MCH Arena

Coordinates: 56°07′01″N 8°57′06″E / 56.116868°N 8.951669°E / 56.116868; 8.951669
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the football stadium. For the MCH multiarena, see Jyske Bank Boxen.
MCH Arena
FC Copenhagen, 1 March 2024)[3][7][8]
Field size104 by 65 metres (113.7 yd × 71.1 yd)[9][10]
SurfaceNatural grass
Construction
Broke ground2 April 2003[1]
Built2003–2004[2]
Opened27 March 2004; 20 years ago (2004-03-27)
Renovated~2008[3]
Construction costDKK 80–85 million (2003–2004)[5]
ArchitectKobra Arkitekter A/S[2]
Tenants
FC Midtjylland (2004–present)

The MCH Arena is an

FC Copenhagen.[3][7][11][8]

During the construction period and the first couple of months after the official opening on 27 March 2004, it was called Stadion ved Messecenter Herning (or Messecenter Herning Stadion).

2013 European Dressage Championship was held in Herning with the stadium being one of the locations.[14]

History

On 1 November 2000, the CEO of Messecenter Herning A/S (now known as MCH Group A/S), Georg Sørensen, presented a comprehensive development plan for the company's upcoming 25 years, named Vision 2025, which also launched the plans for the construction of a stadium.

Ikast FS — arguing that a stadium located at Hammerum in between the cities, Herning and Ikast, of the two former rival mother clubs would not have the same possibilities and visions.[16][17] At a press briefing at Messecenter Herning on 4 February 2003, it was announced that the plans for a more than 10,000-spectator large stadium as part of a major commercial and entertainment complex would become a greenfield project, located south of the existing buildings of exhibition centre, next to 15,000 parking spots and an upcoming highway intersection, and that the stadium and its facilities was entered in to a lease agreement with FC Midtjylland with an annual rent obligation based on a 25-year rental agreement, irrevocable from both parties until the end of 2027, and giving FC Midtjylland exclusive (and commercial) rights to all association football matches in the stadium.[15][18][19] Construction of the stadium broke ground on 2 April 2003 at 08:30 CET and was scheduled to be finished in approximately 11 months, costing in the area of 80–85 million DKK to build.[20][5][21][1]

Integrated with the venue's main stand in the western section is a three-storey main building at 5.000 m², which from the very beginning have been housing the club's administration and offices for the official

water sprinkler system was integrated in the grass, which rise above the lawn with an increase of the water pressure.[15]

The architects from the Herning-based company Kobra Arkitekter A/S (merged into Årstiderne Arkitekter A/S in May 2008) sought inspiration from onsite visits at among other Amsterdam ArenA, Philips Stadion and Camp Nou.[20][15] The corners of the stadium, above the big gates, were closed of to provide a greater feeling of intimacy.[15] The simplicity in both the construction and the use of materials is prevalent, with raw concrete and steel forming the backbone of the stadium.[15] The club specifically asked that the south and north stands be standing-only with seats in red placed only at the main stand and the opposing eastern grand stand — with the option of installing seats at the terraces when needed, expandable to 10,500 seats.[18][15][22] Depending on demand, the east standing section of the north stand would be reserved for visiting supporters of the guest teams, separating them from the rest of the spectators by a fence, while the home fans and fan club members would occupy the south standing-only stand and also allocated to half of the north stand.[3][9][23] The design of the stadium was made with possible expansion at a later date in mind — the foundation allows for an increase of the capacity of up to 50,000 spectators and the roof could in such a situation be raised.[8] The roof consisting of black lightweight trapez steel plates, covering all four stands, is carried by large free-standing steel columns provided by the Brabrand-based company Richard Thomsen A/S, creating the only separation against the outside of the stadium.[15]

The stadium's official opening competitive match was played on 27 March, when FC Midtjylland faced Akademisk BK in the 2003–04 Danish Superliga in front of 11,083 spectators, resulting in 6–0 win with Mohamed Zidan scoring the first goal after five minutes and five goals in total.[3][5][12] FC Midtjylland had been playing all their matches in the fall season of 2003 at Ikast Stadium, that had a capacity of 12,000 with a small grand stand of 1,002 seats, at Ikast, now relocating their home ground to Herning.[21] The average attendance was boosted considerably as a result of the new stadium and better performance on the pitch by the players.[8] The first European fixture at the new venue was played on 3 July 2004, when Esbjerg fB and OGC Nice meet in the second round of the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup.[24] Due to reconstruction after 2007, the original capacity of the stadium at approximately 12,500 spectators with 7,500 seats was reduced to 11.432 spectators with 7,070 seats.[10][3][19][22] On 16 August 2005, a national football match featuring the Denmark national under-21 football team against an English squad, was played for the first time at the venue.[13]

Name, sponsorships and logos

A view of the stadium from the west showing the grand stand and main building, including the previous MCH Arena sign used between 2009 and 2016.

