Hrazdan Stadium
Encyclopedia
Hrazdan Stadium is a multi-use, all-seater stadium
in Yerevan
, Armenia
, built and opened in 1970. With the financial support of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
, the stadium was built in a remarkable period of 11 months.
Being the largest sports venue in Armenia, Hrazdan is mostly used for football
matches. It is the home stadium of FC Ararat Yerevan
and Ulisses. The stadium is able to host 53,849 after the most recent reconstruction in 2008, which converted the stadium to an all-seater one. Before the reconstruction, "Hrazdan" was able to hold up to 75,000 spectaors. It was among the top five stadiums of the Soviet Union
by its capacity. The stadium hosted the Armenian Cup
finals during many occasions as well as the opening ceremony of the Pan-Armenian Games
in 2003. Hrazdan was also one of the home grounds of the USSR national team
during the late period of the Soviet Union.
. It was designated to to host 75,000 spectators.
However, Hrazdan hosted its first official football match on 19 May 1971 when Ararat Yerevan
defeated Kairat Almaty 1-0.
The stadium hosted some glorious days of the Armenian football during Soviet era. The Armenians celebrated Ararat Yerevan
's double of the Soviet football in 1973, which allowed them to play in the European Cup. Reaching the quarterfinals, they lost the first leg to defending and future champion Bayern Munich with a 2-0 while they won the 2nd leg 1-0 in Hrazdan stadium in front of a remarkable 75,000 spectators.
In 1989, a year after the 1988 Spitak Earthquake that killed 25,000 people and left more than 500,000 homeless, along with the break out of the Karabakh movement
and the rise of nationalism, hundreds of thousands of Armenians were looking for some kind of temporary diversion from the devastation and feeling the importance of nationalist activities. More than 110,000 fans packed the Hrazdan stadium to hear revolutionary and patriotic songs performed by the Armenian famous singer Harout Pamboukjian
. Then-Minister of Culture Yuri Melik-Ohanjanian remarked this was the highest-attended performance in the history of Armenia.
After the independence of Armenia, the arena hosted the matches of the national team until 1999 when a smaller stadium in downtown Yerevan; the Hanrapetakan Stadium became its home ground. The largest number of spectators for the National team was recorded on October 9, 1996, in a 1998 World Cup qualification
match against Germany
which was ended in the favour of the Germans with the result of 5-1 and attended by more than 50,000 fans.
In 2004 the stadium was privatized and sold to the Hrazdan Holding CJSC, who began to set up a renovation process in 2005. By the end of 2008 the stadium became all-seater.
Shortly after its renovation the Stadium hosted Armenia's match against Turkey
on 6 September 2008, which was the first match Armenia
had played at ground since a Euro 2000 qualifying match against France
on 8 September 1999. The crucial match was attended by presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Abdullah Gul
, with the presence of more than 38,000 spectators.
The Stadium has also been used as a concert venue for the Tata Simonyan 2010 world tour.
The history of the stadium is closely related with the history of Armenian football. The Stadium which was built in a record period of 11 months (which is unique for such constructions), is the first in the world to be built in a mountainous area.
The architects of the stadium were K. Hakobian and G. Musheghian from Armenia. The construction process was supervised by engineer E. Tossunian. The architectural group of the stadium was awarded with the title of the best construction of the year in 1971 and honoured by the Soviet government.
Besides the grandstands, the stadium has 10 tiers with the capacity of 600 spectators. "Hrazdan" is served by 4 light towers which include 625 projectors.
After the reconstruction, Hrazdan held UEFA three-star status until that rating was superseded by a new system of classification.
All-seater stadium
An all-seater stadium is a sports stadium in which every spectator has a seat. This is commonplace in football stadiums in nations such as the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Netherlands. Most soccer and American football stadiums in the United States and Canada are all-seaters, as are most baseball...
in Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, built and opened in 1970. With the financial support of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is a Portuguese private foundation of public utility whose statutory aims are in the fields of arts, charity, education, and science...
, the stadium was built in a remarkable period of 11 months.
