Craving the roar of the crowd? You have come to the right place. Welcome to Fortuna Arena. This is more than just a stadium. It is the heart of Czech football. Let’s dive into the story of this iconic Prague landmark.
The Fortuna Arena stands proudly in Prague-Vrsovice. It is the largest and most modern football stadium in the Czech Republic. With a capacity of 19370 fans it is the home of SK Slavia Prague. The Fortuna Arena also hosts select matches for the Czech Republic national team. Imagine the electric atmosphere during those international games.
But the Fortuna Arena’s history extends beyond just these teams. In 2010-11 and 2011-12 it welcomed Bohemians 1905 for their home matches. During the 2011-12 season FC Viktoria Plzen played their Champions League group stage matches here. The Fortuna Arena has seen a lot.
Did you know the Fortuna Arena hosted the 2013 UEFA Super Cup? This event put the stadium on the global map. It showcased the Fortuna Arena’s top-notch facilities. The world got to see its amazing atmosphere.
The stadium’s story stretches back further than you might think. In the early 1950s Slavia had to leave their old stadium. A new stadium was built in Eden in Vrsovice. This is where the Fortuna Arena now stands. The original stadium held about 50000 people. Much of that was standing room.
In the 1970s plans emerged for a new stadium. But progress was slow under the communist regime. Construction was meant to start in 1990. But the fall of communism delayed everything. Slavia moved to a temporary stadium.
In December 2003 the old Eden stadium was torn down. A new stadium was announced. Construction did not begin until October 2006. The project was scaled down to reduce costs.
Finally the new stadium opened on 7 May 2008. It was not fully finished. But Slavia played an exhibition match against Oxford University AFC. Slavia won 5-0. Many former Slavia stars played. The first competitive match was on 17 May 2008. Slavia secured the Czech First League title in that match.
The Fortuna Arena has had several names over the years. It was known as Synot Tip Arena from 2009 to 2012. From 2018 to 2022 it was called Sinobo Stadium. Since 2022 it has been the Fortuna Arena.
The Fortuna Arena isn’t just for football. It also hosts concerts and other events. Metallica, Iron Maiden and Depeche Mode have all played here. The stadium has a hotel, fan shop, bar and even a McDonald’s.
Getting here is easy. There are buses, trams and trains. The tram and bus stop is called Slavia- Nadrazi Eden. The train stop is Praha-Eden.
The Fortuna Arena field is 105 x 68 meters. It has under-soil heating. Stadium lights are integrated into the roof. The illuminance fulfills UEFA lighting guide level A.
So next time you are in Prague come and experience the Fortuna Arena. Feel the passion of Czech football. Experience the thrill of a live event. This stadium is waiting to welcome you.