Fortuna Arena
Eden
UEFA
Former namesStadion Eden (2008)
Synot Tip Arena (2008–2012)
Eden Aréna (2012–2018)
Sinobo Stadium (2018–2022)
LocationU Slavie 1540/2a, Vršovice,
Prague, Czech Republic, 100 00
Coordinates50°04′03″N 14°28′18″E / 50.06750°N 14.47167°E / 50.06750; 14.47167
OwnerEden Arena[1]
OperatorSK Slavia Prague
Capacity19,370[2]
Field size105 metres (115 yd) x 68 metres (74 yd)
Construction
Broke ground15 September 2006
Opened7 May 2008
Construction cost1 billion CZK
ArchitectMartin Kotík
Daniel Dvořák
Leoš Zeman
Tenants
SK Slavia Prague (2008–present)
Bohemians 1905 (2010–2012)
Czech Republic national football team (selected matches)

Fortuna Arena (formerly known as Sinobo Stadium, Eden Aréna and Synot Tip Arena) is a football stadium, in Prague-Vršovice, Czech Republic. The stadium has a capacity of 19,370 people and it is the biggest and the most modern football stadium in the Czech Republic.[2]

It is the home venue of SK Slavia Prague and occasionally the Czech Republic national football team. In the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons, it was also the venue of Bohemians 1905 home matches. During the 2011–12 season the stadium hosted home matches for FC Viktoria Plzeň in the Champions League group stage. The stadium was used for the 2013 UEFA Super Cup.[3]

History

In the early 1950s, Slavia was forced to leave its stadium at Letná and a new stadium was built at Eden in the Vršovice district. Its capacity was about 50,000 (mostly for standing). The wooden western (main) stand was taken from the old stadium at Letná, the rest of the stands were made of concrete. The stadium also featured an athletics track. The first match at this stadium took place on 27 September 1953, Slavia drew 1–1 against the team of Křídla vlasti Olomouc. Josef Bican scored the home team's goal.

Move

In the 1970s, it became apparent that Eden did not provide sufficient comfort for the visitors and started planning to build a new one in the same place. However, under the communist regime, the planning went quite slowly. Several projects were made, and the construction was finally to start in 1990. In 1989, Slavia moved temporarily to the nearby Ďolíček stadium (home of FC Bohemians Prague, now known as Bohemians 1905) and the eastern stand was torn down. However, the overthrowing of the communist regime in 1989 delayed the construction. In the meantime, Slavia moved to Stadion Evžena Rošického, a stadium on the Strahov hill, which is large but uncomfortable and poorly accessible.

In the early 1990s, the whole construction was cancelled and Slavia moved back to Eden. A temporary stand was built in the place of former eastern stand, but it was clear that Eden was outdated and Slavia needed a new home ground. Several more projects were made, but Slavia was unable to raise sufficient funds and there were some legal problems, as the premises were owned by the government and it took a lot of effort to transfer them to Slavia. In 2000, the stadium became ineligible to host Czech First League matches, so Slavia moved to the unpopular Strahov again.[4]

New stadium

Front side

Slavia finally presented a project of the new stadium, but no construction started. In December 2003, the old Eden stadium was torn down and Slavia announced that the new stadium would be opened on 19 October 2005, however, by October 2005 the construction had not even started. It took another year to start. The project had to be scaled down to lower the construction cost from 1.8 billion Czech koruna to less than 1 billion. The construction eventually started in October 2006.

Despite the stadium not being fully finished, it was opened on 7 May 2008 with an exhibition match against Oxford University A.F.C. Many former Slavia stars (such as Pavel Kuka, Patrik Berger, Jan Suchopárek and Ivo Knoflíček) took part in this match, which Slavia won 5–0.[5]

The first competitive match at the new stadium was played on 17 May 2008 against Jablonec, the match ended 2–2, Slavia secured the Czech First League title in this final match of the 2007/08 season.

