Agia Sophia Stadium

The Agia Sophia Stadium (pronounced [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 second 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 stadium. The construction of the arena was completed in October 2022. Agia Sophia Stadium is the newest stadium built in Greece.

Agia Sophia Stadium
Στάδιο Αγιά Σοφιά
Full nameCentre of Sports, Remembrance and Culture Agia Sophia
LocationNea Filadelfeia, Athens, Greece
Coordinates38°2′13″N 23°44′29″E
Public transitAthens Metro Athens Metro Line 1 Perissos metro station
Trolleybus: L3 and L6
Bus Lines: 619, Β9, 755, 755B, 421, 602, 604, 605, 024, A8
Parking1.200
400–500 (underground)
OwnerAEK
OperatorDikefalos 1924 S.A.
Executive suites40
Capacity32,500[1]
Field size105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft)
Surfacenatural grass
Scoreboard2
Construction
Broke ground28 July 2017
Built7 September 2022
Opened30 September 2022
Construction cost€ 98,700,000
ArchitectAthanassios Kyratsous
Project managerDimitris Andriopoulos
General contractorErmonassa S.A[2]
Tenants
AEK Athens (2022–present)
Greece national football team (2023–present)
Website
Official website
Stadium website

On 27 March 2023, the stadium began hosting the home matches of the Greece national football team[5] with a 0-0 draw against Lithuania.

The stadium won the 13th edition of the Stadium of the Year award in the public vote for the best stadium opened in 2022.

The 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League season is set to conclude at the stadium on 29 May 2024.[6]

Name

The original name of the stadium, Agia Sophia, named after the Byzantine-built former cathedral Hagia Sophia, was picked in order to commemorate the roots of the club from the city of Constantinople (present day Istanbul).[7]. 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.

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.[8]

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.[8][9] 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.[10]

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.[10]

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 Hagia Sophia. However, he lost the elections.[11]

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.[10]

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.[12]

The first presentation of the stadium took place on 2 October 2013 in the Miltos Kountouras hall at the Nea Filadelfia High School.[13][14] 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 will be 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.[15]

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.[16][17]

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[18] calling for the redevelopment of 0.6 hectares from the Grove of Nea Filadelfeia in accordance with the overall plans for the new stadium.[19] Additionally, 17 citizens of the municipality of Filadelfeia-Chalkidona filed a complaint on 1 December 2014 about the same matter.[20]

The case was heard at the Council of State on 6 March 2015.[21] The decision was issued on 5 June 2015, and it rejected the claims of the municipality and the citizens as unsubstantive and obscure.[22]

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.[23] The municipality of Filadelfeia-Chalkidona filed an application for an extension of the public consultation for an extra 45 days,[24] which was accepted.[25] The consultation was finally concluded on 24 November 2015.[26]

On 28 January 2016, the meeting of the Administrative Regiοn of Attica approved the Study of the Environmental Impact of the project.[27]

The minister of Environment and Energy, Panos Skourletis, signed the Study of the Environmental impact of the stadium on 31 March 2016.[28]

The planning permission was acquired from the Ministry of Environment on 25 July 2017.[29][30]

Funding

The net construction cost is estimated at around € 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.[31] The Administrative region of Attica will fund the stadium with € 20,000,000.[32] The sum left will be funded by Dikefalos 1924, a company that was founded for the construction of the stadium.[33][34]

Construction

The construction of the stadium began with earthworks on 28 July 2017.[35] The first phase of construction consisted of excavations and retaining works, which according to the initial planning would last for 5 months.[36] Eventually, the first phase was completed on 5 December 2017.[37]

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.[38] The works began on 12 February 2018.[39] 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.[40]

  • A small church of Hosios Loukas, in honour of AEK Athens FC former president Loukas Barlos
  • Double dressing rooms for tournaments
  • 31,100 capacity
  • Conference room
  • VIP Entrance
  • VIP Area
  • VVIP Members Club
  • Cigar Lounge
  • 40 suites
  • Executive suite
  • AEK Boutique
  • AEK Athens FC History Museum
  • Museum of Greek Refugees
  • OPAP betting shop
  • Panoramic view restaurant
  • Traditional coffee shop
  • Traditional shoe shop & locksmith
  • Double-headed eagle statue (stadium main entrance)
  • AEK Offices

