Agia Sophia Stadium Explained

OPAP Arena
Native Name:Agia Sophia
Fullname:Centre of Sports, Remembrance and Culture Agia Sophia
Address:Fokon 11, 14341
Location:Nea Filadelfeia, Athens, Greece
Parking:1,200 (surface)
400–500 (underground)
Broke Ground:28 July 2017
Built:September 2022
Opened:30 September 2022
Owner:AEK Athens F.C.
Operator:AEK Athens F.C.
Surface:natural grass
Scoreboard:2
Architect:Athanassios Kyratsous
General Contractor:Ermonassa S.A.[1]
Capacity:32,500
Suites:40
Dimensions:105mx68mm (344feetx223feetm)
Tenants:AEK Athens F.C. (2022–present)
Greece national football team (2023–2024)
Construction Cost:€ 75,000,000[2]
Project Manager:Dimitris Andriopoulos

The Agia Sophia Stadium (in Greek, Modern (1453-); pronounced as /aˈʝa soˈfça/), also known as OPAP Arena[3] for sponsorship reasons and as AEK Arena for UEFA competitions, is the home stadium of AEK Athens. With an all-seater capacity of 32,500[4] it is the third largest football stadium overall in Greece. It is located in Nea Filadelfeia, a northwestern suburb of Athens, Greece. The new arena was built on the site of the former Nikos Goumas Stadium. The construction of the arena was completed in October 2022. Agia Sophia Stadium is the newest stadium built in Greece.

The stadium hosted the 2024 UEFA Europa Conference League final on 29 May 2024.[5] [6] [7] [8]

Name

The original name of the stadium, Agia Sophia, named after the Byzantine-built former Orthodox cathedral Hagia Sophia, was picked in order to commemorate the roots of the club from the city of Constantinople (present day Istanbul).[9] The commercial name of the stadium, OPAP Arena, was picked after OPAP – Greek Organisation of Football Prognostics S.A. secured the naming rights for five years, starting from 2022 onwards. As UEFA does not allow for stadiums to be named after a sponsor, AEK Arena is used for the European governing body's competitions.

History

See also: Nikos Goumas Stadium and AEK Arena (cancelled project). In 1926, land in Nea Filadelfeia that was originally set aside for refugee housing was donated as a training ground for the Greek refugees. A stadium was built at the site in 1930, named "Nikos Goumas", and became the home ground of AEK Athens FC.

In 2003, Giannis Granitsas, president of AEK at the time, advocated for demolishing the stadium at the interest of erecting a new one at the same location, citing that the stadium was seriously damaged from the 1999 Athens earthquake.[10] [11] His plan was to build a new stadium at the same site, which would include also a basketball indoor hall and a mall. The goal was for the stadium to be ready in time for the 2004 Summer Olympics.[12]

However, shortly before the construction of the new stadium was to commence, it was halted by the Council of State, which decided that the construction plans of the stadium were contrary to the Constitution of Greece.

In 2005, Dimitris Melissanidis was a candidate for the presidency of AEK, and presented a plan for the construction of a stadium at the area of Nikos Goumas, bearing the name Agia Sophia. However, he lost the elections.[13]

In 2007, AEK Athens FC's president Demis Nikolaidis was developing a project to build a 50,000-capacity stadium at Ano Liosia. The plan was canceled due to a lack of fan support and lack of funds.

After the bankruptcy and relegation of AEK Athens FC in 2013, Dimitris Melissanidis took up the reorganization of the club and re-introduced the plan of Hagia Sophia in a press conference held on 10 July 2013.[14]

The first presentation of the stadium took place on 2 October 2013 in the Miltos Kountouras hall at the Nea Filadelfeia High School.[15] The project manager of the stadium Dimitris Andriopoulos announced the first features and facilities. The stadium will fulfill the criteria to be a four-category in the UEFA stadium categories, it will have a capacity of 32,500 and will have 40 suites. There will be a museum about the Greek refugees who left from Asia Minor in 1922. It will offer 1,500–2,000 jobs during its construction and 250,400 permanent jobs when it was constructed. The stadium's construction was expected to begin in 2014 and finish by 2015. The first images of the stadium were also exposed. The stadium is designed after the Walls of Constantinople where the club originated from, and it will resemble a castle from the outside.[16]

