Skonto Stadium (Latvian: Skonto stadions) is a football stadium in Riga, Latvia. The stadium was built in 2000 and currently has 8,087 seats in total (open for spectators & VIP guests on matchdays).[4] It is the 2nd-largest stadium in Latvia, behind Daugava Stadium. The stadium design incorporates Skonto Hall.
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| Location | E. Melngaiļa 1a, Riga, Latvia |
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| Capacity | 8,087[2] (concerts), 6,747 (football)[3] |
| Opened | June 28, 2000[1] |
| Tenants | |
| Skonto FC (2000–2016) Latvia national football team (2000–2017, 2022–present) Riga FC (2016–present) | |
Description
editSkonto Stadium is located in the heart of Riga at 1a E. Melngaiļa street. It is the second biggest football stadium with 8,087 seats, VIP lounges, offices, a press centre and cafes.
Use
editSkonto Stadium is mostly used for hosting football matches. Since its opening in 2000, it has been the home stadium for the Latvian Higher League club Skonto Riga and Latvia national football team, as well as Latvia U-21, while Daugava Stadium was scheduled for renovation.
The team returned to the Daugava after renovations in the summer of 2018.[5] However, since the fall of 2022 home matches were once again moved to Skonto Stadium due to problems with the grass pitch and other issues. Works on replacing and upgrading the pitch began in October 2023.[6] At the time, Latvian Football Federation president Vadims Ļašenko said that Skonto would become the main home of the men's team, with Daugava serving as a backup and the venue for the women's and youth national teams.[7]
International artists have performed at this venue, including Aerosmith and Metallica in 2008, both of whom reached the maximum capacity for concerts, with 32,000 and 33,000 fans, respectively. Several other artists have performed there too, for example, Snoop Dogg, Massive Attack, Depeche Mode and Akon.
In 2003 Skonto stadium hosted the Grand Dance Concert of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival, and in 2008 a friendly match between Latvian and Georgian football veterans was played at this venue.
In 2009 Latvian football club FK Ventspils used this stadium for its home matches in the UEFA Europa League matches, because of technical problems with its own stadium.
Attendance
editThe largest attendance seen by the Skonto Stadium in a football match was 9,000 people in 2003 for the UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying playoff game between Latvia and Turkey.[8]
References
edit- ^ Lielisks stadions gaida lielisku spēli Arturs Vaiders, Diena
- ^ "Skonto stadions –". Stadiumdb.com. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
- ^ @RFSDaily (2022-09-16). "Paldies visiem!" (in Latvian). twitter.com. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ Skonto stadions
- ^ "Daugava Stadium in Riga to open at end-May after reconstruction". The Baltic Course | Baltic States news & analytics. 2018-05-15. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
- ^ Kļavenieks, Mārtiņš (2023-09-28). "'Daugava' Stadium in Rīga to get major upgrades". eng.lsm.lv. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
- ^ Kļavenieks, Mārtiņš (2023-09-28). "«Daugavas» stadions pārtop: vieglatlēti gaida manēžu; drīz mainīs futbola zālienu un skrejceliņu". LSM.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-06-11.
- ^ Latvia football team defeated Turkey 1:0, 15 November 2003