Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
Encyclopedia
The Estádio Finibanco Cidade de Coimbra is a stadium
in Coimbra
, Portugal
. This stadium belongs to the Municipality of Coimbra and is mainly used by the Académica de Coimbra's football team. Until 2003, it was called the Estádio Municipal de Coimbra (Municipality of Coimbra Stadium), or the Estádio do Calhabé, after the name of its location in Coimbra.
The stadium was rebuilt, expanded, and modernized to host some UEFA Euro 2004 matches. Far beyond the sports stadium itself, all the project, called Euro Stadium Project, included the possibility of organizing sports, culture, and commercial events, by the modernization of the entire Calhabé area in Coimbra.
The Estádio Finibanco Cidade de Coimbra was inaugurated with a Rolling Stones concert on 27 September 2003, attended by over 50,000 people. On 29 October 2003, Académica de Coimbra played at home to Sport Lisboa e Benfica in the first official match in the remodelled stadium.
The stadium has 30,210 seats, two-thirds of which are covered. The complex boasts a large press centre, a bar, kitchens, and a restaurant with a panoramic view of the pitch. The project of the stadium took advantage of old seats: of close to 15,000 (all seated), involved the planned remodelling of the tier which extends around the entire perimeter of the previous stands, and a second tier above that, in the form of a "U", opening onto the slopes of the city at the North end.
A multi-purpose pavilion, olympic swimming pools, healthclub, gym, offices and studio apartment residences were built in the surrounding area. The Dolce Vita, a shopping and leisure center built near the stadium, includes cinemas, underground car parking, restaurants, and several retail outlets.
3–0 Switzerland
and Switzerland 1–3 France
. Curiously in both matches, the record for the European Championship
's youngest goalscorer was broken, first by Wayne Rooney
, then by Johan Vonlanthen.
matches were held in the stadium, both in its old and renovated shape.
Club: Associação Académica de Coimbra – O.A.F.
Inauguration: 27 September 2003 (Rolling Stones concert)
First match: Académica-Benfica 1–3 (29 October 2003)
Capacity: 30,000 seats
Pitch dimensions: 105mx70m
Address: Rua D. Manuel I, 3030-320 Coimbra
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 Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. This stadium belongs to the Municipality of Coimbra and is mainly used by the Académica de Coimbra's football team. Until 2003, it was called the Estádio Municipal de Coimbra (Municipality of Coimbra Stadium), or the Estádio do Calhabé, after the name of its location in Coimbra.
The stadium was rebuilt, expanded, and modernized to host some UEFA Euro 2004 matches. Far beyond the sports stadium itself, all the project, called Euro Stadium Project, included the possibility of organizing sports, culture, and commercial events, by the modernization of the entire Calhabé area in Coimbra.
The Estádio Finibanco Cidade de Coimbra was inaugurated with a Rolling Stones concert on 27 September 2003, attended by over 50,000 people. On 29 October 2003, Académica de Coimbra played at home to Sport Lisboa e Benfica in the first official match in the remodelled stadium.
Features
Its design does not involve any historical or traditional references, as the idea was to create a new, contemporary image with glass façades and an aesthetic roof supported by elegant stands. The existing athletics track has been preserved for possible use as a multi-purpose facility in the future. The stadium was designed by the Portuguese architectural firm Plarq in association with KSS Design Group of London. The Plarq team was led by the architect António Monteiro.The stadium has 30,210 seats, two-thirds of which are covered. The complex boasts a large press centre, a bar, kitchens, and a restaurant with a panoramic view of the pitch. The project of the stadium took advantage of old seats: of close to 15,000 (all seated), involved the planned remodelling of the tier which extends around the entire perimeter of the previous stands, and a second tier above that, in the form of a "U", opening onto the slopes of the city at the North end.
A multi-purpose pavilion, olympic swimming pools, healthclub, gym, offices and studio apartment residences were built in the surrounding area. The Dolce Vita, a shopping and leisure center built near the stadium, includes cinemas, underground car parking, restaurants, and several retail outlets.
Euro 2004
The stadium hosted two UEFA Euro 2004 Group B matches: EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
3–0 Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
and Switzerland 1–3 France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
. Curiously in both matches, the record for the European Championship
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
's youngest goalscorer was broken, first by Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
, then by Johan Vonlanthen.
Portugal national football team
The following national teamPortugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
matches were held in the stadium, both in its old and renovated shape.
| # | Date | Score | Opponent | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 13 April 1983 | 0–0 | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|
| 2. | 8 June 1983 | 0–4 | Friendly | |
| 3. | 9 June 1999 | 8–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying | |
| 4. | 28 April 2004 | 2–2 | Friendly | |
| 5. | 12 November 2005 | 2–0 | Friendly | |
| 6. | 15 November 2006 | 3–0 | Euro 2008 qualifying | |
| 7. | 3 March 2010 | 2–0 | Friendly | |
Profile
Name: Estádio EFAPEL Cidade de CoimbraClub: Associação Académica de Coimbra – O.A.F.
Inauguration: 27 September 2003 (Rolling Stones concert)
First match: Académica-Benfica 1–3 (29 October 2003)
Capacity: 30,000 seats
Pitch dimensions: 105mx70m
Address: Rua D. Manuel I, 3030-320 Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...