Up until the summer of 2004, the new stadium did not officially have a name and was simply referred to as Stadion ved Messecenter Herning (or Messecenter Herning Stadion), because the owner, MCH, was hoping to sell the name for commercial purposes.[10][5][12][19] On 5 August 2004, Scandinavian Airlines acquired the naming rights to the venue, changing its name to the SAS Arena, becoming the first sponsored football stadium in Denmark.[25] SAS already had the naming rights to the Danish Superliga due to its sponsorship of the league. At the end of the 2009–10 season the sponsorship expired, and was the stadium's name was changed to MCH Arena (short for MesseCenterHerning).[8] In March 2004, the south end stand was initially named Nordea-tribunen, the north end stand became Steff Houlberg-tribunen, the east grand stand was called Faxe Kondi-tribunen, while the main stand went as Elite Miljø-tribunen.[23]

Logos used for the naming rights agreements of the stadium:

  • SAS Arena (2004–2009) Sponsor: Scandinavian Airlines
    SAS Arena
    (2004–2009)
    Sponsor: Scandinavian Airlines
  • MCH Arena (2009–2016) No sponsor
    MCH Arena
    (2009–2016)
    No sponsor
  • MCH Arena (2016–present) No sponsor
    MCH Arena
    (2016–present)
    No sponsor

References

  1. ^ a b Pilegaard, Ib (17 March 2003). "Ikast stadion er en skændsel". www.bt.dk (in Danish). B.T. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e "MCH Arena : Nyt Stadion". www.afbuildings.dk (in Danish). ÅF Buildings Denmark. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Om FCM - Stadion - MCH Arena". www.fcm.dk (in Danish). Herning: FC Midtjylland. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-87-92120-79-3. Archived from the original
    on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  5. ^
    Berlingske Tidende. Archived from the original
    on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Udvidelse af MCH Arena sikrer millionindtægt til FC Midtjylland". 11 March 2023.
  7. ^ a b "MCH Arena". www.superstats.dk (in Danish). SuperStats. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  8. ^
    ISBN 978-87-11-42499-5
    .
  9. ^ a b c d e "MCH Arena". www.mch.dk (in Danish). Herning: MCH. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Fakta om FC Midtjylland". www.fcmidtjylland.dk (in Danish). FC Midtjylland. Archived from the original on 13 February 2004. Retrieved 13 February 2004.
  11. ^ Nordmark, Malene Skree (18 October 2017). "2 millioner tilskuere på FCM-stadion". www.tvmidtvest.dk (in Danish). TV Midtvest. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  12. ^
    Ritzaus Bureau (in Danish). Ekstra Bladet. 27 March 2004. Archived from the original
    on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Landsholdsdatabasen". www.dbu.dk (in Danish). Danish Football Association (DBU). Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  14. Brøndby: Dansk Ride Forbund. Archived from the original
    on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Mølvig (arkitekt maa), Thomas (May 2004). "FC Midtjyllands nye superstadion er klar til kickoff" (in Danish). byggeri.dk. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019. Maj 2004 : Fodbold i flotte rammer at the Wayback Machine (archived 16 April 2019). Additional archives: Det grønne tæppe, 16 April 2019.
  16. Berlingske Tidende. Archived from the original
    on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  17. ^ Pilegaard, Ib (14 November 2000). "Stadion-strid truer succesklub". www.bt.dk (in Danish). B.T. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  18. ^ a b c "10.500 pladser på nyt FCM-stadion". www.bold.dk (in Danish). bold.dk. 4 February 2003. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  19. ^ a b c Sydbank A/S (April 2004). "Stadionforhold". Prospekt for FC Midtjylland A/S (PDF) (in Danish). FC Midtjylland A/S. pp. 14, 32. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019. Udarbejdet i forbindelse med selskabets introduktion på Dansk Autoriseret Markedsplads A/S
  20. ^ a b c "Referencer - Stadions - MCH Arena". spaencom.dk (in Danish). Consolis Spæncom. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Facts about FC Midtjylland". www.fc-mj.dk (in Danish). FC Midtjylland. Archived from the original on 5 October 2003. Retrieved 5 October 2003.
  22. ^ a b "Fordele for kunder og gæster for næsten 2 mia kroner" (PDF). www.messecenterherning.dk (in Danish). Messecenter Herning. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  23. ^ a b "PRM: FC Midtjylland: Nordea & Steff Houlberg køber tribuner". www.danskesportsjournalister.dk (in Danish). FC Midtjylland via Danske Sportsjournalister. 19 December 2003. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  24. ^ "PRM: Esbjerg fB". www.danskesportsjournalister.dk (in Danish). Esbjerg fB via Danske Sportsjournalister. 2 July 2004. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  25. Berlingske Tidende. Archived from the original
    on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to MCH Arena.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MCH_Arena&oldid=1213980616"