Puskás Aréna Explained

Stadium Name:Puskás Aréna
Logo Image:Puskás_Aréna_logo.svg
Fullname:Puskás Arena
Location:Dózsa György út 1, Zugló,
Budapest, Hungary
Coordinates:47.5032°N 19.0944°W
Built:2017–2019
Opened:15 November 2019
Owner:Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ)
Surface:Grass
Construction Cost:533 million[1] [2]
(€593 million in 2021 euros)[3]
Architect:György Skardelli
Publictransit: Puskás Ferenc Stadion
Tenants:Hungary national football team (2019–present)
Seating Capacity:67,215[4]
Record Attendance:65,114
(Hungary v Uruguay;
15 November 2019)

Puskás Aréna is a football stadium in the 14th district (Zugló) of Budapest, Hungary. The stadium's construction started in 2017 and was finished before the end of 2019. It is an all-seater with a capacity of 67,215. The Hungarian Football Federation meets all UEFA and FIFA stadium requirements, and was awarded 4-stars by the UEFA. The stadium is built in the place of the former Ferenc Puskás Stadium whose demolition was completed in October 2016. Both stadiums were named in honour of the former national team captain Ferenc Puskás (1927–2006).[5]

History

In 2011, when originally budgeted, the cost of the construction of the new stadium was put at 35 billion Hungarian forints.[6]

On 26 June 2014, László Vigh said that the construction of the new stadium would cost 90-100 billion Hungarian forints.[7]

On 1 August 2014, the Nemzeti Sport Központ (the National Sports Center) presented the final vision of Hungary's new national stadium. The Hungarian architect György Skardelli, who was the designer of the nearby indoor arena, László Papp Budapest Sports Arena showed his original plans that did not include the demolition of the original stadium[8]

On 19 September 2014, UEFA selected Budapest to host three group stage games and one round of 16 game at UEFA Euro 2020.[9] [10]

On 19 September 2014, Sándor Csányi, the president of the Hungarian Football Federation, said that the fact that Budapest can host UEFA Euro 2020 is a big achievement of the Hungarian sport diplomacy.[11]

On 23 February 2017, János Lázár, Minister of Prime Minister's Office of Hungary, said that the cost of the stadium will rise to 190 billion Hungarian forint from the previously estimated 100 billion.[12] The current budget of 190 billion Hungarian forints (EUR 610 million) is well over 100% of the original cost estimates and is far more expensive than similarly sized stadiums in Europe such as Allianz Arena in Munich or Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.[13]

In 2014, the original designs of the new Puskás Ferenc stadium was voted the best design by Stadiumdb.com which complimented the imaginative design which included an elevated running track that overlooked the pitch and had city skyline views.[14] However, by the time of construction two attempts at cutting unnecessary elements from the project scaled back the design to being football-focused because of the huge inflation of the construction budget and the desire to build a new athletics stadium in Budapest by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for a future Summer Olympics bid.[15] [16]

On 29 June 2018, the Visitors' Centre of the Puskás Ferenc Stadium was opened. Balázs Fürjes, minister responsible for Budapest and its agglomeration, said at the opening of the centre that the new stadium would be more than a stadium. It would be a multi-purpose stadium that can hold concerts and conferences as well. He also said that preferably the stadium would host the 2021 UEFA Champions League Final.[17]

On 14 December 2018, the Hungarian Association of Journalists (in Hungarian: Magyar Sportújságírók Szövetsége) and the members of the communication department of the Hungarian Football Federation visited the construction.[18]

All of the seats were mounted by 2 October 2019.[19]

Cashless catering system was installed in the new arena. In the arena only touch cards or NFC are accepted.[20]

Only 500 parking spaces were created around the new stadium. Therefore, it is advisable to arrive at the arena by using public transport.[21]

Opening

On 15 November 2019 the arena was opened by the match Hungary-Uruguay. The idea to invite the Uruguay national football team came from Károly Jankovics who is the leader of the Hungarian community in Montevideo.[22]

All of the tickets were sold for the opening match against Uruguay. In the first three days only the members of the Supporters' Club of the Hungarian Football Federation could purchase the tickets.[23]

Although the opening match was planned to be the last match of Zoltán Gera, he did not play at the opening match, as he said that his condition would not make it possible to play against Uruguay.[24] [25] Uruguay won the game, 2–1.[26]

Present (2019-)

On 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, the 2020 UEFA Super Cup matches was moved from Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal to Budapest, Hungary.

On 31 May 2023, A.S. Roma and Sevilla FC played in the 2023 UEFA Europa League final with Sevilla winning a 4-1 penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.[27] [28]

Notable matches

UEFA club matches

2026 UEFA Champions League final

Hungary national football team matches

Note:

Statistics of Hungary national football team matches

Match typePldWDLGFGA
Competition19104 52923
Friendly741 285
Total2614 57 3728

Top scorers:
Dominik Szoboszlai (9 goals)
Roland Sallai (6 goals)

Concerts

List of concerts, showing date, artist, opening act and tour name
Date Artist(s) Tour Attendance
June 15, 2022 Global Stadium Tour47,787
July 11, 2023RammsteinRammstein Stadium Tour
July 12, 2023
July 19, 2023 Guns N' Roses 2023 Tour
July 28, 2023 Memento Mori World Tour47,613
May 24, 2024Azahriah138,980[29]
May 25, 2024
May 26, 2024
June 1, 2024Hungária
June 8, 2024Halott Pénz
June 16, 2024ColdplayMusic of the Spheres World Tour167,000[30]
June 18, 2024
June 19, 2024
July 20, 2024Ed Sheeran+–=÷× Tour

