Constant Vanden Stock Stadium
| Astrid Park | |
 | |
| Former names | Emile Versé Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | Anderlecht, Brussels Capital Region, Belgium |
| Coordinates | 50°50′3.1″N 4°17′54.1″E / 50.834194°N 4.298361°ECoordinates: 50°50′3.1″N 4°17′54.1″E / 50.834194°N 4.298361°E |
| Operator | R.S.C. Anderlecht |
| Capacity |
League matches: 28,063 (21,163 seated and 6,900 standing)[1] European matches: 21,845[2] |
| Field size | 105 x 68 m |
| Surface | Desso GrassMaster[3] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1917 |
| Opened | 1917[4] |
| Renovated | 1983 |
| Tenants | |
| R.S.C. Anderlecht | |
Constant Vanden Stock Stadium (French: Stade Constant Vanden Stock, Dutch: Constant Vanden Stockstadion [kɔ̃ˈstɑ̃ː vɑndɛn ˈstɔk ˌstaːdijɔn]) is a football stadium in the municipality of Anderlecht, Brussels. It is home to R.S.C. Anderlecht. It also hosted the UEFA Euro 1972 semifinal Hungary against Soviet Union, as well as several games of the Belgium national football team.
It was in 1917 that R.S.C. Anderlecht installed, on the border of the Meir Park (later renamed Astrid Park), a new stadium with only one wooden stand. They called it Émile Versé Stadium, in the name of a generous patron. Later, concrete stands were set up. Though, in 1983, the stadium was completely rebuilt and took the name of the club's then chairman Constant Vanden Stock. Its capacity was decreased to 28,063, with 6,900 standing places behind the goals and 21,163 seated places (1,583 of which in business seats and 406 in V.I.P. boxes). During European competitions, the stadium is all-seated, which decreases its capacity. In 2010 the son of Constant Vanden Stock, Roger, announced together with RSC Anderlecht's manager Herman Van Holsbeeck that the club was going to build a third ring above the two existing[5] in order to increase the stadium's capacity to 30,000 places. These works should be completely finished in 2013. In summer 2012, rail seats for safe standing were fitted on the terracing behind each goal. [6]
The stadium address is Avenue Théo Verbeecklaan 2, B-1070 Anderlecht. It is located near Saint-Guidon/Sint-Guido metro station. Rival supporters must stop at Aumale metro station for UEFA Champions League matches due to security measures. The stadium hosts a former one-star restaurant (Le Saint-Guidon) and a cafeteria, as well as the official club fanshop and the ticketing.
References
- ↑ "Stadium history" (in Dutch). rsca.be. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ↑ http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/StatDoc/competitions/UEFACup/01/67/59/06/1675906_DOWNLOAD.pdf
- ↑ "La sixième pelouse d'Europe" (in French). rsca.be. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ↑ http://www.worldofstadiums.com/europe/belgium/stade-constant-vanden-stock/
- ↑ "Stade - Le RSCA restera à Anderlecht et il a opté pour un troisième anneau" (in French). rsca.be. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ↑ http://stadiumdb.com/news/2012/07/belgium_anderlecht_gives_cvds_a_makeover
External links
- Stadium Guide Article
- Stadium Database Article
- (Russian) Constant Vanden Stock Stadium – information & photo
- Images of the expansion of the stadium at Jaspers-Eyers Architects