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:

  • Trolleybus: Line 6 (Station Pindou) and Line 3 (Station N.Filadelfeia)
  • Bus Lines: 619, Β9 (both lines Station Trochonomos), 755, 755Β (both lines Station Pindou), 421 (Station AEK Stadium), and Α8 (near Metro Station Perissos) all of them are maximum of 10 minutes from the stadium!

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

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.[41][42][43]

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.[44]

Date Attendance Score Competition Opponent
3 October 2022 31,100 4–1 Super League Ionikos

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.[45][46] However, Greece played its first international game in Agia Sophia stadium earlier that year against Lithuania.[47][48]

Date Attendance Score Competition Opponent
27 March 2023 15,000 0–0 Exhibition Game Lithuania

Greece national football team matches

  Win   Loss   Draw

Nr Competition Date Opponent Result Attendance Scorers for Greece Ref.
1 Friendly 27 March 2023  Lithuania 0–0 15,000 ––– [48]
2 UEFA Euro Qualifiers 16 June 2023  Republic of Ireland 2–1 18,079 Anastasios Bakasetas, Georgios Masouras [49]
3 UEFA Euro Qualifiers 10 September 2023  Gibraltar 5–0 11,237 Dimitris Pelkas, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Georgios Masouras [50]
4 UEFA Euro Qualifiers 16 October 2023  Netherlands 0–1 27,000 ––– [51]
5 UEFA Euro Qualifiers 21 November 2023  France ––– ––– –––

Record
Team Competition Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA GD
AEK Athens Super League 1 19 14 4 1 42 9 +33
Greek Cup 4 4 0 0 11 0 +11
UEFA 3 0 2 1 4 5 -1
Total 26 18 6 2 57 14 +43

Last updated: 5 October 2023.
Source: aekfc.gr

Team Competition Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA GD
Greece FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
UEFA Euro Qualifiers 3 2 0 1 7 2 +5
UEFA Nations League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Exhibition Games 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Total 4 2 1 1 7 2 +5

