 | |
| Former names | Komsomoli Staadion |
|---|---|
| Location | Tallinn, Estonia |
| Owner | Sports Association Kalev |
| Capacity | 12,000 (9,908 seated) |
| Field size | 100 m × 68 m (328 ft × 223 ft)[1] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 12 July 1955 |
| Renovated | 2019–2022 |
| Architect | Erika Nõva Peeter Tarvas |
| Tenants | |
| Tallinna Kalev (1955–1961, 2002–2016) Tallinna Sport (1985–1989) Tallinna Sadam (1992–1998) | |
Kalevi Keskstaadion is a multi-purpose stadium in Tallinn, Estonia. Opened in 1955 and having a capacity of 12,000, it is the traditional venue of the Estonian Dance Festival and the former home ground of JK Tallinna Kalev. The address of the stadium is Staadioni 8, 10132 Tallinn.
Since 1955, all of the Estonian Dance Festivals have been held there.[2]
History
20th Century
The stadium was built during the Soviet occupation of Estonia and was opened on 12 July 1955. It was the first new large-scale sports complex built in Tallinn after World War II. The initial plans were grandiose: the first blueprints saw the stadium have a 30,000 capacity seating area and a 16,000 capacity standing area, as well as a 6 meter tall statue depicting Estonian folklore hero Kalevipoeg.[3] However, the project was later scaled-down and saw the stadium have a capacity of 12,000.
In 1960, Tallinna Kalev joined the Soviet Top League and in the following two years, the stadium hosted numerous high-profile football matches. The match against Dynamo Moscow brought more than 20,000 people onto the stands and among the players playing was Dynamo's Lev Yashin, who won the Ballon d'Or three years after said match and is regarded by many as the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the sport.
21st Century
The 2000s saw the stadium's condition worsen to the point that in 2007, the Estonian FA declared the grass pitch unusable for top-flight football.[4] In 2015, it was announced that Kalevi Keskstaadion will undergo a major renovation and the concept design also included a possibility to increase the capacity to 30,000 in the distant future.[5][6] The renovation works began after the 2019 Estonian Dance Festival and the stadium was re-opened in 2022.[7]
Artificial turf stadium
The sports complex of the Kalevi Keskstaadion also has an artificial turf ground named Kalevi kunstmurustaadion. Located at the southwest corner of the main stadium, the field is home to Kalev's youth system.
Gallery
Kalevi Keskstaadion in the 1950s.jpg.webp)
Kalevi Keskstaadion in 2009
Stadium at its full capacity.
The stadium in 2019
The stadium (in the bottom left corner) in February 2009
The stadium in August 2023
Kalevi Keskstaadion after renovation works in August 2022
References
- ↑ "Kalevi Keskstaadion". Eesti spordiregister.
- ↑ Kalevi Keskstaadion – Eesti Rahvusstaadioniks. Staadioni tn 3 arendus- ja planeeringu kontseptsioon.
- ↑ "Kalevi staadion". Longread. 2017-06-22. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
- ↑ Soccernet.ee (11 July 2007). "Kalevi Keskstaadion tunnistati mängukõlbmatuks". Soccernet.ee - Jalgpall luubi all!.
- ↑ "Kalevi keskstaadioni arhitektuurikonkursi võitis ideekavand "Katel"". Moodne Kodu (in Estonian). 25 May 2017.
- ↑ "UHKE: vaata, kui ilus on Kalevi staadion pärast uuendamistöid". www.ohtuleht.ee (in Estonian). 4 December 2019.
- ↑ ERR, Katre Roomets | (2022-06-28). "Uuenduskuuri läbinud Kalevi keskstaadion ootab kasutusluba". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2022-12-16.
External links
