před Spartou desetibodový náskok". idnes.cz (in Czech) (Mladá fronta DNES). 26 April 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- ↑ "Stadion v Edenu ve většině patří Natlandu". denik.cz (in Czech) (Vltava-Labe-Press). 11 October 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
- ↑ Malý, Jan; Káninský, Josef (15 February 2012). "Slavia přijde o miliony od Synotu". ihned.cz (in Czech) (Hospodářské noviny). Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- ↑ Martin Divíšek (2008-06-03). "OBRAZEM: Metallica dobyla Eden". denik.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2011-06-20.
- ↑ Grzegorz Klatka (2008-08-08). "OBRAZEM: Iron Maiden zaplnili Eden". denik.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2011-06-20.
- ↑ Michal Bystrov (2008-08-18). "Nedělní procházka po Měsíci s R.E.M.". denik.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2011-06-20.
- ↑ Tomáš S. Polívka (2009-06-26). "Depeche Mode zahráli bez šance na omyl". denik.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2011-06-20.
- ↑ ČTK (2010-07-21). "Pink hrála moc nahlas, pořadatele prý čeká pokuta". denik.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2011-06-20.
- ↑ http://www.novinky.cz/kultura/266953-metallica-privezla-cernou-desku-a-zvitezila.html
- ↑ http://www.novinky.cz/kultura/251761-v-praze-zahraje-bruce-springsteen-a-e-street-band.html
- ↑ http://www.ticketpro.cz/jnp/en/hudba/rock/771234-coldplay.html
- ↑ http://www.eventim.cz/vstupenky-bon-jovi.html?affiliate=ECZ&doc=artistPages%2Ftickets&fun=artist&action=tickets&erid=516311
- ↑ http://www.ticketpro.cz/jnp/en/hudba/tanecni-elektronicka-hudba/959185-depeche-mode.html
- ↑ Iron Maiden (2013-07-29). "Iron Maiden to play Czech Republic". Retrieved 2013-02-15.
- ↑ Ragbisté Tatry Smíchov ve finále extraligy porazili Říčany a obhájili titul (Czech)
- ↑ Mistrem ligy se stala po devětatřiceti letech Slavia (Czech)
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stadion Eden. |
- Homepage
- Stadium picture
- SK Slavia Prague
- Stadium Guide Article
- Photos of opening night from ouafc.com
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