Last updated: 17 October 2023.
Source: epo.gr

See also

References
  1. "OPAP Arena". aekfc.gr. 11 October 2022.
  2. "ΑΕΚ: Η εταιρεία "ΕΡΜΩΝΑΣΣΑ ΑΕ" ανέλαβε την κατασκευή του νέου γηπέδου | ΣΠΟΡ". iefimerida.gr. 6 February 2018.
  3. "OPAP Arena". AEK F.C. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  4. "Super League Matchday 6". Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  5. "Δύο ευρωπαϊκοί τελικοί για την Ελλάδα σε Γ. Καραϊσκάκης και OPAP Arena". www.sport24.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  6. Θωμάς Τζουβάρας (20 March 2023). "ΑΕΚ: Η OPAP Arena κέρδισε τον τίτλο "Stadium of The Year" για τα νέα γήπεδα του 2022". sport24.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  7. "ΑΕΚ: "ΟΠΑΠ Arena Αγιά Σοφιά" το όνομα του νέου γηπέδου | News". www.sigmalive.com.
  8. "Our Old Home "Nikos Goumas"". aekfc.gr. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  9. Καραΐνδρος, Σταύρος (5 May 2009). "Εξι χρόνια από την κατεδάφιση του "Νίκος Γκούμας" (vids)" [Six years after the demolition of "Nikos Goumas" (vids)] (in Greek). Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  10. Χορτάτος, Τόλης (5 May 2013). "Φάκελος: Γήπεδο ΑΕΚ" [File A.E.K Stadium] (in Greek). Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  11. "ΑΕΚ: Ερχεται πιο κοντά η κατασκευή του γηπέδου" [AEK: The time of the construction of the stadium is closing]. imerisia.gr. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  12. "Ελληνες παίκτες και γήπεδο θέλει για την ΑΕΚ ο Μελισσανίδης" [Melissanidis wants Greek players and stadium for A.E.K] (in Greek). 10 July 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  13. Yellow Fever GR (2 October 2013), Ομιλία Μελισσανίδη - Παρουσίαση γηπέδου ΑΕΚ [Melissanidis' speech - Presentation of stadium of AEK], retrieved 22 December 2015
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  15. "Ο Τίγρης παρουσίασε το ΓΗΠΕΔΟ - Βυζαντινό κάστρο της ΑΕΚ!" [The Tiger has presented the Stadium - Byzantine castle of A.E.K] (in Greek). 29 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
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  17. Παλλαντζάς, Παναγιώτης (6 November 2013). "Στηρίζει και οικονομικά το Ίδρυμα Ωνάση" [Onassis foundation helps financially]. gazzeta.gr. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  18. "Προσφυγή στο ΣτΕ από τον Δήμο για το γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ" [The Municipality files a complaint at StE for the stadium of A.E.K] (in Greek). 3 January 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  19. ""Θέλουμε το γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ, αλλά όχι τον αποχαρακτηρισμό στρεμμάτων του άλσους" λέει ο δήμαρχος" ["We want the stadium of A.E.K but without any acres given from the Grove" says the Mayor] (in Greek). 2 January 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  20. Αρναούτογλου, Βαγγέλης (1 December 2014). "Η προσφυγή των "17" κατά της "Αγιάς Σοφιάς"" [The complaint of the "17" against "Hagia Sophia"]. sport24.gr. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
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  23. Γεωργίου, Άκης (22 July 2015). "Το γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ σε δημόσια διαβούλευση" [The stadium of A.E.K is at public consultation] (in Greek). Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  24. Τσίλας, Κώστας (9 September 2015). "Αίτημα για παράταση της δημόσιας διαβούλευσης για το γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ" [Application for extension of public consultation for A.E.K stadium] (in Greek). Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  25. "Παρατείνεται η δημόσια διαβούλευση για την "Αγιά Σοφιά"!" [The public consultation for Hagia Sophia is extended!]. skai.gr (in Greek). 18 September 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  26. Τριβιζάς, Μάριος (23 November 2015). "Ολοκληρώνεται η διαβούλευση, στο ΥΠΑΠΕΝ η ΑΕΚ" [Public consultation is completed, AEK heads to YPAEN]. sdna.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  27. Αμπελάκης, Σπυρίδων (29 January 2016). "Ανοίγει ο δρόμος για την "Αγιά Σοφιά", εγκρίθηκε η μελέτη από την Περιφέρεια (vid)" [The road opens for "Hagia Sophia", the study was approved from the Administrative Region (vid)]. ert.gr. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  28. Τσώχος, Μιχάλης (31 March 2016). "Υπέγραψε για το γήπεδο ο Υπουργός Περιβάλλοντος και Ενέργειας, προχωράει για την άδεια η ΑΕΚ" [The minister of Environment and Energy signed for the stadium, AEK proceeds for the building permission]. cnn.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  29. Lialios, Giorgos (25 July 2015). "Εκδόθηκε η οικοδομική άδεια για το γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ" [The planning permission for AEK stadium has been granted]. kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  30. "ΕΓΚΡΙΣΗ ΔΟΜΗΣΗΣ" [Planning Permission]. diavgeia.gov.gr (in Greek). Ministry of Environment and Energy.