Public transport

Metro

Tram

1, 1A

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://index.hu/mindekozben/poszt/2019/11/15/190_milliardert_epult_fel_az_uj_puskas-stadion_de_mennyibe_kerult_volna_a_regi_mai_aron/ 190 milliárdért épült fel az új Puskás-stadion, de mennyibe került volna a régi mai áron?
  2. https://hvg.hu/kkv/20200707_puskas_stadion_fenntartas Nemcsak megépíteni volt drága, a Puskás Aréna fenntartása is milliárdos tétel évente
  3. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CP0000HUM086NEST Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices: All Items for Hungary
  4. https://www.facebook.com/puskasarena/photos/a.215194175625674/719869725158114/?type=3&theater
  5. Web site: Majtényi . György . Legends of La Liga: Ferenc 'Pancho' Puskás and Hungarian footballers in El Clásico . Europeana (CC By-SA) . 5 May 2019.
  6. Web site: Milliárdokba fog kerülni a Puskás-stadion üzemeltetése. Molnár. László. 2018-01-12. MNO.com. 2018-08-01.
  7. Web site: Labdarúgás: 90-100 milliárdból épülhet az új Puskás-stadion. 26 June 2014. Nemzeti Sport.
  8. Web site: Budapest: Amazing national stadium presented in Hungary. 1 August 2014. StadiumDB.com.
  9. Web site: UEFA EURO 2020 hosts: London to hold final. 19 September 2014. Uefa.com.
  10. Web site: Megkaptuk! 2020-ban Eb-meccseket rendezhet Budapest!. 19 September 2014. Nemzeti Sport.
  11. Web site: MLSZ: Joggal bíztunk a sikeres pályázatban - Csányi. 19 September 2014. Nemzeti Sport.
  12. Web site: 100 helyett 190 milliárdba kerül az új Puskás Stadion. 23 February 2017. index.hu.
  13. News: Yet Another Sports Stadium to Be Built in Budapest. 2018-04-24. Hungary Today. 2018-08-01. en-US.
  14. Web site: Recap: Best of 2014! (top 10). 21 December 2014. Stadiumdb.com.
  15. News: Puskas stadium plan scaled back. 2015-05-20. Daily News Hungary. 2018-08-01. en-US.
  16. Web site: Budapest: No 2024 Olympics, but burden remains – StadiumDB.com. stadiumdb.com. en. 2018-08-01.
  17. Web site: Labdarúgás: megnyílt a Puskás Ferenc Stadion Látogatóközpontja – galéria. Football: The Visitors' Centre of the Puskás Ferenc Stadium was opened. Nemzeti Sport. hu. 14 December 2018. 19 December 2018.
  18. Web site: Puskás Aréna: jó lesz innen tudósítani. Puskás Aréna: it will be good to broadcast from here. Nemzeti Sport. hu. 14 December 2018. 19 December 2018.
  19. Web site: Puskás Aréna: szinte az összes szék a helyére került – képek. Puskás Aréna: almost all of the seats were mounted. Nemzeti Sport. hu. 2 October 2019. 2 October 2019.
  20. Web site: Puskás Aréna: meccsre menni inkább tömegközlekedéssel. Puskás Aréna: supporters should arrive by using public transport. Nemzeti Sport. hu. 13 November 2019. 14 November 2019.
  21. Web site: Puskás Aréna: meccsre menni inkább tömegközlekedéssel. Puskás Aréna: supporters should arrive by using public transport. Nemzeti Sport. hu. 13 November 2019. 14 November 2019.
  22. Web site: Az Uruguay-ötlet – ezért lett a dél-amerikai válogatott a stadionavató-ellenfél. The idea of inviting Uruguay. Nemzeti Sport. hu. 8 November 2019. 8 November 2019.
  23. Web site: Magyar–uruguayi: máris elfogytak a jegyek a Puskás Aréna nyitó meccsére. Hungary-Uruguay: all of the tickets were sold. Nemzeti Sport. hu. 28 October 2019. 28 October 2019.
  24. Web site: Válogatott: Nem vagyok olyan állapotban, hogy a világ egyik legjobbja ellen játsszak – Gera. I'm not in the condition to play against the best team in the world. Nemzeti Sport. hu. 12 November 2019. 12 November 2019.
  25. Web site: Nem vagyok olyan állapotban, hogy a világ egyik legjobbja ellen játsszak – Gera. I'm not in the condition to play against the best team in the world. Nemzeti Sport. hu. 12 November 2019. 12 November 2019.
  26. News: Uruguay Wins against Hungary at Inauguration Match of Puskás Arena. Hungary Today. English. 16 November 2019. 10 November 2022.
  27. Web site: nemzetisport.hu . 2023-05-18 . El: Sevilla–Juventus visszavágó - NSO . 2023-05-19 . NSO.hu . hu.
  28. Web site: Sevilla 1 Roma 1 (Sevilla win 4-1 on penalties). 31 May 2023. BBC Sport. 1 June 2023.
  29. Web site: Azahriah Puskás-triplája számokban: 2 milliárdos bevétel, 600 milliós nyereség, 1500 közreműködő . telex . 2024-06-17 . 2024-06-26 . hu.
  30. Web site: 31 July 2024 . Zach Bryan Tops June Touring Report with Almost $69 Million . live . https://archive.today/20240731152701/https://www.billboard.com/pro/zach-bryan-number-1-june-touring-report-69-million/ . 31 July 2024 . 31 July 2024 . Billboard.