Stadionul Francisc von Neuman (1946)

This article is about the stadium that was opened in 1946 and demolished in 2014. For the new stadium, see Stadionul Francisc von Neuman.

46°11′33.27″N 21°18′41.19″E

Francisc von Neuman

Location	Arad, Romania
Coordinates	46°11′33″N 21°18′41″E
Owner	The Arad local council
Operator	UTA Arad
Capacity	7,287 (Football)
Surface	Grass
Construction
Built	1940 - 1945
Opened	1946
Demolished	2014
Tenants
UTA Arad (1946–2014)

Francisc von Neuman Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Arad, Romania. It was used mostly for football matches and was the home ground of FC UTA Arad, one of the most successful teams in Romanian club football. The stadium used to hold up to 7,287 people, all on seats, and was built in 1944.

In 2014, the stadium was demolished to make way for a new, modern, all-seater stadium. It is to be used exclusively for football, and it was open in 2020. The new stadium will have a capacity of 12.700 seats, and will also include offices, a press club, a press center, V.I.P. hospitality, a restaurant and a hotel.^[1]

History

The stadium was opened on 1 September 1946 with a match between UTA Arad - Ciocanul București 1–0. At that time, the stadium was considered the most modern in the country. It is named after a local Jewish aristocrat, Francisc von Neumann, a baron who owned several businesses in Arad and who personally sponsored the construction of the stadium and the founding of the team. While studying in England, he became a fan of the London-based football team Arsenal, hence the similar team colours.^[2]

In 2006, the stadium went through a major overhaul, when the municipality invested over 700.000 euro for new seats (dropping its capacity from approximately 10.000 on benches), main stand structural repairs, new cloakrooms, an anti-doping control room, an emergency medical room, a VIP sector, new multimedia sector and a new sound system.^[3]

In 2008, a 1400 lux density floodlight system was installed as well as a new electronic scoreboard.^[4]

In 2010, the municipality presented plans for a new 12.700 capacity all-seater stadium to be built on the exact site of this arena.

Events

Association football

International football matches
Date	Competition	Home	Away	Score	Attendance
28 March 2009	2009 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualification	Romania	Andorra	2 - 0	7,200

Association football

International football clubs matches
Date	Competition	Home	Away	Score	Attendance
13 August 1967	Balkans Cup	UTA Arad	Fenerbahçe	1 - 0
18 September 1969	European Cup	UTA Arad	Legia Warsaw	1 - 2	12,781
30 September 1970	European Cup	UTA Arad	Feyenoord	0 - 0	17,000
4 November 1970	European Cup	UTA Arad	Red Star Belgrade	1 - 3	18,000
15 September 1971	UEFA Cup	UTA Arad	Austria Salzburg	4 - 1	15,000
3 November 1971	UEFA Cup	UTA Arad	Zagłębie Wałbrzych	2 - 1	8,000
24 November 1971	UEFA Cup	UTA Arad	Vitória Setúbal	3 - 0	7,000
7 March 1972	UEFA Cup	UTA Arad	Tottenham Hotspur	0 - 2	12,253
13 September 1972	UEFA Cup	UTA Arad	Norrköping	1 - 2	10,000

Gallery

• 
  Stadium panorama.
• 
  Stadium entry.