Surface Grass Address Baku, Azerbaijan Opened 16 September 1951 | Field size 104x66 Scoreboard Yes Capacity 31,200 Phone +994 12 564 98 29 | |
 | ||
Full name Tofiq Bəhramov adına Respublika Stadionu Owner Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan Similar Bakcell Arena, Taza Pir Mosque, Ismailiyya Palace, Nizami Museum of Azerbaija, Azerbaijan State Academic | ||
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. The stadium is also used by the Azerbaijan Premier League clubs in the final rounds of European competitions.
Contents
History
The Tofiq Bahramov Stadium was built in 1951. Its construction started before 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. The stadium was renovated and reopened on 16 August 2012.
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.
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.
The stadium is expected to host archery at 2015 European Games.