Being the largest sports venue in Armenia, Hrazdan is mostly used for 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...
matches. It is the home stadium of FC Ararat Yerevan
FC Ararat Yerevan
FC Ararat Yerevan , is an Armenian football club, based in Yerevan. Currently, the club plays in the Armenian Premier League, and is one of the most popular teams in Armenia.- History :...
and Ulisses. The stadium is able to host 53,849 after the most recent reconstruction in 2008, which converted the stadium to an all-seater one. Before the reconstruction, "Hrazdan" was able to hold up to 75,000 spectaors. It was among the top five stadiums of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
by its capacity. The stadium hosted the Armenian Cup
Armenian Cup
The Armenian Independence Cup is the main football cup competition of Armenia. In its original form as the Armenian Cup, it started in 1939, when Armenia was a republic of the Soviet Union. It served as a qualification tournament for the Soviet Cup, and it was not disputed by Armenian teams in the...
finals during many occasions as well as the opening ceremony of the Pan-Armenian Games
Pan-Armenian Games
The Pan-Armenian Games are a multi-sport event, held between competitors from the Armenian diaspora and Armenia. They consist of various competitions in individual and team sports among the Armenian athletes...
in 2003. Hrazdan was also one of the home grounds of the USSR national team
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
during the late period of the Soviet Union.
History
The stadium was built during 1970 and completed within 11 months. The official opening of the stadium took place in November of the same year with the presence of Leonid BrezhnevLeonid Brezhnev
Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev – 10 November 1982) was the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union , presiding over the country from 1964 until his death in 1982. His eighteen-year term as General Secretary was second only to that of Joseph Stalin in...
. It was designated to to host 75,000 spectators.
However, Hrazdan hosted its first official football match on 19 May 1971 when Ararat Yerevan
FC Ararat Yerevan
FC Ararat Yerevan , is an Armenian football club, based in Yerevan. Currently, the club plays in the Armenian Premier League, and is one of the most popular teams in Armenia.- History :...
defeated Kairat Almaty 1-0.
The stadium hosted some glorious days of the Armenian football during Soviet era. The Armenians celebrated Ararat Yerevan
FC Ararat Yerevan
FC Ararat Yerevan , is an Armenian football club, based in Yerevan. Currently, the club plays in the Armenian Premier League, and is one of the most popular teams in Armenia.- History :...
's double of the Soviet football in 1973, which allowed them to play in the European Cup. Reaching the quarterfinals, they lost the first leg to defending and future champion Bayern Munich with a 2-0 while they won the 2nd leg 1-0 in Hrazdan stadium in front of a remarkable 75,000 spectators.
In 1989, a year after the 1988 Spitak Earthquake that killed 25,000 people and left more than 500,000 homeless, along with the break out of the Karabakh movement
Nagorno-Karabakh War
The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
and the rise of nationalism, hundreds of thousands of Armenians were looking for some kind of temporary diversion from the devastation and feeling the importance of nationalist activities. More than 110,000 fans packed the Hrazdan stadium to hear revolutionary and patriotic songs performed by the Armenian famous singer Harout Pamboukjian
Harout Pamboukjian
Harout Pamboukjian , , is an Armenian American pop singer living in Los Angeles. His Armenian dance, folk and revolutionary songs make him a favorite among Armenians.- Early life :...
. Then-Minister of Culture Yuri Melik-Ohanjanian remarked this was the highest-attended performance in the history of Armenia.
After the independence of Armenia, the arena hosted the matches of the national team until 1999 when a smaller stadium in downtown Yerevan; the Hanrapetakan Stadium became its home ground. The largest number of spectators for the National team was recorded on October 9, 1996, in a 1998 World Cup qualification
1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone .A total of 50 UEFA teams entered the competition. The European zone was allocated 15 places in the final tournament...
match against Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
which was ended in the favour of the Germans with the result of 5-1 and attended by more than 50,000 fans.
In 2004 the stadium was privatized and sold to the Hrazdan Holding CJSC, who began to set up a renovation process in 2005. By the end of 2008 the stadium became all-seater.
Shortly after its renovation the Stadium hosted Armenia's match against Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
on 6 September 2008, which was the first match Armenia
Armenia national football team
The Armenia national football team represents Armenia in association football and is controlled by the Football Federation of Armenia, the governing body for football in Armenia...
had played at ground since a Euro 2000 qualifying match against 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...
on 8 September 1999. The crucial match was attended by presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Abdullah Gul
Abdullah Gül
Dr. Abdullah Gül, GCB is the 11th and current President of the Republic of Turkey, serving in that office since 28 August 2007. He previously served for four months as Prime Minister from 2002-03, and as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2003-07....
, with the presence of more than 38,000 spectators.
The Stadium has also been used as a concert venue for the Tata Simonyan 2010 world tour.
Architecture
The architects of the stadium were K. Hakobian and G. Musheghian from Armenia. The construction process was supervised by engineer E. Tossunian. The architectural group of the stadium was awarded with the title of the best construction of the year in 1971 and honoured by the Soviet government.
Besides the grandstands, the stadium has 10 tiers with the capacity of 600 spectators. "Hrazdan" is served by 4 light towers which include 625 projectors.
After the reconstruction, Hrazdan held UEFA three-star status until that rating was superseded by a new system of classification.