The Letná Stadium (Czech: Stadion Letná [ˈstadjon ˈlɛtnaː]), is a football stadium in Prague. It is the home venue of AC Sparta Prague and often hosts the home matches of the Czech Republic national football team. The stadium's capacity is 18,887 seats.[1]
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| Former names | Letná Stadium (1917–2003) Toyota Arena (2003–2007) AXA Arena (2007–2009) Generali Arena (2009–2020) Generali Česká pojišťovna Arena (2020–2022) epet ARENA (since 2022) |
|---|---|
| Location | Milady Horákové 1066/98 Prague, Czech Republic |
| Coordinates | 50°5′59″N 14°24′57″E / 50.09972°N 14.41583°E |
| Public transit |  Sparta (1, 2, 8, 12, 25, 26) C at Vltavská A at Hradčanská |
| Owner | AC Sparta Praha fotbal, a.s. |
| Capacity | 18,887 |
| Field size | 105×68 m |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1917 |
| Renovated | 1937, 1969, 1994 |
| Architect | Cyril Mandel, Vladimír Syrovátka |
| Tenants | |
| Sparta Prague (1917–present) Czech Republic national football team (selected matches) | |
History
editThe first wooden stadium at its location opened in 1921. The origins of motorcycle speedway in Prague can be traced back to races held at the stadium, starting on 9 June 1928. It is unknown as to when the track was removed.[2]
In 1930 it hosted the third Women's World Games. The stadium burned in 1934 and a new main reinforced concrete grandstand was built in 1937. In 1969 all the other grandstands were replaced by reinforced concrete ones and capacity was extended to 35,880 spectators. The 1994 reconstruction into its present form saw Letná closed for nine months, until the stadium met all international standards. The running track was removed and all spectator places were now seated.[3][4]
Letná has frequently hosted international matches, in October 1989 the venue saw a crowd of 34,000 watch home side Czechoslovakia defeat Switzerland in a qualifying match for the 1990 FIFA World Cup.[4] After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, Letná continued as an international stadium, hosting matches of the Czech Republic national football team from 1995, including qualification matches for UEFA Euro 1996, in which the Czechs defeated the Netherlands and Norway.[5]
The playing surface was renovated in 2001, including the installation of a new under-soil heating and watering system.[6] This necessitated Sparta playing league matches at the end of the 2000–01 season at the nearby Stadion Evžena Rošického.[7]
In 1994 the stadium was reopened after a complete modernization. The capacity was lowered to 20,854 seats. In 2009 major changes took place at the stadium – barriers between sections were removed, two video screens were installed and infrared radiators were installed to heat the eastern stand. The capacity has been 18,887 since 2009.
Czech Republic national football team matches
edit| Date | Attendance | Home team | Result | Away team | Competition | Match report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 April 1995 | 17,463 | Czech Republic 
|
3–1 |  Netherlands
|
UEFA Euro 1996 Q | Report |
| 6 September 1995 | 19,522 | Czech Republic
|
2–0 |  Norway
|
UEFA Euro 1996 Q | Report |
| 15 November 1995 | 20,239 | Czech Republic
|
3–0 |  Luxembourg
|
UEFA Euro 1996 Q | Report |
| 9 October 1996 | 19,223 | Czech Republic
|
0–0 |  Spain
|
1998 FIFA World Cup Q | Report |
| 2 April 1997 | 19,137 | Czech Republic
|
1–2 |  FR Yugoslavia
|
1998 FIFA World Cup Q | Report |
| 11 October 1997 | 5,428 | Czech Republic
|
3–0 |  Slovakia
|
1998 FIFA World Cup Q | Report |
| 19 August 1998 | 7,021 | Czech Republic
|
1–0 |  Denmark
|
Friendly | Report |
| 9 June 1999 | 21,149 | Czech Republic
|
3–2 |  Scotland
|
UEFA Euro 2000 Q | Report |
| 9 October 1999 | 21,362 | Czech Republic
|
2–0 |  Faroe Islands
|
UEFA Euro 2000 Q | Report |
| 26 April 2000 | 4,972 | Czech Republic
|
4–1 |  Israel
|
Friendly | Report |
| 28 March 2001 | 16,354 | Czech Republic
|
0–0 | Denmark
|
2002 FIFA World Cup Q | Report |
| 25 April 2001 | 4,887 | Czech Republic
|
1–1 |  Belgium
|
Friendly | Report |
| 6 October 2001 | 15,020 | Czech Republic
|
6–0 |  Bulgaria
|
2002 FIFA World Cup Q | Report |
| 14 November 2001 | 18,996 | Czech Republic
|
0–1 | Belgium
|
2002 FIFA World Cup Q (P-O) | Report |
| 18 May 2002 | 15,077 | Czech Republic
|
1–0 |  Italy
|
Friendly | Report |
| 6 September 2002 | 5,435 | Czech Republic
|
5–0 | FR Yugoslavia
|
Friendly | Report |
| 2 April 2003 | 17,150 | Czech Republic
|
4–0 |  Austria
|
UEFA Euro 2004 Q | Report |
| 10 September 2003 | 18,356 | Czech Republic
|
3–1 | Netherlands
|
UEFA Euro 2004 Q | Report |
| 28 April 2004 | 11,802 | Czech Republic
|
0–1 |  Japan
|
Friendly | Report |
| 2 June 2004 | 6,627 | Czech Republic
|
3–1 | Bulgaria
|
Friendly | Report |
| 9 October 2004 | 16,028 | Czech Republic
|
1–0 |  Romania
