Estádio Cidade de Coimbra

Estádio Cidade de Coimbra is a stadium in Coimbra, Portugal. This stadium belongs to the Municipality of Coimbra and is mainly used by the Académica de Coimbra's football team.

Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
Estádio do Calhabé
Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
Former namesEstádio Municipal de Coimbra
LocationCoimbra, Portugal
OwnerMunicipality of Coimbra
OperatorAcadémica de Coimbra
Capacity29,744[1]
50,000 for concerts
Field size105mx70m
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Opened12 September 2003[2][3]
Renovated2001–2003
Expanded2001–2003
ArchitectAntónio Monteiro , PLARQ / KSS Design Group Partnership
Tenants
Académica de Coimbra

The stadium was rebuilt, expanded, and modernized to host some UEFA Euro 2004 matches. Far beyond the sports stadium itself, all the project, called Euro Stadium Project, included the possibility of organizing sports, culture, and commercial events, by the modernization of the entire Calhabé area in Coimbra.

On 29 October 2003, Académica de Coimbra played at home to Sport Lisboa e Benfica in the first official match in the remodelled stadium.[4]

Features

Its design does not involve any historical or traditional references, as the idea was to create a new, contemporary image with glass façades and an aesthetic roof supported by elegant stands. The existing athletics track has been preserved for possible use as a multi-purpose facility in the future. The stadium was designed by the Portuguese architectural firm Plarq in association with KSS Design Group of London. The Plarq team was led by the architect António Monteiro.

The stadium has 29,744 seats, two-thirds of which are covered. The complex boasts a large press centre, a bar, kitchens, and a restaurant with a panoramic view of the pitch. The project of the stadium took advantage of old seats: of close to 15,000 (all seated), involved the planned remodelling of the tier which extends around the entire perimeter of the previous stands, and a second tier above that, in the form of a "U", opening onto the slopes of the city at the North end.

A multi-purpose pavilion, olympic swimming pools, healthclub, gym, offices and studio apartment residences were built in the surrounding area. The Alma Shopping, a shopping and leisure center built near the stadium, includes cinemas, underground car parking, restaurants, and several retail outlets.

Major events

UEFA Euro 2004

The stadium hosted two UEFA Euro 2004 Group B matches: England 3–0 Switzerland and Switzerland 1–3 France.[5][6] Curiously in both matches, the record for the European Championship's youngest goalscorer was broken, first by Wayne "Babyface" Rooney, then by Johan Vonlanthen.

DateResultRound
17 June 2004 England3–0  SwitzerlandGroup B
21 June 2004  Switzerland1–3 FranceGroup B

Portugal national football team

The following national team matches were held in the stadium, both in its old and renovated shape.

#DateScoreOpponentCompetition
1.13 April 19830–0 HungaryFriendly
2.8 June 19830–4 BrazilFriendly
3.9 June 19998–0 LiechtensteinEuro 2000 qualifying
4.28 April 20042–2 SwedenFriendly
5.12 November 20052–0 CroatiaFriendly
6.15 November 20063–0 KazakhstanEuro 2008 qualifying
7.3 March 20102–0 China PRFriendly
8.15 October 20133–0 Luxembourg2014 World Cup qualification

Concerts

In addition to football, the stadium is often used for concerts of international artists with capacity up to 50,000 people.

The stadium was inaugurated with a Rolling Stones concert on 27 September 2003, attended by over 50,000 people.[7]

George Michael played there in 2007 during the 25 Live, with 39,639 spectators.[8]

In 2010, U2 played two sold-out shows in the stadium during their U2 360° Tour. Approximately 109,985 people attended the event.[9]

On June 24, 2012, Madonna performed in front of 33,597 people as part of her MDNA Tour.[10]

References
  1. "Estádio Cidade de Coimbra". Associação Académica de Coimbra. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  2. Rodrigues, Aníbal. "Coimbra mobilizada para estrear o novo estádio". publico.pt. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  3. "Estádio Cidade de Coimbra" [Stadium City of Coimbra]. AcadÉmica OAF (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  4. "Académica 1-3 Benfica". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  5. "Rooney stars as England get back on track". UEFA.com. 18 June 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  6. "England challenge ignited by Rooney". UEFA.com. 22 June 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  7. "The Rolling Stones Estádio Municipal Coimbra Coimbra, Portugal Saturday September 27, 2003". IORR. 27 September 2003. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  8. "George Michael em Portugal com pedido de desculpas" [George Michael in Portugal with apologies]. RTP (in Portuguese). 13 May 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  9. "U2 Setlist at Estadio Cidade Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal". Setlist.fm. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  10. "Madonna at Estádio Cidade de Coimbra". Last.fm. 24 June 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.

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