AMSTERDAM - Amsterdam ArenA (53,052)

[repin]

[b5254]

Any plans for renovation etc. before the hosting of Europa league 2013?

[master_klon]

Are they planning to lower the pitch and bring the seats down to field level? Looks easy to do.

[Darloeye]

Cost ?

[endrity]

Capacity wise this is just fine for Ajax. Would like to see some bigger screens though.

[Axelferis]

how to dig the field when you have a runway under the stadium?

[LubiePiwo]

Originally Posted by b5254

Do you remember Fifa 98 RTWC intro btw?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhhdEvkUuAc

I remember, and I thought it's not a real existing stadium

[Slagathor]

Originally Posted by master_klon

Are they planning to lower the pitch and bring the seats down to field level? Looks easy to do.

Not a feasible plan considering there's a highway running underneath the stadium. The club have been known to fill up the space with removable seats but obviously there's a limit to how low you can go.

The infamous "canals" between stands and pitch are a Dutch answer to hooliganism and pitch invasions that was first conjured up in the 1990s and has featured in many new stadiums ever since. Some clubs get it right and it's hardly noticeable (AZ), while some clubs take it to the extreme and fuck up their entire stadium (Zwolle). When you're watching AZ games on TV, you don't notice the canal. When you watch Zwolle games on TV, you can't even see the crowd, you're just looking at a football game staged in front of a blind wall.

[master_klon]

Originally Posted by Slagathor

Not a feasible plan considering there's a highway running underneath the stadium.

I can get quite dumb sometimes.

The canals are covered up for concerts right? I can't remember there being a gap.

[EPA001]

Originally Posted by b5254

Any plans for renovation etc. before the hosting of Europa league 2013?

See post 119 for outside-expansions and renovations.

No interior changes are in final planning. But the lowering of the first tier (bring it closer to the pitch and getting rid of the temporary seats) is still a serious option. Also the openings in the corners of the first tier would be filled up. That could bring the capacity up to 55.000 fixed seats.

[MrChavcore]

they could seriously do with changing those seats. always thought they looked horrific and dont really represent ajax or holland.. or am i wrong here?

[Slagathor]

The seats make no sense, I've always hated them.

[pawel19-87]

By hanselpedia
image hosted on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanselpedia/6986864734/

image hosted on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanselpedia/6986865032/

image hosted on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanselpedia/6986865498/

[b5254]

Nice pics!





http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs47/f/20..._sonnyPLAY.jpg

[Quintana]

Originally Posted by Slagathor

Not a feasible plan considering there's a highway running underneath the stadium. The club have been known to fill up the space with removable seats but obviously there's a limit to how low you can go.

The infamous "canals" between stands and pitch are a Dutch answer to hooliganism and pitch invasions that was first conjured up in the 1990s and has featured in many new stadiums ever since. Some clubs get it right and it's hardly noticeable (AZ), while some clubs take it to the extreme and fuck up their entire stadium (Zwolle). When you're watching AZ games on TV, you don't notice the canal. When you watch Zwolle games on TV, you can't even see the crowd, you're just looking at a football game staged in front of a blind wall.

In the case of AZ there is no canal in the 'classic' sense. The bottom of this 'canal' is on pitch level where the entrances also are. Anyone can enter the pitch here effortlessly. The only reason why the seats are just above pitch level is to create a better viewing experience for the first rows. In the case of AZ it makes sense because they have no hooligans, just people who make annoying clapping sounds with cardboard

A classic canal is lower than both the stands and the field and cannot be entered from the stands unless you decide to jump into it (Amsterdam Arena, De Kuip). They completely separate the stands from the field.

image hosted on flickr


A more popular variation in this country is a canal that is still lower than both the stands and the field (thus separating the two) but is also used as the entrance to the stands. These canals usually house catering facilities as well (Abe Lenstra Stadion, Grolsch Veste, Kyocera Stadion).

[troeba]

Originally Posted by master_klon

Are they planning to lower the pitch and bring the seats down to field level? Looks easy to do.

image

Currently the canals are filled with temporary stands, but there are plans to replace these with final versions. A build permit for this has already been submitted to the Amsterdam local government: here (search for 188650 and use Google translate if needed).

I'm not sure if they will lower the pitch for this, but it would be possible at least. The road going through the stadium is 2 stories below the pitch. Also, the pitch is just an extension to the ceiling of the parking garage beneath it. In other words, the ceiling of the parking garage is equal to the bottom of the canals and it is extended underneath the pitch:

[OnceBittenTwiceShy]

The Amsterdam Arena is equipped with dreaded ‘moats’ or ‘canals’, separating stands from the pitch, conjuring visions of sub-level carpool lanes. Encroaching on to the pitch, one would need a pole vault.


Today, stadium director Henk Markerink announced the ‘roofing’ of the moat on the west side of the ground (pictured east) to create a ‘floor’, accommodating an extra five rows of seats reaching pitch level.

Work shall commence during the 2012/13 winter break. This expansion will generate an extra capacity yet to be disclosed.

[troeba]

This winter the construction of permanent stands in the canal on the west side of the stadium will start. This is the canal in front of the main stand.

Ajax have played their last home game of 2012 on 8th December. First home game in 2013 will be on 20th January. Construction should be ready by then.

[www.sercan.de]

what will be the cap.?
55,000?

[LucianPopa1000]

U guys do realise that when u lower the pitch to add seats the upper tier may not see the whole pitch.And really why would u want to add seats?Firts of all the stands are pretty close to the pitch,i think its 10m max,so no more than 3-4 rows can be added.The problem is with the end stands.Why the hell did they built them so far (there's got to be at least 25 m there).
I heard they would want to expand it to 65-70K.How would they do it?Except a steep as hell 3rd tier(like Bernabeu) i dont see a real solution.Still this stadiums biggest problem the very large distance between pitch and end stands.Huge design mistake.