The grand presentation of the stadium took place on 6 November 2013 at the Onassis Cultural Center in Athens, which will contribute financially to the construction of the stadium. A symbolic fund was also donated by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Technical information about the stadium was presented and its facilities were illustrated in a 20-minute video.[17] [18]

On 2 January 2015, the municipality of Filadelfeia-Chalkidona filed a complaint at the Council of State against the decision of the Forests Directorate of the Attica Decentralized Administration[19] calling for the redevelopment of 0.6 hectares from the Grove of Nea Filadelfeia in accordance with the overall plans for the new stadium.[20] Additionally, 17 citizens of the municipality of Filadelfeia-Chalkidona filed a complaint on 1 December 2014 about the same matter.[21]

The case was heard at the Council of State on 6 March 2015.[22] The decision was issued on 5 June 2015, and it rejected the claims of the municipality and the citizens as unsubstantive and obscure.[23]

The plan for the building of the stadium was released for public consultation by the Ministry of Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy on 22 July. The process would be completed in 45 days.[24] The municipality of Filadelfeia-Chalkidona filed an application for an extension of the public consultation for an extra 45 days,[25] which was accepted.[26] The consultation was finally concluded on 24 November 2015.[27]

On 28 January 2016, the meeting of the Administrative Regiοn of Attica approved the Study of the Environmental Impact of the project.[28]

The minister of Environment and Energy, Panos Skourletis, signed the Study of the Environmental impact of the stadium on 31 March 2016.[29]

The planning permission was acquired from the Ministry of Environment on 25 July 2017.[30] [31]

Funding

The net construction cost is estimated at € 81,700,000. The funding will be completed in three stages. The first phase of construction will cost € 25,000,000; the second phase € 20,000,000 and the third € 14,700,000.[32] The Administrative region of Attica will fund the stadium with € 20,000,000.[33] The sum left will be funded by Dikefalos 1924, a company that was founded for the construction of the stadium.[34] [35]

Construction

The construction of the stadium began with earthworks on 28 July 2017.[36] The first phase of construction consisted of excavations and retaining works, which according to the initial planning would last for 5 months.[37] Eventually, the first phase was completed on 5 December 2017.[38]

On 6 February 2018, it was announced that the company «ERMONASSA SA» would undertake the completion of the second phase regarding the construction of the stadium. These include, according to the official announcement, the remaining earthworks, the reinforced concrete main structure of the stadium, the construction of the concrete reinforced and prestressed pillars, and finally the construction and installation of the stands. The completion of this phase is planned to last 14 months.[39] The works began on 12 February 2018.[40] The third and final phase started on 30 March 2020 and was completed in early September 2022.

Facilities

Agia Sophia Stadium offers the following facilities, amenities, and attractions.[41]

Transport connections

The stadium is accessible from the Athens Metro Line 1 with the closest stations to Agia Sophia Stadium are Perissos and Pefkakia. All are 600 to 900 metres (10–15 minutes) from the stadium. Agia Sophia Stadium is also served by several Bus and Trolleybus routes.

These are:

There are also a few bus lines further away that serve the stadium: 605 (1st Perissou stop, 900 meters, approx 13 minutes), 602 (Trochonomos stop, 1 km away, 15 minutes), 024 (Vrioulon stop, 1 km) and 604 (1st El. Venizelos stop, 1.2 km)

The stadium is also expected to be served by the New Filadelfia metro station line 4. The station will be located in the Asia Minor and Forgotten Homelands Memorial Park Nea Filadelfeia and will be delivered in the fourth phase of the line's completion, expected around the end of the 2030s.

