Malmö Stadion

Malmö Stadion
Malmö Stadion
Location	Malmö, Sweden
Coordinates	55°35′09.89″N 12°59′21.36″E / 55.5860806°N 12.9892667°E / 55.5860806; 12.9892667
Broke ground	1956
Built	1956–1958
Opened	May 28, 1958
Expanded	1992
Owner	Malmö Stad
Operator	Malmö Stad
Surface	Grass
Scoreboard	Yes
Architect	Jaenecke & Samuelson
Capacity	27,500
Record attendance	30,953 (1958 World Cup)
Field dimensions	110 × 70 metres
Tenants
IFK Malmö (1958–1998 and 2009–Present) MAI (1958–Present) Malmö FF (1958-2008)

Malmö Stadion is a multi-purpose stadium in Malmö, Sweden which is currently the home of Swedish football Division 4 club IFK Malmö and athletics club MAI.^[1] The stadium is most famous for being the home stadium for Malmö FF from its inauguration in 1958 until the club moved to the newly built Swedbank Stadion right beside it in 2009, the club still use the stadium for training purposes and youth matches. Malmö Stadion is also famous for hosting four matches during the 1958 FIFA World Cup, the event for which the stadium was initially built, and three matches during the 1992 UEFA European Football Championship. The stadium holds 27,500, of which 14,000 are seated and 13,500 are standing. The future of the stadium is uncertain after Malmö Municipality have decided that a new public swimming arena is to be built in the same area in the near future.^[2]

History

Plans of building a new stadium in Malmö originated in 1943 after Malmö IP was deemed too small for major events. However the city council could not agree where to build the new stadium and it was not until Sweden was awarded the FIFA World Cup 1958 that plans resurfaced. The location of the stadium was a subject of discussion as some suggested a suburban location in Jägersro while others thought that the stadium should be located centrally in the city nearby Pildammsparken, it was agreed that a central location would be better as the stadiums location was presented in the final plan in 1954.

Plans were agreed upon in 1956 and building started, on May 28, 1958 Malmö Stadion was officially opened. At the time of the stadiums inauguration it held 31,000 spectators. The stadium was designed by architects Sten Samuelsson and Fritz Jaenecke who also designed Ullevi in Gothenburg for the World Cup, as a result the two stadiums share many architectural attributes. During the World Cup the stadium hosted three matches in the first round and a quarter-final.

The stadium has served as the home ground of football club Malmö FF for most of its history. It replaced Malmö IP as Malmö FFs home ground in 1958 until it was replaced by Swedbank Stadion in 2009.

1958 Sweden World Cup

The following 1958 World Cup matches were held at Malmö Stadion.

First Round Matches

• June 8, 1958: West Germany  3 – 1  Argentina

• June 15, 1958: West Germany  2 – 2  Northern Ireland

• June 17, 1958: Northern Ireland  2 – 1  Czechoslovakia

Quarter-Finals

• June 19, 1958: West Germany  1 – 0  Yugoslavia

1992 Sweden European Football Championship

The following 1992 Euro matches were held at Malmö Stadion.

First Round Matches

• June 11, 1992: Denmark  0 – 0  England

• June 14, 1992: France  0 – 0  England

• June 17, 1992: France  1 – 2  Denmark

Records

The stadium's record attendance was set during the 1958 World Cup, when 30,953 spectators saw the Group 1 game between Argentina and West Germany.

Other uses

The use of the stadium for concerts has increased in later years. Since 2007 several known artists such as Elton John, Dolly Parton, The Eagles, Kiss and Rod Stewart have performed at the stadium. Due to the lack of a retractable roof and the climate in Sweden all of these concerts have been held in the summertime, June–August in Sweden.

References

1. ^ "Malmö Stadion" (in Swedish). http://www.ifkmalmo.com/index.php?id=o280rpixol5e9515769vons6ev1x3492. Retrieved 24 July 2011. 
2. ^ "Ja till stadionbad" (in Swedish). 14 June 2011. http://www.sydsvenskan.se/malmo/article1493766/Ja-till-stadionbad-efter-rdquoutpressningrdquo.html. Retrieved 24 July 2011. 

External links

• Satellite image from Google Maps
• Malmö Stadion at Malmö Stad website

Coordinates: 55°35′09.89″N 12°59′21.36″E / 55.5860806°N 12.9892667°E / 55.5860806; 12.9892667