Arke Stadion
Encyclopedia
De Grolsch Veste (The Grolsch Fortress, previously known as Arke Stadion) is the stadium of football club Twente
. It is located in Enschede
, Netherlands, at the Business & Science Park, near the University of Twente. The stadium has an all-seated capacity of 30,014 with a standard pitch heating system and has a promenade instead of fences around the stands.
as FC Twente's home ground on 22 March 1998. Plans had been afoot to expand and to renovate the old and now demolished Diekman Stadion. However, with a growing fan capacity and with arguments that the location of the Diekman stadium was not strategic enough, the idea was conceived to build a new arena for the FC Twente fans. The Diekman ground also faced problems with its seating plans as a result of previous FIFA
regulations which imposed a necessity to construct a seating tribune behind each goal post.
The cost of the construction is estimated to have been around 33 million guilders and it took fourteen months to complete, with its foundation stone having been laid on 31 January 1997. Due to the tight budget available, the layout of the stadium was constructed in such a way that future expansions would be possible without the necessity to tear down entire stands.
The first match played at the stadium was a 3–0 victory by the home team against PSV on 10 May 1998 in an Eredivisie
match. The first goal in the new stadium was scored in the 14th minute by Twente player Chris De Witte.
On 1 October 2006, the stadium was updated with two big flatscreen video-walls.
In May 2008 the Arke Stadion was renamed to De Grolsch Veste with beer brewery Grolsch as sponsor. The brewery is located in the club's hometown Enschede
. The name "Veste" (fortress) is a reference to Groenlo
, a former fortified town that was often besieged and where Grolsch was first brewed.
On September 5, 2009 for the first time ever an international (friendly) match was played in the FC Twente stadium when Netherlands
beat Japan 3–0.
FC Twente is aiming to start a new phase in the stadium expansion in the summer of 2011 which will result in a capacity of 32,000 seats.
As part of the combined Netherlands and Belgium bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup
, the stadium is one of five stadiums in the Netherlands selected by the KNVB
to host games. This would mean that the stadium capacity needs to be expanded to the minimum required seating of 44,000.
The other four selected host cities in the Netherlands are Amsterdam
(Amsterdam Arena
and Olympisch Stadion), Rotterdam
(Feijenoord Stadion "De Kuip"
and "De Nieuwe Kuip"), Eindhoven (Philips Stadion
) and Heerenveen
(Abe Lenstra Stadion
).
The city of Enschede
announced on September 11, 2009 that it would officially be a candidate city and that it would fully support FC Twente's ambition to expand the stadium capacity to the minimum required seating of 44,000. In December 2009, IAA Architecten released computer generated images of the proposed 44,000+ stadium with an arched 3rd tier, to complete the main stand.
File:Grolsch Veste 1.jpg| Outside view
File:Grolsch_Veste_wedstrijd.JPG|FC Twente game
File:De_Grolsch_Veste_-_main_stand.jpg|Main stand
File:De_Grolsch_Veste_-_outside_corner.jpg|Outside corner
File:Arke_Stadion_Vak_P.jpg|P-side
File:De_Grolsch_Veste_-_sign.jpg|Sign
File:Arke_Stadion_Enschede_2.jpg|Previous Arke stadium
FC Twente
FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys...
. It is located in Enschede
Enschede
Enschede , also known as Eanske in the local dialect of Twents, is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Overijssel and in the Twente region...
, Netherlands, at the Business & Science Park, near the University of Twente. The stadium has an all-seated capacity of 30,014 with a standard pitch heating system and has a promenade instead of fences around the stands.
History
De Grolsch Veste replaced the old Diekman StadionDiekman Stadion
Diekman Stadion was a multi-use stadium in Enschede, Netherlands. It was used mostly for football matches. The stadium was able to hold 13,500 people and opened in 1956. The stadium closed in 1998 when the Arke Stadion opened.-History:...
as FC Twente's home ground on 22 March 1998. Plans had been afoot to expand and to renovate the old and now demolished Diekman Stadion. However, with a growing fan capacity and with arguments that the location of the Diekman stadium was not strategic enough, the idea was conceived to build a new arena for the FC Twente fans. The Diekman ground also faced problems with its seating plans as a result of previous FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
regulations which imposed a necessity to construct a seating tribune behind each goal post.
The cost of the construction is estimated to have been around 33 million guilders and it took fourteen months to complete, with its foundation stone having been laid on 31 January 1997. Due to the tight budget available, the layout of the stadium was constructed in such a way that future expansions would be possible without the necessity to tear down entire stands.
