Pancho Aréna

Pancho Aréna
Location Felcsút, Hungary
Owner Felcsúti Utánpótlás Neveléséért Alapítvány
Operator Puskás Akadémia FC
Capacity 3,816
Field size 105x68m
Surface Grass
Field
Construction
Broke ground 2012
Opened 21 April 2014
Construction cost HUF 3,8 billion
Architect Imre Makovecz
Tamás Dobrosi
Tenants
Puskás Akadémia FC
MOL Vidi FC (2016-2018)

Pancho Aréna is a stadium in Felcsút, Hungary. It is used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Puskás Akadémia FC. The stadium is currently the home of the three-time champions MOL Vidi FC due to the reconstruction of Sóstói Stadion.

History

The stadium was opened on 21 April 2014 with the final of the 2014 Puskás Cup.[1][2]

On 26 April 2014, the first Hungarian League match was played at the stadium between Puskás Akadémia and Videoton. The match ended with 3-1 away win.[3]

On 30 June 2016 the first UEFA Europa League will be played between Videoton FC and FC Zaria Bălți at the stadium. Since Videoton's stadium, Sóstói Stadion, was demolished in the spring of 2016, the Székesfehérvár-based club will play their matches at the Pancho Aréna.

The Pancho Aréna was liste among the top three most beautiful stadiums of the world according to stadiumdb.com. "The wood-lined curved interior to the stand gives spectators the feeling that they are attending a Sunday church service, not a football match. The 3,500 seater stadium opened in 2014 and was the brainchild of local architect Imre Makovecz".[4]

On 26 March 2018, the first international match was played at the stadium when Bulgaria hosted Kazakhstan in a friendly match. The match ended with a 2-1 win for Bulgaria.[5]

Controversy

Many allegations of corruption have surfaced regarding the stadium, as Hungary's current prime minister, Viktor Orbán (known for his passion for football) spent much of his childhood in the village, and Pancho Arena was built just meters away from his Felcsút estate. Although the stadium was not built directly from government funds, companies that provided the lion's share of the funding won several high-value public procurement procedures during Orbán's prime ministership. In addition, Orbán's government passed laws granting benefits to companies supporting sport investments. Allegations were fuelled by the fact that the stadium seats 3,500 people, while the total population of the village is under 1,700.

Milestone matches

Milestone matches (youth squad)

International

Attendances

As of the end of the 2017–18 season.

Puskás Akadémia only played three matches at the Pancho Aréna during the 2013–14 season.

Season Total High Low Average Change Ref.
2013–14 NBI9,3833,6232,1273,128—[7]
2014–15 NBI24,7303,8127041,649—[8]
2015–16 NBI27,1853,7987081,699+3.0%[9]
2016–17 NBII15,5421,537460818–49.5%[10]
2017–18 NBI19,1763,1272001,199+46.6%

References

  1. ↑ "PAFC: húsvéthétfőn avatják fel a Pancho Arénát". www.nso.hu. 3 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "Videó: járja be Ön is a felcsúti Pancho Arénát!". www.nso.hu. 15 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "Gólokkal avatta fel a PAFC új arénáját a Videoton az NB I-ben". www.nso.hu. 26 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "The top three most beautiful football stadiums in the world". Stadiumdb.com. 17 October 2017.
  5. ↑ "Bulgaria 2-1 Kazkhstan - Friendly match". Soccerway.com. 26 March 2018.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "2013–14 Nézőszámok". magyarfutball.hu. 1 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "2014–15 Nézőszámok". magyarfutball.hu. 1 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "2015–16 Nézőszámok". magyarfutball.hu. 1 July 2016.
  10. ↑ "2016–17 Nézőszámok". magyarfutball.hu. 1 July 2017.

Coordinates: 47°27′50″N 18°35′12″E / 47.4640°N 18.5868°E / 47.4640; 18.5868


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