Opening ceremony and matches

The stadium's opening ceremony took place on 30 September 2022.[42] [43] [44]

AEK Athens beat Ionikos 4–1 in their new stadium's opening match on 3 October 2022, a match conducted for the sixth fixture of the 2022–23 Greek Super League.[45]

On 7 March 2023, the Hellenic Football Federation committee announced Agia Sophia stadium as the home ground of Greece for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying round.[46] [47] However, Greece played its first international game in Agia Sophia stadium earlier that year against Lithuania.[48] [49]

Greece national football team matches

NrCompetitionDateOpponentResultAttendanceScorers for GreeceRef.
1Friendly27 March 20230–015,000
2UEFA Euro Qualifiers16 June 20232–118,079Anastasios Bakasetas, Georgios Masouras[50]
3UEFA Euro Qualifiers10 September 20235–011,237Dimitrios Pelkas, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Georgios Masouras[51]
4UEFA Euro Qualifiers16 October 20230–127,000[52]
5UEFA Euro Qualifiers21 November 20232–224,820Anastasios Bakasetas, Fotis Ioannidis[53]
6UEFA Euro Qualifiers21 March 20245–025,200Dimitrios Kourbelis, Anastasios Bakasetas, Fotis Ioannidis, Dimitris Pelkas[54]

UEFA competition finals

Key
Match won after extra time
List of UEFA Europa Conference League finals[55]
scope=colSeasonscope=colCountryscope=colWinnersscope=colScorescope=colRunners-upscope=colCountryscope=colVenuescope=colAttendancescope=colRef
2023–24Olympiacosbgcolor=FBCEB1 style="text-align:center" 1–0FiorentinaAgia Sophia Stadium, Athens, Greece26,842[56]

Record

TeamCompetitionMatchesWinsDrawsLossesGFGAGD
AEK AthensSuper League3427618017+63
Greek Cup5410110+11
UEFA7223911-2
Total46339410028+72

