Azadi Stadium

Azadi Stadium
Azadi Stadium during the 2018 AFC Champions League semi-finals
Map
Full nameAzadi Stadium[1]
Former namesAryamehr Stadium (1971–1979)
LocationTehran, Iran
OwnerMinistry of Sport and Youth of Iran
OperatorAzadi Sport Complex
Tehran Municipality
Capacity78,116 (2016–present)[2]
84,412 (2012–2016)[3]
95,225 (2003–2012)
100,000 (1971–2003)
Record attendance128,000
Iran Iran vs. Australia Australia
Field size110 m × 75 m (361 ft × 246 ft)
SurfaceDesso GrassMaster
Scoreboard104 m2 jumbotron
Construction
Broke ground1 October 1970
Built1970–1971 (1 year)
Opened17 October 1971 (1971-10-17)
Renovated2002–2003
2016–2017
2023–2024
Expanded2002
Construction cost2,578,183,966 tomans (€400,163,944)
ArchitectAbdol-Aziz Mirza Farmanfarmaian
Project managerSkidmore, Owings & Merrill
Structural engineerJames Raymond Whittle
Tenants
Website
www.azadisportcomplex.com

The Azadi Stadium (Persian: ورزشگاه آزادی Varzešgâh-è Âzâdi), opened as the Aryamehr Stadium (Persian: ورزشگاه آریامهر Varzešgâh-è Âryâmehr), is an all-seater football stadium in Tehran, Iran. The stadium was designed by Abdol Aziz Mirza Farman-Farmaian Architects and Associates (AFFA) with other parts of the sports complex based on plans by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, an American architectural, urban planning, and engineering firm. It was inaugurated on 17 October 1971 by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran; it is currently self-owned by Esteghlal and Persepolis. It is also the home stadium of the Iran national football team. It has a capacity of 78,116 spectators,[2] as the result of conversion to all-seater stadium. The stadium is part of the larger Azadi Sport Complex.[citation needed]

Aryamehr (meaning "Light of the Aryans") was the title of the said Shah; it was renamed after the Iranian Revolution to Azadi (meaning "freedom" in Persian). It is the largest association football stadium in Western Asia. It was built to host the 1974 Asian Games and has hosted the 1976 AFC Asian Cup. The stadium also hosted five finals of Asian Club Competitions: three finals of AFC Champions League in 1999, 2002 and 2018 and two finals of Asian Cup Winners' Cup in 1991 and 1993. Azadi Stadium also hosted WAFF Championship Tournament in 2004 and 2008.[citation needed]

Because of the loud sound of vuvuzelas, similar to the sound of bees, the stadium is sometimes referred to as a "Bee swarm".[4]

  1. ^ "Azadi Stadium Guide". fifa.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  2. ^ a b "22 هزار نفر از ظرفیت آزادی کم شد :: ورزش سه". www.varzesh3.com. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Azadi Stadium | TeamMelli". teammelli.com. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  4. ^ bugaga.ru — 25 самых пугающих стадионов в мире (25 Most intimidating stadiums in the world) In Russian