Loro Boriçi Stadium

Loro Boriçi Stadium

Former names Vojo Kushi Stadium (1952–1990)
Location Rruga Djepaxhijej 2,
4001 Shkodër, Albania
Coordinates 42°04′12″N 19°30′24″E / 42.07000°N 19.50667°E / 42.07000; 19.50667Coordinates: 42°04′12″N 19°30′24″E / 42.07000°N 19.50667°E / 42.07000; 19.50667
Owner Municipality of Shkodër
Operator FSHF and Vllaznia
Capacity 16,022[1]
Field size 105 by 68 metres (115 by 74 yd)
Surface Grass
Construction
Broke ground 27 May 1950
Built 1950–1952
Opened 1 May 1952 (1952-05-01)
(original stadium)
29 August 2016 (2016-08-29)
(rebuilt stadium)
Renovated 1980s, 2001, 2016
Demolished 2015
Construction cost €17 million (2015–16 rebuild cost)
Architect Bolles+Wilson
Tenants
Vllaznia (1952–present)
Albania national football team (2003–present)
Kosovo national football team (only 2018 FIFA World Cup's qualifying matches)

The Loro Boriçi Stadium (Albanian: Stadiumi Loro Boriçi) is a multi-purpose stadium in Shkodër, Albania, which is used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Vllaznia. The initial stadium was built in 1952 and named after the communist partisan Vojo Kushi. It was reconstructed during the 1980s bringing it's capacity to around 15,000. In 1990, during the fall of communism in Albania, the stadium was renamed in honour of former footballer Loro Boriçi. Between 2015 and 2016 the stadium was rebuilt into a modern All-seater stadium with a capacity of 16,022.[2] The stadium is also the second largest stadium in Albania behind the Qemal Stafa Stadium in Tirana.[3]

History

Early history

Work on the stadium began on 17 May 1950 and was it inaugurated on 1 May 1952.[4]

On 29 March 2003 the stadium hosted a match for the UEFA Euro 2004 qualifiers between the Albania national football team and Russia. The match ended in a 3-1 win for Albania.[5]

2015 Reconstruction

The stadium was last renovated in 2001 and in October 2014 the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, promised the reconstruction of the stadium.[6] He stated that the stadium will have a renewed capacity of about 20.000 seats. On 3 May 2015, construction work officially started, bringing the stadium to a renewed capacity of 18,100.[7]

Loro Boriçi Stadium as Kosovo national football team stadium

Loro Boriçi Stadium is expected to be the Kosovo national football team stadium during the qualifying matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, because the two Kosovo national football stadiums are under renovation.[8][9] Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania, also stated in a post on Facebook that the new Kosovo national football team will play qualifying matches for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in the Loro Boriçi Stadium.[10]

The Inauguration of the Stadium

Loro Boriçi Stadium was inaugurated with the opening match between Albania and Macedonia on 5 September 2016. Albania won the match 2-1. This was the first victory of the Albanian national football team after the stadium's reconstruction.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://uk.soccerway.com/teams/albania/ks-vllaznia-shkoder/70/
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_BL4Ob6z2Q
  3. ↑ "World Stadiums - Stadiums in Albania". World Stadiums. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  4. ↑ Historia e stadiumit kombëtar Loro Boriçi
  5. ↑ Albania football team defeated Russia 3:1, 29 March 2003 EU-Football.info
  6. ↑ Edi Rama: Doshi, Frroku e Çela, merrni Vllazninë. “Loro Boriçi”, arenë europiane
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_BL4Ob6z2Q
  8. ↑ "Këto janë 11 stadiumet e Superligës dhe asnjëri nuk i plotëson kushtet (Foto)". telegrafi.com. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  9. ↑ ""Loro Boriçi", shtëpia e përkohshme e Kosovës". Radio Television of Kosovo. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  10. ↑ ""Loro Boriçi" i rilindur gati për kolaudim (Foto)". Edi Rama. Retrieved 11 August 2016.


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