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ΑΕΚ: Η εταιρεία "ΕΡΜΩΝΑΣΣΑ ΑΕ" ανέλαβε την κατασκευή του νέου γηπέδου | ΣΠΟΡ. 6 February 2018. iefimerida.gr.
  2. Web site: OPAP Arena stadium cost. iapopsi.gr . 18 October 2022 . el . 2023-11-11.
  3. Web site: OPAP Arena . 2022-09-26 . AEK F.C. . en.
  4. Web site: Opap Arena . 11 October 2022. aekfc.gr.
  5. Web site: Θωμάς Τζουβάρας . ΑΕΚ: Η OPAP Arena κέρδισε τον τίτλο "Stadium of The Year" για τα νέα γήπεδα του 2022 . sport24.gr . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320165336/https://www.sport24.gr/football/aek-i-opap-arena-pire-to-vraveio-stadium-of-the-year-gia-to-2022.9979273.html . 20 March 2023 . el . 20 March 2023.
  6. Web site: UEFA.com . 2024-05-29 . 2024 UEFA Europa Conference League final: AEK Arena UEFA Europa Conference League . 2024-05-30 . UEFA.com . en.
  7. Web site: UEFA.com . 2023-06-28 . Athens and Wrocław to stage 2024 and 2025 finals UEFA Europa Conference League . 2024-05-30 . UEFA.com . en.
  8. Web site: 29 May 2024 . Greece steps up security ahead of Europa Conference League final . May 30, 2024 . reuters.com . Greece, which has been marred by sports violence on and off the pitch, has been preparing for weeks for the match, to take place at the Agia Sophia stadium, home of Olympiacos's rivals AEK Athens, in a northwestern suburb of the city..
  9. Web site: ΑΕΚ: "ΟΠΑΠ Arena Αγιά Σοφιά" το όνομα του νέου γηπέδου | News. www.sigmalive.com. 24 April 2024 .
  10. Web site: Our Old Home "Nikos Goumas" . . aekfc.gr . 28 August 2015 .
  11. Web site: Εξι χρόνια από την κατεδάφιση του "Νίκος Γκούμας" (vids) . Καραΐνδρος . Σταύρος . 5 May 2009 . 28 August 2015. el . Six years after the demolition of "Nikos Goumas" (vids).
  12. Web site: Φάκελος: Γήπεδο ΑΕΚ. Χορτάτος. Τόλης. 5 May 2013. 28 August 2015. el. File AEK Stadium. https://web.archive.org/web/20160121001837/http://www.aek1924.gr/podosfairo/podosfairo-andrwn/item/7229-%CF%86%CE%AC%CE%BA%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%B3%CE%AE%CF%80%CE%B5%CE%B4%CE%BF-%CE%B1%CE%B5%CE%BA. 21 January 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  13. Web site: ΑΕΚ: Ερχεται πιο κοντά η κατασκευή του γηπέδου. imerisia.gr. AEK: The time of the construction of the stadium is closing. 9 March 2016.
  14. Web site: Ελληνες παίκτες και γήπεδο θέλει για την ΑΕΚ ο Μελισσανίδης . 10 July 2013. 28 August 2015 . el . Melissanidis wants Greek players and stadium for A.E.K.
  15. Web site: Ιδού ο ναός της ΑΕΚ (photos+videos). 2 October 2013. 28 August 2013. el. Behold the temple of A.E.K (photos and videos).
  16. Web site: Ο Τίγρης παρουσίασε το ΓΗΠΕΔΟ - Βυζαντινό κάστρο της ΑΕΚ! . 29 August 2013 . 28 August 2015. el . The Tiger has presented the Stadium - Byzantine castle of A.E.K.
  17. Web site: Η επίσημη παρουσίαση του νέου γηπέδου της ΑΕΚ . 6 November 2013 . 28 August 2015 . el. The formal presentation of the stadium of A.E.K.
  18. Web site: Στηρίζει και οικονομικά το Ίδρυμα Ωνάση. Παλλαντζάς. Παναγιώτης. 6 November 2013. gazzeta.gr. Onassis foundation helps financially. 22 December 2015.
  19. Web site: Προσφυγή στο ΣτΕ από τον Δήμο για το γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ . 3 January 2015 . 28 August 2015 . el. The Municipality files a complaint at StE for the stadium of A.E.K.
  20. Web site: "Θέλουμε το γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ, αλλά όχι τον αποχαρακτηρισμό στρεμμάτων του άλσους" λέει ο δήμαρχος . 2 January 2015 . 28 August 2015 . el. "We want the stadium of A.E.K but without any acres given from the Grove" says the Mayor.