In 2016, CEFC China Energy, who had previously purchased a majority stake in SK Slavia Prague, sought to buy a 70% stake in the stadium and announced plans to invest around €50 million (including the purchase price) to improve the stadium capacity and turn it into the main national stadium for the Czech Republic national team.[6] In April 2017, it was announced that the details of the transaction have since changed and CEFC China Energy had purchased the stadium in full.[7] The stadium was then renamed to Sinobo Stadium.

Sponsorship

In July 2008, it was announced that betting company Synot Tip had made an agreement with E Side Property Limited, the owners of the stadium, regarding a sponsorship deal regarding one of the stands.[8] In 2009, the stadium's name was officially changed to Synot Tip Arena.[9]

In 2011, Natland Group were announced as the new majority owners of the stadium.[10]

In 2012 it was announced that Synot would not be extending their sponsorship of the stadium past the end of the 2011–12 season.[11]

In November 2018, the Chinese real estate company Sinobo Group became the majority owner of SK Slavia Praha, and the stadium was renamed Sinobo Stadium.[12]

Fortuna Arena, February 2023

International matches

Eden Arena has hosted 15 competitive matches and 4 friendly matches of the Czech Republic national football team.

International friendly
Czech Republic 2 – 0 Lithuania
Koller 39', 62' (Report)
Attendance: 14,220
UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
Czech Republic 1 – 0 Scotland
Hubník 70' (Report)
Attendance: 14,922
Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia)
International friendly
Czech Republic 2 – 2 Norway
Rosický 11'
Vydra 39'		 (Report) Elyounoussi 21'
Pedersen 88'
Attendance: 17,039
UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
Czech Republic 1 – 1 Latvia
Pilař 90' (Report) Višņakovs 30'
Attendance: 13,722
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Czech Republic 2 – 1 Norway
Krmenčík 11'
Zmrhal 47'		 (Report) King 87'
Attendance: 16,411
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Czech Republic 1 – 2 Germany
Darida 78' (Report) Werner 4'
Hummels 88'
Attendance: 18,093
International friendly
Czech Republic 1 – 3 Brazil
Pavelka 37' (Report) Firmino 49'
Gabriel Jesus 83', 90'
Attendance: 19,116
UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
Czech Republic 2 – 1 England
Brabec 9'
Ondrášek 85'		 (Report) Kane 5' (pen.)
Attendance: 18,651
2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Czech Republic 2 – 2 Wales
Pešek 38'
Ward 49' (o.g.)		 (Report) Ramsey 36'
James 69'
Attendance: 16,856
2022–23 UEFA Nations League
Czech Republic 2 – 1  Switzerland
 Report
Attendance: 12,236
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Germany) / Harm Osmers (Germany) upward-facing green arrow 75'
2022–23 UEFA Nations League
Czech Republic 2 – 2 Spain
 Report
Attendance: 18,245
2022–23 UEFA Nations League
Czech Republic 0 – 4 Portugal
Report
Attendance: 19,322
UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
Czech Republic 1 – 1 Albania
Černý 56' (Report) Bajrami 66'
Attendance: 18,641

Other uses

Sokol XV. slet in 2012

The stadium is occasionally used for other events beside football, such as concerts or other sports matches. In 2012, the Sokol slet, a mass gymnastics event, was held here.

The stadium was used for the final rugby matches of the 2008 and 2009–10 KB Extraliga seasons.[13][14]

There is a hotel and a fan shop in the northern stand, and various other facilities (bar, McDonald's, Komerční banka branch, offices) in the main stand.

List of concerts

DatePerformer(s)Tour/EventReference
3 June 2008 Metallica European Summer Vacation [15]
8 August 2008 Iron Maiden Somewhere Back in Time World Tour [16]
17 August 2008 R.E.M. Accelerate Tour [17]
25 June 2009 Depeche Mode Tour of the Universe [18]
20 July 2010 P!nk The Funhouse Summer Carnival Tour [19]
7 May 2012 Metallica 2012 European Black Album Tour [20]
11 July 2012 Bruce Springsteen Wrecking Ball World Tour [21]
16 September 2012 Coldplay Mylo Xyloto Tour [22]
24 June 2013 Bon Jovi Because We Can Tour [23]
23 July 2013 Depeche Mode The Delta Machine Tour [24]
29 July 2013 Iron Maiden Maiden England World Tour [25]
5 July 2016 The Book of Souls World Tour [26]
24 May 2017 Depeche Mode Global Spirit Tour
28 May 2017 Rammstein Rammstein Festival Tour 2017
29 May 2017
19 June 2019 Kiss End of the Road World Tour
16 July 2019 Rammstein Rammstein Stadium Tour
17 July 2019
20 June 2022 Iron Maiden Legacy of the Beast World Tour

