Operator FSHF and Vllaznia Opened 1947 Phone +355 4 234 6601 | Surface Grass Capacity 16,022 Architect Bolles+Wilson | |
Former names Vojo Kushi Stadium (1952–1990) Location Rruga Djepaxhijej 2,
4001 Shkodër, Albania Owner Municipality of Shkodër Field size 105 by 68 metres (115 by 74 yd) Address 2, Rruga Djepaxhijej, Shkodër, Albania Similar Elbasan Arena, Qemal Stafa Stadium, Selman Stërmasi Stadium, Arena Kombëtare, Niko Dovana Stadium | ||
The Loro Boriçi Stadium (Albanian: Stadiumi Loro Boriçi) is a multi-purpose stadium in Shkodër, Albania, which is used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Vllaznia. The initial stadium was built in 1952 and named after the communist partisan Vojo Kushi, and it was reconstructed in the 1980s with capacity of around 15,000. In 1990, during the fall of communism in Albania, the stadium was renamed in honour of former footballer Loro Boriçi and between 2015 and 2016 the stadium was rebuilt into modern all-seater with a capacity of 16,022. The stadium is also the second largest stadium in Albania behind the Qemal Stafa Stadium in Tirana.
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Early history
Work on the stadium began on 17 May 1950 and was it inaugurated on 1 May 1952.
The stadium hosted the Albania national football team in a 29 March 2003 match against Russia, for the UEFA Euro 2004 qualifiers. The match ended in a 3-1 win for Albania.
2015 Reconstruction
In October 2014, Edi Rama, prime minister of Albania, promised the reconstruction of the stadium, which was last renovated in 2001. He said that the stadium will be with a renewed capacity of about 20.000 seats. On 3 May 2015, construction works officially started, bringing the stadium to a renewed capacity of 18.100.
Loro Boriçi Stadium as Kosovo national football team stadium
Loro Boriçi Stadium is expected to be the Kosovo national football team stadium during the qualifying matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, because the two Kosovo national football stadiums are under renovation, while Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania in a post in Facebook, he says that new Kosovo national football team will play qualifying matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in the Loro Boriçi Stadium.
The Inauguration of the Stadium
Loro Boriçi Stadium was inaugurated with the opening match between Albania and Macedonia on 5 September 2016. The match finished with the win of Albania 2:1. This was the first victory of the Albanian national football team after the stadium's reconstruction.