  21. Web site: Η προσφυγή των "17" κατά της "Αγιάς Σοφιάς". Αρναούτογλου. Βαγγέλης. 1 December 2014. sport24.gr. The complaint of the "17" against "Hagia Sophia". 22 December 2015.
  22. Web site: ΑΕΚ: Ήμερα κρίσης για την "Αγια-Σοφιά". 6 March 2015. protothema.gr. el. Critical day for "Agia Sophia". 28 August 2015.
  23. Web site: "Πράσινο φως" από το ΣτΕ για το γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ . 5 June 2015 . 28 August 2015 . el. "Green light" for A.E.K stadium from StE.
  24. Web site: Το γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ σε δημόσια διαβούλευση . Γεωργίου . Άκης . 22 July 2015 . 28 August 2015 . el. The stadium of A.E.K is at public consultation.
  25. Web site: Αίτημα για παράταση της δημόσιας διαβούλευσης για το γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ. 9 September 2015. 22 December 2015. Τσίλας. Κώστας. el. Application for extension of public consultation for A.E.K stadium.
  26. Web site: Παρατείνεται η δημόσια διαβούλευση για την "Αγιά Σοφιά"!. 18 September 2015. 22 December 2015. skai.gr. The public consultation for Hagia Sophia is extended!. el.
  27. Web site: Ολοκληρώνεται η διαβούλευση, στο ΥΠΑΠΕΝ η ΑΕΚ. 23 November 2015. 22 December 2015. sdna.gr. Τριβιζάς. Μάριος. el. Public consultation is completed, AEK heads to YPAEN.
  28. Web site: Ανοίγει ο δρόμος για την "Αγιά Σοφιά", εγκρίθηκε η μελέτη από την Περιφέρεια (vid). Αμπελάκης. Σπυρίδων. 29 January 2016. ert.gr. The road opens for "Hagia Sophia", the study was approved from the Administrative Region (vid). 23 March 2016. 7 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407091923/http://www.ert.gr/anigi-o-dromos-gia-tin-agia-sofia-egkrithike-i-meleti-apo-tin-periferia-vid/. dead.
  29. Web site: Υπέγραψε για το γήπεδο ο Υπουργός Περιβάλλοντος και Ενέργειας, προχωράει για την άδεια η ΑΕΚ. Τσώχος. Μιχάλης. 31 March 2016. cnn.gr. el. The minister of Environment and Energy signed for the stadium, AEK proceeds for the building permission. 31 March 2016.
  30. Web site: Εκδόθηκε η οικοδομική άδεια για το γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ. Lialios. Giorgos. 25 July 2015. kathimerini.gr. el. The planning permission for AEK stadium has been granted. 27 July 2017.
  31. Web site: ΕΓΚΡΙΣΗ ΔΟΜΗΣΗΣ. diavgeia.gov.gr. Ministry of Environment and Energy. el. Planning Permission.
  32. Web site: Όλο το σχέδιο χρηματοδότησης του γηπέδου της ΑΕΚ . 7 March 2013 . 28 August 2015 . el. The whole plan of funding for A.E.K stadium.
  33. Web site: Περιφέρεια Αττικής: "20 εκ. ευρώ για το νέο γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ" . 20 June 2013 . 28 August 2015 . el. Administrative Region of Attica: "20 million for A.E.K stadium".
  34. Web site: Συστάθηκε η "Δικέφαλος 1924 Α.Ε." . 30 August 2013 . 28 August 2015 . el. "Dikefalos 1924 A.E" is founded.
  35. Web site: Πάνω απο 40 εκατ. ευρώ έχει μαζέψει η "Δικέφαλος ΑΕ". 28 October 2013. 28 August 2015. el. "Dikefalos A.E" has gathered over 40 million euros. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924100557/http://www.sentragoal.gr/article.asp?catid=10523&subid=2&pubid=129535332. 24 September 2015. dead.
  36. Web site: Πήραν μπροστά οι μπουλντόζες στη Φιλαδέλφεια! (pics+vids). Τριβιζάς. Μάριος. 28 July 2017. sdna.gr. el. The bulldozers have started working in Filadelfia! (pics+vids). 28 July 2017.
