Khankendi Stadium

Xankəndi Stadium
Khankendi Stadium in 2014
LocationKhankendi, Azerbaijan
Coordinates39°49′16″N 46°45′11″E / 39.82111°N 46.75306°E / 39.82111; 46.75306
Capacity15,000[3]
Field size110x70 meters
Surfaceartificial turf
Construction
Built1955–1956
Opened1956
Renovated2004–2005[1]
2015[2]
2023
Tenants
Qarabağ FK

Khankendi Stadium (Azerbaijani: Xankəndi stadionu) is a stadium in Stepanakert, Azerbaijan.

History

The stadium was unveiled in 1956 as Joseph Stalin Stadium. After the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, the name was changed to Stepan Shahumyan Central Stadium by the authorities of the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh.

The stadium was entirely renovated in 2004–5 and renamed Stepanakert Republican Stadium (Armenian: Ստեփանակերտի Հանրապետական մարզադաշտ, romanized: Step’anakerti Hanrapetakan marzadasht). During the renovation, the venue was turned into an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 12,000 spectators. In 2015, the natural grass was replaced with an artificial turf.[4]

Since the mid-1990s, football teams from Karabakh started taking part in some domestic competitions in Armenia. Lernayin Artsakh is the football club that represents the city of Stepanakert. The Artsakh football league was launched in 2009.

The Artsakh national football team was formed in 2012 and played their first competitive match against the Abkhazia national football team in Sokhumi, a match that ended with a result of 1–1 draw.[5][6] The return match between the unrecognized teams took place at the stadium, on 21 October 2012, when the team of Nagorno-Karabakh defeated the Abkhaz team with a result of 3–0.

After the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, the stadium was refurbished by the Azerbaijani authorities. The stadium hosted a 2023–24 Azerbaijan Cup match between Qarabağ FK and MOIK Baku on 21 December 2023.[7]

Event

The 6th Pan-Armenian Games football tournament,[8] 7th Pan-Armenian Games opening ceremony and 2019 CONIFA European Football Cup was held in the stadium.

Gallery

  • The entrance to the stadium
    The entrance to the stadium
  • General view
    General view
  • The stadium in 2017
    The stadium in 2017

References

  1. ^ (in Russian) В Нагорном Карабахе будет построен стадион, соответствующий мировым стандартам
  2. ^ Stepanakert Republican Stadium is under renovation
  3. ^ (in Russian) История Арцаха
  4. ^ "Stepanakert Republican Stadium - Stadium". RouteYou. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  5. ^ Artsakh vs Abkhazia
  6. ^ Armenia’s newly formed second national football team to face Abkhazia
  7. ^ "Khankendi Stadium is ready to host Azerbaijan Football Cup game (VIDEO)". trend.az. 17 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Pan-Armenian Games participants visited Shoushi". Artsakhpress. 6 August 2015.