Tofiq Bahramov Stadium

Tofiq Bahramov Stadium

Full name	Tofiq Bəhramov adına Respublika Stadionu
Former names	Joseph Stalin Stadium (1951–1956) Vladimir Lenin Stadium (1956-1993)
Location	Baku, Azerbaijan
Coordinates	40°23′50.42″N 49°51′8.76″E / 40.3973389°N 49.8524333°E
Owner	AFFA
Capacity	31,200[1]
Field size	104x66
Surface	Grass
Scoreboard	Yes
Construction
Built	1939–1951
Opened	16 September 1951
Renovated	2011–2012
Expanded	2011–2012
Tenants
Qarabağ Azerbaijan national football team

The Tofiq Bahramov Stadium (Azerbaijani: Tofiq Bəhramov adına Respublika Stadionu) is a multi-purpose stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan. It is currently used mostly for football matches. It serves as the home ground for the Azerbaijan national football team and holds 31,200 seats making it the second largest stadium in the country.^[2] The stadium is also used by the Azerbaijan Premier League clubs in the final rounds of European competitions.

History

The Tofiq Bahramov Stadium was built in 1951. Its construction started before the World War II in 1939, but was suspended. When its construction resumed, it was finished by German prisoners of war. Initially the stadium was named after Joseph Stalin and built in form of C (Cyrillic: Cтaлин). After the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1956 (denunciation of Stalin) it was renamed after Vladimir Lenin. In 1993, the stadium was named after the famous football referee Tofiq Bahramov who died in the same year.

In 2011, the Presidential Reserve Fund of the State Budget of Azerbaijan for 2011 allocated $10 million for capital repairs and reconstruction of the stadium as it could be used as potential venue for Eurovision Song Contest 2012.^[3][4] The stadium was renovated and reopened on 16 August 2012.^[5]

The stadium was one of the venues for the group stages of the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. One Group A match, a semi-final and the final were played there.^[6]

Events

Aside from sporting uses, several concerts have been played at Tofiq Bahramov, with such big names as Shakira, Elton John, Jennifer Lopez and Tarkan playing.^{[7][8][9][10]}

The stadium is expected to host archery at 2015 European Games.^[11]

Concerts

Concerts at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium
Date	Artist	Tour	Attendance
30 June 2006	Tarkan	Solo Concert	55,000[12]
13 October 2012	Shakira	2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup	40,000[13]
23 September 2007	Elton John	The Captain and the Kid Tour	32,000[14]
22 September 2012	Jennifer Lopez	2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup	30,000[15]
10 June 2007	Aygun Kazimova	Solo Concert	29,000[16]
19 April 2013	Konul Khasiyeva	Solo Concert	15,000[17]

Gallery

• 

  Panorama of the stadium.

• 

  The view of the stadium from satellite.

• 

  Qarabağ FK during the Europa League qualifier match.

• 

  Big flag of Azerbaijan durint the Europa League group match.

See also

• List of football stadiums in Azerbaijan
• Baku Olympic Stadium
• Tofiq Bahramov

References

1. Dövlət başçısı Tofiq Bəhramov adına stadionunun açılışında iştirak edib (fotoreportaj), retrieved 16 August 2012
2. Stadium for 60,000 seats to be built in Baku
3. "AZN 10 million financed for overhaul of potential venue of Eurovision 2012". Retrieved 10 July 2011.
4. "Azerbaijan: Buildings Commissioned & Upgraded in Baku". Retrieved 10 July 2011.
5. İlham Əliyev Tofiq Bəhramov adına Respublika Stadionunun əsaslı təmir və yenidənqurmadan sonra açılışında iştirak etmişdir
6. "France end Asian domination". fifa.com. FIFA. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
7. "Rihanna and Shakira to perform in Baku". ann.az. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
8. "Shakira: “I expect grandiose shows on October 13-14 in Baku”". en.apa.az. APA News Agency. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
9. "ELTON JOHN GIVES CONCERT AT TOFIG BAHRAMOV STADIUM IN BAKU. PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV AND HIS SPOUSE MEHRIBAN ALIYEVA ATTEND THE CONCERT". www.mehriban-aliyeva.org. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
10. Warrick, Joby (15 October 2012). "Tiny Azerbaijan unleashes pop-power against Iran’s mullahs". washingtonpost.com (Washington Post). Retrieved 6 July 2013.
11. "Tofiq Bahramov the story behind the Stadium". www.insidethegames.biz. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
12. "Tarkan Concert Statistics". www.tarkancoll.com. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
13. "Shakira Rocks Baku at FIFA U-17 Women’s WC". www.argophilia.com. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
14. "ELTON JOHN GIVES CONCERT AT TOFIG BAHRAMOV STADIUM IN BAKU. PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV AND HIS SPOUSE MEHRIBAN ALIYEVA ATTEND THE CONCERT". www.mehriban-aliyeva.org. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
15. "J-Lo and the circus in pictures". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
16. "Aygün Kazımova tamaşaçıya maşın bağışlayacaq". az.trend.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 5 November 2014.
17. "Könül Xasıyevanın konsertində “Mercedes” fırıldağı". musavat.com (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 13 August 2014.