Stadionul UMT

UMT Stadium
Stadionul UMT
Map
Former namesStadionul Electrica (1928–1960)
AddressAleea Avram Imbroane, nr. 56
LocationTimișoara, Romania
Coordinates45°46′13.5″N 21°15′15.5″E / 45.770417°N 21.254306°E / 45.770417; 21.254306
Capacity9,900
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Opened1928
Renovated2001
Closed2008
Demolished2016
Tenants
Ripensia Timișoara (1928–1948)
Electrica Timișoara (1929–1960)
UM Timișoara (1970–2008)

UMT Stadium (Romanian: Stadionul UMT) was a multi-purpose stadium in Timișoara, Romania. Until 1960 the stadium was known as Stadionul Electrica and was the main home ground in Timișoara for athletics championships, being also the stadium where Olympic champion Iolanda Balaș made her debut.[1] Ripensia Timișoara (until 1948) and Electrica Timișoara (until 1960) also used the stadium as the home ground for football matches.

In 1960 the stadium entered into possession of Uzinele Mecanice Timișoara (UMT) and a sports complex was built around it, consisting of another stadium and various grounds. The new stadium was named Stadionul Electrica and the old one was renamed after the owner of the sports complex, Stadionul UMT.[1] This name changing of the stadiums and their location, just a few meters from each other, were favorable factors in creating some confusion over time.

From the 1970s Stadionul UMT was the home ground of UM Timișoara, a football team founded in 1960 by the same Uzinele Mecanice Timișoara (UMT).[2] Between 2001 and 2002 this stadium was the home ground for Liga I matches, but was closed in 2008, when UM Timișoara relegated to Liga IV, being dissolved by its owner, UMT.[2] After 2008 the stadium was closed and reached the state of dereliction before being demolished in 2016.[1][3] Stadionul UMT had a capacity of 9,900 seats.[4]

Currently, the site of the former UMT Stadium is occupied by an aquapark.[5]

  1. ^ a b c Both, Ștefan (27 March 2016). "Stadionul pe care Iolanda Balaș a început atletismul, dărâmat. Ruină și bălării, tot ce-a mai rămas dintr-o arenă legendară" [The stadium where Iolanda Balaș started athletics, demolished. Ruin and dandelions, all that's left of a legendary arena]. Adevărul. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.(in Romanian)
  2. ^ a b "Povestea UMT-ului. "Cenușăreasa" fotbalului timișorean" [The story of the UMT. The "Cinderella" of Timisoara football]. Ripensia-sport-magazin.ro. 27 January 2016. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.(in Romanian)
  3. ^ "Un stadion istoric a dispărut în tăcere la Timișoara" [A historic stadium disappeared in silence in Timișoara]. druckeria.ro. 13 September 2012. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.(in Romanian)
  4. ^ Popa, Raluca (19 May 2015). "Stadionul UMT, ascuns sub buruieni. Baza sportivă, unde s-au câștigat patru titluri de campioană a României, e abandonată" [UMT Stadium, hidden under weeds. The sports base, where four Romanian titles have been won, is abandoned]. Digi 24. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.(in Romanian)
  5. ^ Lupulescu, Diana (24 August 2022). "Aquapark cu bani europeni, la Timișoara. Proiectul aparține unei firme private". TION.