Metalist Stadium
Encyclopedia
Oblast
Sports Complex "Metalist" , commonly known as Metalist Stadium , is a multi-use stadium
in Kharkov, Ukraine
. It is currently used chiefly for football
matches and is the home of FC Metalist Kharkiv
. The stadium, which is a venue for Euro 2012, currently seats 38,633.
on the site of the Holy Spirit cemetery. Opened on September 12, 1926, the new stadium was known as "Traktor", as it was then being sponsored by the local tractor production plant. Prior to World War II
the facility was renamed Dzerzhynets Stadium in honor of Felix Dzerzhinsky, the first head of the Cheka
. Since 1967 it has borne its present moniker; in that same year, the capacity of the stadium reached 10,000.
A third renovation was begun in 1979 to renovate the East and South stands but was completed only recently. After the demolition of the South Stand in that year, construction was halted indefinitely, resuming only in 1998 after a delay of nearly twenty years. Upon resumption, a new East Stand and a partially reconstructed South Stand were erected.
Metalist's fourth set of renovations is ordered in preparation for Euro 2012. The South Stand has already been completed and a completely new East Stand has been built. Roof replacement, other general modernizations and aesthetic improvements are set to be completed by the end of 2009. On December 5, 2009 there was an opening of the renovated stadium at the day of the 50 anniversary of the president of the Metalist Kharkiv
, Oleksandr Yaroslavsky
.
The South Stand contains a three story shopping mall - business center "Metalist-Arena". The offices are rented here by UkrSibbank
, several local businesses, and other banks. There are pharmacy, medical office, tour agencies, and many more.
Oblast
Oblast is a type of administrative division in Slavic countries, including some countries of the former Soviet Union. The word "oblast" is a loanword in English, but it is nevertheless often translated as "area", "zone", "province", or "region"...
Sports Complex "Metalist" , commonly known as Metalist Stadium , is a multi-use stadium
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 Kharkov, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. It is currently used chiefly 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 and is the home of FC Metalist Kharkiv
FC Metalist Kharkiv
FC Metalist Kharkiv is a Ukrainian professional football club based in Kharkiv. It competes in the Ukrainian Premier League, the highest football level in the country. Founded in 1925, the team worked its way up the rungs of the Soviet football system, eventually being promoted to the Soviet Top...
. The stadium, which is a venue for Euro 2012, currently seats 38,633.
History
Construction was begun on the stadium in 1925 by order of Anastas MikoyanAnastas Mikoyan
Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan was an Armenian Old Bolshevik and Soviet statesman during the rules of Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev, and Leonid Brezhnev....
on the site of the Holy Spirit cemetery. Opened on September 12, 1926, the new stadium was known as "Traktor", as it was then being sponsored by the local tractor production plant. Prior to World War II
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...
the facility was renamed Dzerzhynets Stadium in honor of Felix Dzerzhinsky, the first head of the Cheka
Cheka
Cheka was the first of a succession of Soviet state security organizations. It was created by a decree issued on December 20, 1917, by Vladimir Lenin and subsequently led by aristocrat-turned-communist Felix Dzerzhinsky...
. Since 1967 it has borne its present moniker; in that same year, the capacity of the stadium reached 10,000.
Renovations
Including improvements currently underway, the stadium has undergone four renovations over the course of its history. The first of these took place in the mid-1960s, when the western section of the structure was renovated. The next, begun in 1970 and finished four years later, saw the addition of the north and south stands, raising capacity to 30,000. The architect for the project was Yu. Tabakova. Also added were the stadium's first roof and drainage system, as well as floodlighting, an information panel, and a hotel, located under the north stand and gymnasium.A third renovation was begun in 1979 to renovate the East and South stands but was completed only recently. After the demolition of the South Stand in that year, construction was halted indefinitely, resuming only in 1998 after a delay of nearly twenty years. Upon resumption, a new East Stand and a partially reconstructed South Stand were erected.
Metalist's fourth set of renovations is ordered in preparation for Euro 2012. The South Stand has already been completed and a completely new East Stand has been built. Roof replacement, other general modernizations and aesthetic improvements are set to be completed by the end of 2009. On December 5, 2009 there was an opening of the renovated stadium at the day of the 50 anniversary of the president of the Metalist Kharkiv
FC Metalist Kharkiv
FC Metalist Kharkiv is a Ukrainian professional football club based in Kharkiv. It competes in the Ukrainian Premier League, the highest football level in the country. Founded in 1925, the team worked its way up the rungs of the Soviet football system, eventually being promoted to the Soviet Top...
, Oleksandr Yaroslavsky
Oleksandr Yaroslavsky
Oleksandr Yaroslavsky is an Ukrainian businessman. President of FC Metalist Kharkiv, co-owner of UkrSibbank and president of Development Construction Holding...
.
The South Stand contains a three story shopping mall - business center "Metalist-Arena". The offices are rented here by UkrSibbank
UkrSibbank
«UkrSibbank» - full name Public joint-stock company “UkrSibbank”. It was registered on June 18, 1990. As of today, JSC «UkrSibbank» is the third largest bank of Ukraine, the second among foreign-owned banks, and acts as a financial supermarket....
, several local businesses, and other banks. There are pharmacy, medical office, tour agencies, and many more.