History
The new GSP Stadium opened for use on 6 October 1999. The complex has three arenas: a football stadium, an athletics stadium and an auxiliary football pitch intended for training. The stadium is owned by the Pancyprian Gymnastic Association. With an official seating capacity of 22,859 the new GSP is the largest football venue in Cyprus. It is located at the entrance to Nicosia (as approached from the A1 highway) and was inaugurated in 1999 by the then President, Glafcos Clerides and Archbishop Chrysostomos I. The first game held on 6 October 1999 and there was a friendly match between APOEL and Omonia, which ended 3–3.
Since then, the stadium is not only the home of Nicosian teams but usually of Cyprus national football team. During the World Cup 2006 qualifying round it was used as home for all matches of Cyprus. The stadium is the only one in Cyprus which satisfies UEFA Criteria. For this reason since 2004 it is used as home for all the teams of Cyprus in European Cups. Annually, the stadium hosts the LTV Super Cup. Also until 2005, it was hosting annually the Cypriot Cup final.
In 2002 the stadium was home for Israeli clubs for the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League matches. It hosted the UEFA Cup quarter final (as home for Hapoel Tel Aviv) between Hapoel Tel Aviv and AC Milan. It was also used by Maccabi Haifa for home stadium for the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League group stage matches and for the UEFA Cup matches. Some matches were attractive for Cypriots like the matches Maccabi Haifa-Olympiacos CFP and Maccabi Haifa-Manchester United, since those two Maccabi's rivals are very popular in Cyprus.
It's the only stadium in Cyprus build only for track & field games. In addition with the hotel, it provides a full training centre solution for athletes all over the world. During the Athens 2004 Olympic Games many athletes from different countries used the stadium for training.
In 2001 Bruno Zauli, took place here with great success.
The attendance record for the football stadium is 23,043 for a Cypriot championship game between APOEL and Omonia on December 7, 2002.
The record of the highest attendance for a European Competition game is 22,701 tickets in the match between APOEL and Olympique Lyonnais for the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League last-16. The match was held on March 7, 2012 and ended with a 1–0 win for APOEL after extra time and 4–3 win on penalties.
Anorthosis Famagusta have their 2008–09 UEFA Champions League group stages matches held at the GSP Stadium.
The GSP Stadium hosted all home matches of APOEL in the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League group stages. Also hosted all home matches of APOEL in the club's surprising run to the quarter-finals of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League. All matches were sold out by APOEL's fans.
GSP Stadium also hosted AEK Larnaca's 2011–12 UEFA Europa League group stages matches and AEL Limassol's 2012–13 UEFA Europa League group stages matches.
Read more about this topic: GSP Stadium
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