  31. "Όλο το σχέδιο χρηματοδότησης του γηπέδου της ΑΕΚ" [The whole plan of funding for A.E.K stadium] (in Greek). 7 March 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  32. "Περιφέρεια Αττικής: "20 εκ. ευρώ για το νέο γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ"" [Administrative Region of Attica: "20 million for A.E.K stadium"] (in Greek). 20 June 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  33. "Συστάθηκε η "Δικέφαλος 1924 Α.Ε."" ["Dikefalos 1924 A.E" is founded] (in Greek). 30 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  34. "Πάνω απο 40 εκατ. ευρώ έχει μαζέψει η "Δικέφαλος ΑΕ"" ["Dikefalos A.E" has gathered over 40 million euros] (in Greek). 28 October 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  35. Τριβιζάς, Μάριος (28 July 2017). "Πήραν μπροστά οι μπουλντόζες στη Φιλαδέλφεια! (pics+vids)" [The bulldozers have started working in Filadelfia! (pics+vids)]. sdna.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 28 July 2017.
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  37. Τσίλης, Κώστας (5 December 2017). "Όλα έτοιμα για τα θεμέλια της "Αγιά Σοφιάς"" [Everything is ready for the foundations of Agia Sophia]. sport24.gr. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  38. "Ανακοίνωση της Δικέφαλος 1924 ΑΕ" [Announcement of DIKEFALOS AE]. aekfc.gr (in Greek). 6 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  39. "Απέκτησε ξανά... ζωή το εργοτάξιο στη Νέα Φιλαδέλφεια (vid)" [The construction site in Nea Filadelfeia has.... regained life.]. sdna.gr (in Greek). 12 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  40. "OPAP Arena". aekfc.gr. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  41. "ΑΕΚ: Στις 30 Σεπτεμβρίου τα εγκαίνια του νέου γηπέδου". kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  42. "Η ΑΕΚ επέστρεψε στο "σπίτι" της, σε βραδιά-όνειρο". sport-fm.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  43. "Ολόκληρο το βίντεο των εγκαινίων της "Αγια-Σοφιάς - OPAP Arena": Δείτε ξανά τη μεγάλη γιορτή!". sport-fm.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  44. Μουσουράκης, Μανώλης. "Επιστροφή στο σπίτι με τεσσάρα για την εκκωφαντική ΑΕΚ!". sport-fm.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  45. "Αποφάσεις Εκτελεστικής Επιτροπής ΕΠΟ". epo.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 March 2023. 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»
  46. "Έδρα της Εθνικής στα προκριματικά του Euro η «OPAP Arena»". sport-fm.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 March 2023. 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.
  47. "ΑΕΚ: «Επίσημα νέο σπίτι της Εθνικής μας ομάδας η OPAP ARENA» (ΦΩΤΟ)". ertsports.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 March 2023. 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.
  48. Μουσουράκης, Μανώλης (2023). "Καλύτερη η Εθνική στο νέο της σπίτι, αλλά ποδαρικό με το αριστερό". sport-fm.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 27 March 2023. Το αντιπροσωπευτικό μας συγκρότημα έμεινε στο 0-0 σε φιλικό με τη Λιθουανία στην OPAP Arena, στην οποία έσπευσαν 15.000 φίλαθλοι.
  49. Λιβάνιος, Αποστόλης (2023). "Φορτσάτη Εθνική, καθάρισε την Ιρλανδία και πάει... αεράτη στη Γαλλία!". sport-fm.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 17 June 2023. Η Ελλάδα επικράτησε 2-1 στο πρώτο της επίσημο ματς στην OPAP Arena και συνέχισε νικηφόρα στα προκριματικά του Euro 2024.
  50. Λιβάνιος, Αποστόλης (2023). "Έβγαλε αντίδραση με πεντάρα η Εθνική!". sport-fm.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 10 September 2023. Επιστροφή στις νίκες (μετά το 3-0 από την Ολλανδία) για την Ελλάδα, η οποία «καθάρισε» (5-0) το Γιβραλτάρ με τους Μαυροπάνο-Μασούρα να σκοράρουν δις και κεφάτο Πέλκα (1 γκολ/1ασίστ).
  51. Λιβάνιος, Αποστόλης (16 October 2023). "Έπεσε ηρωικά κόντρα στην Ολλανδία η Ελλάδα και πάει για τη δεύτερη ευκαιρία!". sport-fm.gr (in Greek). Η Εθνική ηττήθηκε 1-0 από την Ολλανδία στην «καυτή» OPAP Arena με πέναλτι στο 93' και πλέον μόνο με θαύμα θα προκριθεί απευθείας στο Euro 2024.
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