Košická futbalová aréna

KFA - Košická futbalová Aréna
UEFA
LocationPri prachárni 6, Košice, Slovakia
Coordinates48°41′48″N 21°14′42″E / 48.69667°N 21.24500°E / 48.69667; 21.24500
OwnerCity of Košice
OperatorKošická Futbalová Aréna a.s.
Capacity5,836[3]
12,350 (under construction)[4]
Field size105 x 68 m
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground2018 (first phase)
2023 (second phase)
Opened2022
Renovated2023–
Expanded2023–
Construction cost€22,42 million[1] (2020–2022)
ArchitectHESCON[2]
Tenants
FC Košice (2022–present)
SC Dnipro-1 (2022–present) European games
Website
https://kosickafutbalovaarena.sk/

Košická futbalová aréna (KFA) is a football stadium in Košice, Slovakia. It is the home ground of a local club FC Košice and now has an all-seated capacity of 5,836 people, though it is being further increased to 12,350.[4]

History

The stadium replaced old stadium Všešportový areál, which was demolished in 2011. The construction is divided into three phases. First phase was started in 2018 [5] and finished in 2021 with two stands and capacity 5,836 seats. The second and third phases, with another two stands, aimed to be finished in 2022 and would bring the total capacity of the ground to 12,658 and help it achieve UEFA's 4 stars standard. Construction cost €22,42 million. The city of Košice provided €13,5mil., Government of Slovakia provided the first €5mil. and an additional €4mil later.[6]

Ukrainian club Dnipro-1 played their five Europa League qualifying and Europa Conference League fixtures in KFA due to UEFA regulations related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[7][8]

As of January 2024, the construction works of the final stages were 90% complete, although the capacity target was slightly adjusted to 12,350.[4]

Milestone matches

Match Home Result Opponent Date Competition Attendance
First match Slovakia Košice 2–0 Slovakia Slavoj Trebišov 12 February 2022 Friendly match Behind closed doors
First league match Slovakia Košice 4–0 Slovakia Rohožník 25 February 2022 2021–22 2. Liga (Slovakia) 1,289
First Europa League qualifying match Ukraine Dnipro-1 1–2 Cyprus AEK Larnaca 18 August 2022 2022–23 UEFA Europa League 3,450
First Europa Conference League group stage match Ukraine Dnipro-1 0–1 Netherlands AZ 8 September 2022 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League 3,347
First match with VAR availability[9][10] Ukraine Dnipro-1 0–0 Cyprus AEK Larnaca 23 February 2023 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League 3,527

Image gallery

  • Side view
    Side view
  • Side view of the grandstand
    Side view of the grandstand
  • Stand A
    Stand A
  • Stand C
    Stand C
  • Space for the remaining grandstands
    Space for the remaining grandstands

External links

References

  1. ^ "Štadión v Košiciach je priorita. SFZ dá pôžičku, ďalšiu dotáciu už nie".
  2. ^ "Košická futbalová aréna KFA".
  3. ^ https://static.kosice.sk/article/MssFHx1RQW5BSWZEFm/01_2021_kfa.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  4. ^ a b c "Hlavná stránka". Košice Online. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  5. ^ "FOTO: Začala sa výstavba štadióna v Košiciach". 29 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Na dobudovanie Košickej futbalovej arény pôjdu štyri milióny eur".
  7. ^ "Veľká novinka. Ukrajinci budú hrať play off Európskej ligy v Košiciach". sportnet.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  8. ^ "Špecifický zápas v predvečer výročia vojny. Košice, ďakujeme, lúčili sa Ukrajinci". sportnet.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  9. ^ UEFA.com (2023-01-12). "VAR to be used in UEFA Europa Conference League knockout stage | UEFA Europa Conference League". UEFA.com. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  10. ^ UEFA.com. "Dnipro-1-AEK Larnaca | UEFA Europa Conference League 2022/23". UEFA.com. Retrieved 2023-02-24.