Briskeby gressbane
Encyclopedia
Briskeby gressbane or simply Briskeby is a football stadium
in Hamar
, Norway
. It has been the home ground of the football
club Hamarkameratene since 1936. The stadium's capacity is currently 8,068, of which 2,768 are seated.
The record attendance is 14,500, set in 1938 when Briskeby was the venue for the Norwegian Cup
final. Ham-Kam's highest attendance, meanwhile, is 11,500 (against Lillestrøm SK) and dates from May 27, 1976.
The club plans to redevelop the stadium into a modern all-seater. The project was given the go-ahead politically on February 1, 2006, and the first phase will likely be completed in 2007. Once finished, the stadium will hold 10,200 spectators.
neighbourhood of Briskeby (hence the name of the stadium). After first playing wherever they could find an empty field, the club had to establish a permanent playing location upon entering the regional series in 1927. In time the club grew weary of paying ever-increasing rents, and began planning for a stadium of their own, at Briskeby. Construction began in 1934 and lasted two years, even up until the morning of the opening day. The stadium, which was the first in the region to have a grass pitch, was inaugurated on June 28, 1936. HamKam played against SFK Lyn in the opening match, the team from Oslo
winning 4-1.
A year after Briskeby was finished, HamKam were granted the honour of hosting the Norwegian Cup final. The final between Fredrikstad FK and Mjøndalen IF
was expected to gather an attendance more than ten times the stadium's capacity of 1,200. Much thanks to all the volunteers who helped prepare the stadium, the event was characterized as a success by the Norwegian Football Association. In the end, 14,500 spectators showed up - the biggest crowd ever to attend a game at Briskeby.
During the occupation
, the Germans set up a cold storage facility next to the pitch, and it was noted to have been exceptionally well built. The club therefore decided to turn it into a club house, which still exists today. The first and second floor balconies are used as spectator areas on matchdays. The original wooden bleachers had fallen into disrepair during the war
and were partially replaced by concrete ones.
The field was located in the municipality Vang until an expansion of Hamar's city limits in 1946.
Over the years the stadium has become outdated, and it is only through the promise of its imminent redevelopment that HamKam are allowed to play there. The stand on the east side of the pitch is the only one with actual seats. It was built in 1984, and has a capacity of 2,346. HamKam had to take up a loan to pay for its construction and were left with a heavy debt. After ten years the Municipality of Hamar bought the stadium to save the club from bankruptcy.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Hamar
Hamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It has been the home ground of the football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club Hamarkameratene since 1936. The stadium's capacity is currently 8,068, of which 2,768 are seated.
The record attendance is 14,500, set in 1938 when Briskeby was the venue for the Norwegian Cup
Norwegian football cup
The Norwegian Football Cup is the main knockout cup competition in Norwegian football. It is run by the Football Association of Norway and has been contested since 1902, making it the oldest football tournament in the country. The tournament is commonly known as Cupen or NM, an acronym formed...
final. Ham-Kam's highest attendance, meanwhile, is 11,500 (against Lillestrøm SK) and dates from May 27, 1976.
The club plans to redevelop the stadium into a modern all-seater. The project was given the go-ahead politically on February 1, 2006, and the first phase will likely be completed in 2007. Once finished, the stadium will hold 10,200 spectators.
History
HamKam's home ground was built in 1936, in the VangVang, Hedmark
Vang is a former municipality in Hedmark county, Norway.Vang was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . The city of Hamar was separated from Vang in 1849. Furnes was separated from Vang in 1891...
neighbourhood of Briskeby (hence the name of the stadium). After first playing wherever they could find an empty field, the club had to establish a permanent playing location upon entering the regional series in 1927. In time the club grew weary of paying ever-increasing rents, and began planning for a stadium of their own, at Briskeby. Construction began in 1934 and lasted two years, even up until the morning of the opening day. The stadium, which was the first in the region to have a grass pitch, was inaugurated on June 28, 1936. HamKam played against SFK Lyn in the opening match, the team from Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
winning 4-1.
A year after Briskeby was finished, HamKam were granted the honour of hosting the Norwegian Cup final. The final between Fredrikstad FK and Mjøndalen IF
Mjøndalen IF
Mjøndalen IF is a Norwegian sports club from Mjøndalen, Buskerud, Norway.-Football:The club have won the Norwegian Cup three times, 1933, 1934 and 1937...
was expected to gather an attendance more than ten times the stadium's capacity of 1,200. Much thanks to all the volunteers who helped prepare the stadium, the event was characterized as a success by the Norwegian Football Association. In the end, 14,500 spectators showed up - the biggest crowd ever to attend a game at Briskeby.
During the occupation
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
, the Germans set up a cold storage facility next to the pitch, and it was noted to have been exceptionally well built. The club therefore decided to turn it into a club house, which still exists today. The first and second floor balconies are used as spectator areas on matchdays. The original wooden bleachers had fallen into disrepair during the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and were partially replaced by concrete ones.
The field was located in the municipality Vang until an expansion of Hamar's city limits in 1946.
Over the years the stadium has become outdated, and it is only through the promise of its imminent redevelopment that HamKam are allowed to play there. The stand on the east side of the pitch is the only one with actual seats. It was built in 1984, and has a capacity of 2,346. HamKam had to take up a loan to pay for its construction and were left with a heavy debt. After ten years the Municipality of Hamar bought the stadium to save the club from bankruptcy.