Transport

The stadium is served by buses, trams, and trains, with stops for buses and trams using the name Slavia - Nádraží Eden while the train stop is called Praha-Eden. Trams run along Vršovická street, north of the stadium, while bus services 135, 136, 150 and 213 stop on U Slavie street, immediately west of the stadium. The nearest metro station is Želivského.

References

  1. ↑ Land register at nahlizenidokn.cuzk.cz, Praha Vršovice č.p. 1540, sole owner Eden Arena, a.s., accessed 16 March 2015
  2. 1 2 About Sinobo Stadium
  3. ↑ "Wembley, Amsterdam ArenA, Prague get 2013 finals". iDNES.cz. MF DNES. 25 July 2017. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "Return to Eden nears for Slavia". UEFA.com. 18 September 2007. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Czech champions Slavia too strong for Blues". 12 May 2008. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  6. ↑ "Čínský majitel Slavie získá stadion v Edenu, počítá s rekonstrukcí" [Chinese owner of Slavia acquires the Eden stadium, plans renovations]. iDNES.cz (in Czech). 30 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "Čínská CEFC k fotbalové Slavii přikoupila i stadion v Edenu". iDNES.cz. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  8. ↑ "Synot je partnerem stadionu v Edenu". ihned.cz (in Czech). Hospodářské noviny. 18 July 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  9. ↑ "Když Slavia porazí Boleslav, bude mít před Spartou desetibodový náskok". idnes.cz (in Czech). Mladá fronta DNES. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  10. ↑ "Stadion v Edenu ve většině patří Natlandu". denik.cz (in Czech). Vltava-Labe-Press. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  11. ↑ Malý, Jan; Káninský, Josef (15 February 2012). "Slavia přijde o miliony od Synotu". ihned.cz (in Czech). Hospodářské noviny. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  12. ↑ "Chinese Sinobo becomes new owner of Slavia Praha football club - Xinhua | English.news.cn". Xinhua. 20 November 2018. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  13. ↑ Ragbisté Tatry Smíchov ve finále extraligy porazili Říčany a obhájili titul (in Czech)
  14. ↑ Mistrem ligy se stala po devětatřiceti letech Slavia (in Czech)
  15. ↑ Martin Divíšek (3 June 2008). "OBRAZEM: Metallica dobyla Eden". denik.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  16. ↑ Grzegorz Klatka (8 August 2008). "OBRAZEM: Iron Maiden zaplnili Eden". denik.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  17. ↑ Michal Bystrov (18 August 2008). "Nedělní procházka po Měsíci s R.E.M." denik.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  18. ↑ Tomáš S. Polívka (26 June 2009). "Depeche Mode zahráli bez šance na omyl". denik.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  19. ↑ ČTK (21 July 2010). "Pink hrála moc nahlas, pořadatele prý čeká pokuta". denik.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  20. ↑ "Metallica přivezla černou desku a zvítězila - Novinky.cz".
  21. ↑ "V Praze zahraje Bruce Springsteen a e Street Band - Novinky.cz".
  22. ↑ "Coldplay – Concert Tickets – Praha 10, 16. 09. 2012 | Ticketpro". Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  23. ↑ "Bon Jovi - Ticketalarm". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  24. ↑ "Depeche Mode – Concert Tickets – Praha 10, 23. 07. 2013 | Ticketpro". www.ticketpro.cz. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012.
  25. ↑ Iron Maiden (29 July 2013). "Iron Maiden to play Czech Republic". Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  26. ↑ Iron Maiden (5 July 2016). "Iron Maiden to play Czech Republic". Retrieved 11 November 2015.
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