Stadium
| Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium | |
|---|---|
The east side of the stadium at evening |
|
| Full name | Στάδιο Αντώνης Παπαδόπουλος |
| Location | Larnaca, Cyprus |
| Built | 1983 - 1986 |
| Opened | 1986 |
| Renovated | 1997, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012 |
| Expanded | 1997 |
| Owner | Anorthosis Famagusta |
| Operator | Anorthosis Famagusta |
| Surface | Grass |
| Scoreboard | Yes |
| Capacity | 11,930 (full seated) |
Anorthosis, in order to recover from their relocation, had to build a new stadium. Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium is the home of Anorthosis Famagusta and it was built in 1986 in the city of Larnaca. The ground was given the name of great person who helped Anorthosis in various ways through the years, he was a fighter in EOKA war for Cyprus independence and unity with Greece and Anorthosis helped the war and he was also a very talented football player of Anorthosis and later a manager. The initial capacity of the ground was about 6,000 but gradually increased during the years to 13,000. With a major reconditioning in 1998, capacity was reduced to 11,000 (all seated).
In 2005 the east stand was named "Quality Stand" after the club's main sponsor. "Quality Stand" is a two story stand which holds the newly-built VIP Boxes (upper story), Press Room, Dressing Rooms, Bar, etc. In 2006 the stadium went through another reconditioning including the building of VIP Boxes in the upper section of west stand, the launching of the automatic ticketing issue and entrance system, the replacing of metal front fence with clear acrylic glass for security reasons and for maximized field view. Also some other facilities are offered in the west stand such as new restrooms, bar, and fan's shop.
The stadium also is approved by UEFA for European games. It has hosted some matches of the Cyprus national football team. In that stadium, Cyprus achieved its greatest success against Spain by a score 3–2. On May 16, 1992, the stadium hosted the 1992 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship Third position final between Italy and Portugal, where Italy won 1–0.
On 23 November 2011 D. Ellinas group signed a contract with Anorthosis to built new offices for Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium. The old offices of the stadium will be joint area outside the locker room, journalistic theory, clinics and other. The cost is € 400,000 but the company D. Ellinas group will build the offices for free in exchange for advertisements on the Anorthosis side.
Read more about this topic: Anorthosis Famagusta FC
Famous quotes containing the word stadium:
“The final upshot of thinking is the exercise of volition, and of this thought no longer forms a part; but belief is only a stadium of mental action, an effect upon our nature due to thought, which will influence future thinking.”
—Charles Sanders Peirce (1839–1914)
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the pin men of madness in marathon trim
race round the track of the stadium pupil.”
—Patricia K. Page (b. 1916)