|
2006 FIFA World Cup Q | Report |
| 8 October 2005 | 17,478 | Czech Republic
|
0–2 | Netherlands
|
2006 FIFA World Cup Q | Report |
| 16 November 2005 | 17,464 | Czech Republic
|
1–0 | Norway
|
2006 FIFA World Cup Q (P-O) | Report |
| 3 June 2006 | 15,910 | Czech Republic
|
3–0 |  Trinidad and Tobago
|
Friendly | Report |
| 15 November 2006 | 6,852 | Czech Republic
|
1–1 | Denmark
|
Friendly | Report |
| 24 March 2007 | 17,821 | Czech Republic
|
1–2 |  Germany
|
UEFA Euro 2008 Q | Report |
| 12 September 2007 | 16,648 | Czech Republic
|
1–0 |  Republic of Ireland
|
UEFA Euro 2008 Q | Report |
| 17 November 2007 | 15,651 | Czech Republic
|
3–1 | Slovakia
|
UEFA Euro 2008 Q | Report |
| 30 May 2008 | 11,314 | Czech Republic
|
3–1 | Scotland
|
Friendly | Report |
| 1 April 2009 | 14,956 | Czech Republic
|
1–2 | Slovakia
|
2010 FIFA World Cup Q | Report |
| 10 October 2009 | 14,010 | Czech Republic
|
2–0 |  Poland
|
2010 FIFA World Cup Q | Report |
| 6 September 2011 | 7,322 | Czech Republic
|
4–0 |  Ukraine
|
Friendly | Report |
| 7 October 2011 | 17,873 | Czech Republic
|
0–2 | Spain
|
UEFA Euro 2012 Q | Report |
| 11 November 2011 | 14,560 | Czech Republic
|
2–0 |  Montenegro
|
UEFA Euro 2012 Q (P-O) | Report |
| 1 June 2012 | 17,102 | Czech Republic
|
1–2 |  Hungary
|
Friendly | Report |
| 16 October 2012 | 16,160 | Czech Republic
|
0–0 | Bulgaria
|
2014 FIFA World Cup Q | Report |
| 7 June 2013 | 18,235 | Czech Republic
|
0–0 | Italy
|
2014 FIFA World Cup Q | Report |
| 3 September 2014 | 12,673 | Czech Republic
|
0–1 |  United States
|
Friendly | Report |
| 9 September 2014 | 17,946 | Czech Republic
|
2–1 | Netherlands
|
UEFA Euro 2016 Q | Report |
| 10 October 2015 | 17,190 | Czech Republic
|
0–2 |  Turkey
|
UEFA Euro 2016 Q | Report |
| 24 March 2016 | 14,580 | Czech Republic
|
0–1 | Scotland
|
Friendly | Report |
| 4 September 2016 | 10,731 | Czech Republic
|
0–0 |  Northern Ireland
|
2018 FIFA World Cup Q | Report |
| 7 June 2019 | 13,482 | Czech Republic
|
2–1 | Bulgaria
|
UEFA Euro 2020 Q | Report |
| 14 October 2019 | 9,139 | Czech Republic
|
2–3 | Northern Ireland
|
Friendly | Report |
| 8 June 2021 | 620 | Czech Republic
|
3–1 |  Albania
|
Friendly | Report |
| 16 November 2021 | 10,076 | Czech Republic
|
2–0 |  Estonia
|
2022 FIFA World Cup Q | Report¨ |
| 26 March 2024 | 16,158 | Czech Republic
|
2–1 |  Armenia
|
Friendly | Report |
| 11 October 2024 | 17,823 | Czech Republic
|
2–0 | Albania
|
2024–25 UEFA Nations League | Report¨ |
Development of the name
editNon-football activities
editSince the beginning the stadium has been used as a speaking tribune for events that took place in front of it, in/around the Milada Horaková street and the large "Letná Plain".[11] During the Velvet revolution in 1989, some 800,000 people assembled for anti-government demonstrations at the Letná plain. The speaking tribune was later removed.
Transport connections
editThe stadium is served by the tram lines 1, 2, 8, 12, 25 and 26. The tram stop Sparta is in front of the stadium in Milada Horáková Street. The nearest metro stations are Vltavská to the east and Hradčanská to the west.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Stadion auf der offiziellen Website des Vereins Archived 24 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 15 March 2021, (in Czech)
- ^ "50 Years ago: Ove kicked the cat, but the pigeon flew down the stairs". Speedway A-Z. January 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "Historie stadionů Sparty Praha na místě stávajícího stadionu". sparta.cz. Archived from the original on 24 August 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
- ^ a b Bouc, Frantisek (26 April 1995). "Sparta Praha's Stadium Is '12th Man' for Czech Soccer". Prague Post. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
- ^ Bouc, Frantisek (9 October 1996). "Czech soccer players make a pitch for World Cup '98". Prague Post. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
- ^ "Na Letné bude trávník z Německa" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 13 June 2001. Archived from the original on 26 May 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
- ^ "Sparta dohraje závěr ligy na Strahově" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 10 April 2001. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
- ^ "Generali Česká pojišťovna Arena". AC Sparta Praha. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Stadium | sparta.cz". AC Sparta Praha. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ "Letná má nové jméno: epet ARENA". AC Sparta Praha (in Czech). 22 November 2022. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ "Křetínský překope stadion Sparty a postaví obchodní centrum". E15.cz. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
External links
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