  37. Web site: Σε πέντε μήνες τελειώνει η πρώτη φάση των έργων για την Αγιά – Σοφιά. 29 July 2017. sdna. gr. el. The first phase of construction for Agia - Sophia ends in 5 months. 29 July 2017.
  38. Web site: Όλα έτοιμα για τα θεμέλια της "Αγιά Σοφιάς". Τσίλης. Κώστας. 5 December 2017. sport24.gr. Everything is ready for the foundations of Agia Sophia. 10 December 2017.
  39. Web site: Ανακοίνωση της Δικέφαλος 1924 ΑΕ. 6 February 2018. aekfc.gr. el. Announcement of DIKEFALOS AE. 23 February 2018.
  40. Web site: Απέκτησε ξανά... ζωή το εργοτάξιο στη Νέα Φιλαδέλφεια (vid). 12 February 2018. sdna.gr. el. The construction site in Nea Filadelfeia has.... regained life.. 23 February 2018.
  41. Web site: OPAP Arena . aekfc.gr . 17 April 2022 .
  42. Web site: ΑΕΚ: Στις 30 Σεπτεμβρίου τα εγκαίνια του νέου γηπέδου. kathimerini.gr. 30 August 2022 . 9 September 2022. el.
  43. Web site: Η ΑΕΚ επέστρεψε στο "σπίτι" της, σε βραδιά-όνειρο. sport-fm.gr. 3 October 2022. el.
  44. Web site: Ολόκληρο το βίντεο των εγκαινίων της "Αγια-Σοφιάς - OPAP Arena": Δείτε ξανά τη μεγάλη γιορτή!. sport-fm.gr. 3 October 2022. el.
  45. Web site: Επιστροφή στο σπίτι με τεσσάρα για την εκκωφαντική ΑΕΚ!. Μουσουράκης. Μανώλης. sport-fm.gr. 3 October 2022. el.
  46. Web site: Αποφάσεις Εκτελεστικής Επιτροπής ΕΠΟ . epo.gr . 7 March 2023 . Online . el . Όρισε ως έδρα της Εθνικής Ομάδας Ανδρών για το φιλικό παιχνίδι με τη Λιθουανία στις 27 Μαρτίου 2023 και για τα προκριματικά του Euro 2024 την «OPAP Arena».
  47. Web site: Έδρα της Εθνικής στα προκριματικά του Euro η "OPAP Arena" . sport-fm.gr . 7 March 2023 . Online . el . Το γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ θα φιλοξενήσει τις εντός έδρας υποχρεώσεις της γαλανόλευκης για τα προκριματικά του Euro, αφού έδωσε την έγκριση η Εκτελεστική Επιτροπή της ΕΠΟ..
  48. Web site: ΑΕΚ: "Επίσημα νέο σπίτι της Εθνικής μας ομάδας η OPAP ARENA" (ΦΩΤΟ) . ertsports.gr . 7 March 2023 . 7 March 2023 . Online . el . Το πρώτο παιχνίδι που θα δώσει το αντιπροσωπευτικό μας συγκρότημα στο νέο γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ, θα είναι το φιλικό με τη Λιθουανία στις 27 Μαρτίου..
  49. Web site: Μουσουράκης . Μανώλης . Καλύτερη η Εθνική στο νέο της σπίτι, αλλά ποδαρικό με το αριστερό . sport-fm.gr . 27 March 2023 . Online . el . 2023 . Το αντιπροσωπευτικό μας συγκρότημα έμεινε στο 0-0 σε φιλικό με τη Λιθουανία στην OPAP Arena, στην οποία έσπευσαν 15.000 φίλαθλοι..
  50. Web site: Φορτσάτη Εθνική, καθάρισε την Ιρλανδία και πάει... αεράτη στη Γαλλία!. Λιβάνιος. Αποστόλης. sport-fm.gr. 17 June 2023. Online. el.
  51. Web site: Έβγαλε αντίδραση με πεντάρα η Εθνική!. Λιβάνιος. Αποστόλης. sport-fm.gr. 10 September 2023. Online. el.
  52. Web site: Έπεσε ηρωικά κόντρα στην Ολλανδία η Ελλάδα και πάει για τη δεύτερη ευκαιρία!. Λιβάνιος. Αποστόλης. sport-fm.gr. 16 October 2023. Online. el.
  53. Web site: Ελλάδα με τσαμπουκά, φρέναρε τη Γαλλία και άφησε υποσχέσεις ενόψει μπαράζ!. Λιβάνιος. Αποστόλης. sport-fm.gr. 21 November 2023. Online. el.
  54. Web site: Greece 5-0 Kazakhstan (Mar 21, 2024) Final Score .
  55. Web site: UEFA Conference League . RSSSF . 8 June 2023 . 20 February 2024 . Karel . Stokkermans . 20 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240220114149/https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/ec4.html . live .
  56. Web site: UEFA.com . 2024-05-29 . Olympiacos 1-0 Fiorentina (aet): El Kaabi swoops to secure Greece's first major European trophy UEFA Europa Conference League . 2024-05-30 . UEFA.com . en.

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