The first match played at the stadium was a 3–0 victory by the home team against PSV on 10 May 1998 in an Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
match. The first goal in the new stadium was scored in the 14th minute by Twente player Chris De Witte.
On 1 October 2006, the stadium was updated with two big flatscreen video-walls.
In May 2008 the Arke Stadion was renamed to De Grolsch Veste with beer brewery Grolsch as sponsor. The brewery is located in the club's hometown Enschede
Enschede
Enschede , also known as Eanske in the local dialect of Twents, is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Overijssel and in the Twente region...
. The name "Veste" (fortress) is a reference to Groenlo
Groenlo
Groenlo is a city in the municipality of Oost Gelre, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands on the German border, a region in the province of Gelderland called the Achterhoek . Groenlo was a municipality until January 1, 2005, when it merged with Lichtenvoorde. Until May 19 2006 Groenlo...
, a former fortified town that was often besieged and where Grolsch was first brewed.
On September 5, 2009 for the first time ever an international (friendly) match was played in the FC Twente stadium when Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
beat Japan 3–0.
Expansion
In 2006 plans were unfolded to increase the stadium capacity to 24,000 seats. The expansion started in January 2008 and was completed in September 2008, just in time for the start of the 2008–2009 season.FC Twente is aiming to start a new phase in the stadium expansion in the summer of 2011 which will result in a capacity of 32,000 seats.
As part of the combined Netherlands and Belgium bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, the stadium is one of five stadiums in the Netherlands selected by the KNVB
Royal Dutch Football Association
The Royal Dutch Football Association is the governing body of football in the Netherlands. It organises the main Dutch football leagues , the amateur leagues, the KNVB Cup, and the Dutch national football team. It is based in the municipality of Zeist.The KNVB came into being on 8 December 1889...
to host games. This would mean that the stadium capacity needs to be expanded to the minimum required seating of 44,000.
The other four selected host cities in the Netherlands are Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
(Amsterdam Arena
Amsterdam ArenA
Amsterdam Arena is a stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is the largest stadium in the nation and it was built from 1993 to 1996 at a cost of €140 million, and was officially opened on 14 August 1996. It has been used for association football, American football, concerts, and other events...
and Olympisch Stadion), Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
(Feijenoord Stadion "De Kuip"
Feijenoord Stadion
The Feijenoord Stadion, better known by its nickname De Kuip , is a stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands that was completed in 1937. The name is derived from the area "Feijenoord" in Rotterdam, and from the club with the same name .Capacity at completion: 64,000. Maximum capacity: 69,000...
and "De Nieuwe Kuip"), Eindhoven (Philips Stadion
Philips Stadion
Philips Stadion is the 35,000 seater stadium of football club, PSV Eindhoven. It was first inaugurated on 31 August 1913. The stadium is located in the Philipsdorp part of the Eindhoven borough of Strijp, close to Eindhoven's city centre....
) and Heerenveen
Heerenveen
Heerenveen is a town in the Heerenveen municipality of the province of Friesland , in the north of the Netherlands.- History :The town was established in 1551 by three lords as a location for the purpose of digging peat which was used for fuel, hence the name...
(Abe Lenstra Stadion
Abe Lenstra Stadion
Abe Lenstra Stadion is a football stadium in Heerenveen, Netherlands. It is currently used mostly for the home matches of Eredivisie club Heerenveen.The current capacity is 26,000.-The name Abe Lenstra Stadion:...
).
The city of Enschede
Enschede
Enschede , also known as Eanske in the local dialect of Twents, is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Overijssel and in the Twente region...
announced on September 11, 2009 that it would officially be a candidate city and that it would fully support FC Twente's ambition to expand the stadium capacity to the minimum required seating of 44,000. In December 2009, IAA Architecten released computer generated images of the proposed 44,000+ stadium with an arched 3rd tier, to complete the main stand.
Roof collapse
The site was the place of an accident on July 7, 2011, when the roof of a stand collapsed while expansion work was carried out, killing two workers and injuring 14 people.Gallery
File:Grolsch Veste 1.jpg| Outside view
File:Grolsch_Veste_wedstrijd.JPG|FC Twente game
File:De_Grolsch_Veste_-_main_stand.jpg|Main stand
File:De_Grolsch_Veste_-_outside_corner.jpg|Outside corner
File:Arke_Stadion_Vak_P.jpg|P-side
File:De_Grolsch_Veste_-_sign.jpg|Sign
File:Arke_Stadion_Enschede_2.jpg|Previous Arke stadium