Bozsik Aréna is a multi-purpose stadium in Budapest, Hungary.[1] It is primarily used for football matches and it is the home stadium of Nemzeti Bajnokság II club Budapest Honvéd F.C.. Opening on 24 July 2021, it is named after Hungary footballer József Bozsik.
 Bozsik Stadion | |
 | |
| Location | Kispest, Budapest, Hungary |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 47°26′33″N 19°9′18″E / 47.44250°N 19.15500°E |
| Owner | Government of Hungary |
| Operator | Budapest Honvéd F.C. |
| Capacity | 8,200 |
| Field size | 105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2019 |
| Built | 2019–2021 |
| Opened | 14 March 2021 |
| Construction cost | €47 million |
| Tenants | |
| Budapest Honvéd | |
History
editPlanning and construction
editOn 20 November 2014, it was revealed that the reconstruction of the Bozsik József Stadion would start in 2015 and finish in 2016. The capacity of the new stadium was announced to be 9,000, with 900 VIP seats, 350 skyboxes, and a 100 square metre mixed zone for the press.[2] Óbuda Group was commissioned as the project's architects, with planning taking place between 2014 and 2015.[3] However, construction was delayed until March 2019,[4][5] with new plans revealing a revised capacity of 8,200 and a three-floor main stand, which comes together with the other stands to form a U-shape.[6][7] The facilities include a modern floodlight system while a lion statue designed by Gábor Szőke was placed in front of the stadium.[8][9]
According to Szilvia Zsilák of Átlátszó, the initial costs of the stadium was estimated at €12.6 million, which increased during construction to €29.5 million.[10] On 22 April 2020, it was announced that the construction of the stadium would increase to €32.2 million.[11] On 6 July, it was revealed that the final cost of construction was €47 million.[12] The stadium is owned by the Government of Hungary.[13]
A ceremony to mark the beginning of construction was held on 21 March 2019, with minister of sport Tünde Szabó, Kispest mayor Péter Gajda, and Budapest Honvéd owner George Hemingway present. Szabó noted the stadium to be part of a renovation project for the Kispest area of Budapest, while Hemingway revealed delays to the project arose due to the club's desire to rebuild on the same site as the previous stadium. He also stated the stadium would open on 12 June 2020, with the stadium capable of hosting any UEFA matches, except the Champions League final.
Construction was undertaken by Pharos 95 Sportpályaépítő Kft and West Hungária Bau Kft, who constructed the club's training ground.[14] The planning opening was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic: the 24 March 2021 match between the Hungary national under-21 football team and the Germany national under-21 football team was selected to be the first match played in the stadium,[15] but this was changed to the reserve team of Budapest Honvéd and Szekszárdi UFC, to take place a week earlier.[16]
Opening
editHonvéd played their first match at the stadium on 24 July, a draw against Villarreal CF B in a friendly. The match ball was delivered by a parachute jumper and the first kick was taken by the grandson of Ferenc Puskás. The match was played without spectators due to COVID-19.[17] The stadium was selected to host the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[18] On 31 July 2021 Nemzeti Bajnokság I played their first match at the stadium, while Honvéd played their first competitive match in the stadium in a losing effort against Debreceni VSC.[19]
Present
editOn 10 October 2024, Israel hosted France in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A group match due to the Israel–Hamas war. The match ended with a 4–1 victory for France.[20][21][22]
Matches
edit| 24 July 2021 | Budapest Honvéd | 0–0 | | Opening match |
| (Report) | Attendance: 8,400 Referee: Péter Solymosi (Hungary) |
| 31 July 2021 | Budapest Honvéd | 1–4 | Debrecen | 2021–22 Nemzeti Bajnokság I First Nemzeti Bajnokság I match |
| Bőle |
(Report) | Attendance: 3,257 Referee: Tamás Bognár (Hungary) |
| 1 March 2022 | Budapest Honvéd | 0–1 | Ferencváros | 2021–22 Magyar Kupa First Magyar Kupa match |
| (Report) | Referee: Balázs Berke (Hungary) |
International matches
editAttendances
editAs of 7 May 2020.
| Season | Average |
|---|---|
| 2020–21 | TBA |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Bozsik Stadion". Stadium Database. 30 April 2020.
- ^ "Honvéd: a Bozsik-stadion helyén többfunkciós létesítmény épül - fotó". Nemzeti Sport. 20 November 2014.
- ^ "Óbuda Groul: Bozsik Stadion". Óbuda Group. 1 June 2018.
- ^ "Honvéd: elkezdődhet az új Bozsik-stadion építése". Nemzeti Sport. 11 October 2018.
- ^ "Honvéd: megkezdődött a Bozsik-stadion bontása – fotók, videó". Nemzeti Sport. 21 February 2019.
- ^ "Honvéd: már U-alakban állnak a Bozsik Stadion lelátói – képek". Nemzeti Sport. 17 October 2019.
- ^ "Honvéd: négy hónapja épül, így áll az új Bozsik-stadion – KÉPEK". Nemzeti Sport. 17 July 2019.
- ^ Green, Josh (September 5, 2018). "The story behind Atlanta's landmark Falcons sculpture". Curbed Atlanta.
- ^ Gergely, Koroknai (July 6, 2020). "A Bozsik Stadion is kap egy gigászi állatszobrot a tövébe". index.hu.
- ^ "Lassan elkészül a bő kétszeresére drágult Bozsik Stadionnal a kormányközeli kivitelező". Átlátszó. 14 April 2020.
- ^ Tamás, Pál (April 22, 2020). "Még egymilliárd forintot szánnak az új Bozsik-stadion építésére". index.hu.
- ^ András, Mizsur (July 2, 2020). "A Bozsik Stadionra 6,6 milliárd, utánpótlásra 2,6 milliárd ment a gazdaságvédelmi alapból". index.hu.
- ^ "Elérte legmagasabb pontját a Bozsik Stadion - galéria". Magyar Építők. 6 December 2019.
- ^ "Honvéd: lefektették az új Bozsik Stadion alapkövét". Nemzeti Sport. 21 March 2019.
- ^ "Honvéd: videón az átadás előtt álló stadion". Nemzeti Sport. 4 January 2021.
- ^ "Bp. Honvéd: Megvan, mikor és kik játszhatják a Bozsik Aréna első mé".
- ^ "Villarreal B drew against European opponents (0-0)". Web oficial del Villarreal CF. 24 July 2021.
- ^ "2021 Under-21 EURO". uefa.com. 16 March 2021.
- ^ "Hátrányból nyert, négyet rúgott a Debrecen a Honvédnak az új Bozsik Arénában". Nemzeti Sport. 31 July 2021.
- ^ UEFA.com. "Israel-France | UEFA Nations League 2025". UEFA.com. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
- ^ "Les notes d'Israël-France : Camavinga éclaire le jeu, Olise fait grise mine (Ligue des nations)". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 2024-10-11.
- ^ "„Az eredmény nem tükrözi azt, amit a pályán láttunk" – az izraeli kapitány büszke csapatára a franciáktól elszenvedett budapesti vereség után". Nemzeti Sport (in Hungarian). 2024-10-11. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
- ^ "Israel vs. Italy" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "Israel vs. France" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.