Kiryat Eliezer Stadium

Haifa Municipal Stadium אצטדיון העירוני חיפה
Kiryat Eliezer קריית אליעזר
Location	16 Tzahal Street, Kiryat Eliezer, Haifa 35157
Broke ground	1955
Opened	1956
Closed	2014
Demolished	2014
Owner	Municipality of Haifa
Operator	ETHOS
Surface	Grass
Capacity	14,002
Tenants
Hapoel Haifa (1956-2014) Maccabi Haifa (1956-2014)

The Haifa Municipal Stadium (Hebrew: אצטדיון העירוני חיפה‎, Etztadion HaIroni Haifa), more commonly known as Kiryat Eliezer (Hebrew: קריית אליעזר‎), is a multi-use stadium in the Kiryat Eliezer neighborhood of Haifa, Israel. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Haifa. It is expected to be replaced by the new Sammy Ofer Stadium at the southern entrance to the city by March 2014.

Background

The stadium was built in 1955, as a gift from the Italian Labour Union. It seats 14,002 among its 14 gates. Ownership of the stadium belongs to the Municipality of Haifa, though it is managed by a suborganization called ETHOS. The stadium was opened on 24 September 1955 with a Haifa derby match, Maccabi beating Hapoel 4-1. Both clubs had previously played at Kiryat Haim Stadium in the Kerayot area of Haifa.

The stadium does not meet UEFA's highest standards forcing the clubs in Haifa to host their European matches in the Tel Aviv area. At certain times, UEFA also has limited clubs from outside the Tel Aviv area from hosting even low level European qualifiers citing security concerns.

Kiryat Eliezer is the only stadium in Israel equipped with electronic gates in an effort to curb scalping and the sale of counterfeit tickets. Regulars to the stadium may purchase a card for 10 shekels, which can be refilled for specific matches held at the stadium.

There is one scoreboard in the stadium, which does not have a replay screen. The only television in the stadium, outside of the television broadcast booth, is in front of the seat of Ya'akov Shahar, the owner of Maccabi Haifa. Only the A section of the stadium is covered by a roof.

Transportation

The stadium is located in the Kiryat Eliezer neighborhood of Haifa. Adjacent to the stadium is Beit Egged. Thus the stadium is easily served by all Egged bus lines running into and out of Haifa as well as the Bat Galim Railway Station, which is a central stop for all train lines running up the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Gates

Outside the stadium

VIP Section at Kiryat Eliezer

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kiryat Eliezer Stadium.

• Municipality of Haifa
• ETHOS - Organization for the Arts, Culture and Sport, Haifa Inc.
• Garber Tickets - Ticket agent for events at Kiryat Eliezer
• Official website of Maccabi Haifa
• Official website of Hapoel Haifa

Coordinates: 32°49′38″N 34°58′53″E / 32.827322°N 34.981284°E / 32.827322; 34.981284