Elbasan Arena
LocationSheshi Ruzhdi Bizhuta 1, 3001 Elbasan, Albania
Coordinates41°06′57.15″N 20°05′31.17″E / 41.1158750°N 20.0919917°E / 41.1158750; 20.0919917
OperatorFSHF
Capacity12.800[1]
Record attendance12.800 Albania vs. Denmark (11/10/2014, Euro 2016)[2]
Field size105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Opened1967
Renovated2001, 2014
Tenants
Elbasani

Elbasan Arena (Albanian: Elbasan Arena, formerly known as Ruzhdi Bizhuta) is a multi-purpose stadium in Elbasan, Albania. The stadium was completed in 1967 and has been the home ground of KF Elbasani ever since. The stadium was under reconstruction and was officially inaugurated on 8 October 2014 in time for the match against Denmark, valid for the qualifiers of UEFA Euro 2016, with total capacity of 12,800,[1] making it the 3rd largest in Albania, after the Air Albania Stadium in Tirana.

History

Elbasan Arena first opened in 1967 under the name of Ruzhdi Bizhuta Stadion who was one of KF Elbasani’s most famous players. Constructed in the 1960s, the ground was built to replace the club’s former ground which had slowly become a set of outdated facilities.

For the majority of Ruzhdi Bizhuta’s history, the stadium has been used exclusively by KF Elbasani but in January 2014 it was announced that the ground would host Albania’s qualification matches of Euro 2016. This decision was taken by the Albanian Football Federation in order to allow the usual national stadium Qemal Stafa to undergo extensive renovation work.

2014 Reconstruction

Before Elbasan Arena could host the matches however it would have to undergo refurbishment itself, and in total over €5.5 million[3] invested into the stadium. Work to bring up the stadium to UEFA’s required standards began in February 2014, and finished 7 months later in October.

Cheering at Elbasan Arena

Numerous improvements were made to the stadium including the installation of new floodlights, 12,500 new plastic seats, new changing rooms, executive seating areas, new scoreboards, and to top it all of a brand new playing surface was laid.

The stadium then reopened on 8 October when Albania hosted Denmark[4] in their second qualification match of the campaign. Played out in front of a sell-out crowd of 12,800 – the record attendance to date, Albania earned a 1-1 draw against their more favoured opposition.

Inauguration

The opening ceremony of the stadium was held on 11 October 2014,[5] with a historical exhibition match against Denmark. Playing for the first time at the recently refurbished Elbasan Arena, the hosts grabbed a 38th-minute lead through Ermir Lenjani's deflected strike but Denmark substitute Lasse Vibe slotted home an 81st-minute equaliser as the Group I rivals went joint-top.

Albania1–1Denmark
Ermir Lenjani 38' Lasse Vibe 81'
Elbasan Arena, Elbasan
Attendance: 12,800
Referee: Viktor Kassai
Albania (4–3–3):
GK1Etrit Berisha
RB4Elseid Hysaj
CB5Lorik Cana
CB15Mërgim Mavraj
LB7Ansi Agolli
DM13Burim Kukeli
CM22Amir Abrashi
CM14Taulant Xhaka downward-facing red arrow 82'
RW2Andi Lila downward-facing red arrow 87'
LW3Ermir Lenjani
CF19Bekim Balaj downward-facing red arrow 69'
Substitutions:
GK12Orges Shehi
GK23Alban Hoxha
CB6Debatik Curriupward-facing green arrow 87'
RW8Herolind Shala
FW9Edmond Kapllani
LM10Valdet Ramaupward-facing green arrow 82'
RM11Emiljano Vila
FW16Sokol Cikalleshiupward-facing green arrow 69'
CM17Alban Meha
FW18Hamdi Salihi
CM20Ergys Kaçe
MF21Armando Vajushi
Manager:
Gianni De Biasi
Denmark (4–3–3):
GK1Kasper Schmeichel
RB2Peter Ankersen
CB3Simon Kjær
CB5Andreas Bjelland
LB7Nicolai Boilesen
RM9Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
CM10William Kvist
LM11Christian Eriksen
RW12Yussuf Poulsen
LW19Michael Krohn-Dehli
CF23Nicklas Bendtner
Manager:
Morten Olsen


References

  1. 1 2 "Elbasan Arena - Albania". Football Tripper. 8 August 2015.
  2. "Albania-Denmark | European Qualifiers 2016". Union of European Football Associations.
  3. "Elbasan Arena - Stadiumi Ruzhdi Bizhuta, Elbasan | ACP". Albanian Construction Portal.
  4. "Shqipëri- Danimarkë, ndeshja e parë në "Elbasan Arena". Ja çmimi i biletave".
  5. "Elbasan Arena, të mërkurën inagurimi". Albanian Football Association. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2016.


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