Stadiums of AFC Ajax
Ajax is historically one of the most successful clubs in the world; according to the
Ajax is also one of three teams to achieve a seasonal treble and the
Stadiums
1893–1900: "Het Veldje"
Prior to the foundation of the club in 1900, during what is considered the prehistory of the club, Ajax had played their matches on an empty field at the end of the Overtoom in the municipality of Nieuwer Amstel. An area which lied outside the city limits at the time and in 1881 had been made an extension of the Vondelpark. For ƒ15 (Dutch guilder) a day, the team could play on the field commonly known as "Het Veldje". The exact measurements of the pitch are not known, but sometimes corner kicks were taken from the sidewalk. In 1896 the area was included in the expansion of the municipality of Amsterdam, leaving Ajax in search of a new location.[6]
1900–1907: Amsterdam-Noord
In the beginning, the sporting ambitions of Floris Stempel and Han Dade were not reflected in the pitch the team played their matches on. Forced to play on the farmer fields of Buiksloterham in Amsterdam-Noord. There was a high demand for football pitches in the city and Ajax were forced to compete on the outskirts of the city then. This proved to be especially trying of the Supporters who had to take a ferry to the North, and then walk 15 minutes to the field. Irrespective of these challenges, the club did manage to come in second place twice in their competition.[7]
1907–1934: Het Houten Stadion
The first actual stadium the team played in was built out of necessity by honorary club member Daan Roodenburgh. Due to city planning, and housing development occurring on the club's field of choice in Amsterdam-Noord, two available pitches had been located on the Middenweg in Watergraafsmeer, Amsterdam-Oost. Situated on the polder, the new location offered a location much closer to the city center. Initially without stands, dressing rooms or running Water, amenities were provided from the Café Brokelmann across the Street.
The first grand stands were built in 1911, when Ajax hired architect and famed Ajax supporter Daan Roodenburgh to design the first stands. Offering covered seating along the long side of the pitch at first, as well as standing options behind the goal line. Het Houten Stadion as the Stadium was known was expanded in 1916 to include additional standing and seating options surrounding the pitch. Despite the expansion, the Stadium was still deemed to small with a recorded 15.000 attendees registered on 11 November 1934 during the final match against Feyenoord. People were said to have been falling over the railings, making it impossible for either team to take corners during the match.[8]
1934–1996: De Meer
"The value of a football stadium is not defined by its construction costs, but rather by the team that plays in it".[citation needed] It was with this thought in mind that the board approached the planning and development of what would become Ajax's second stadium. Becoming its home grounds for the next 62 years.
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Success, as well as pressure from the league, forced the club to relocate once more in order to accommodate the high attendance, as well as to avoid the necessary annual repair costs of their first stadium. In addition the city of Amsterdam were interested in the property in Watergraafsmeer for further housing development. The club decided to move to the nearby Hoeve Voorland on the MIddenweg, across from Betondorp. Again the architect of the stadium, Daan Roodenburgh, by now a member of the board at the club, was assigned by chairman Koolhaas to design a new stadium with a budget of ƒ300,000. The costs to build the stadium were covered by all club members, including the players.
The new stadium was opened on 9 December 1934. The first match contested at the new stadium was a friendly match against the now defunct Stade Français from Paris which Ajax won, 5–1. Despite lighting fixtures not being added until 1971, the stadium was exemplary in its design, with a roofed section which was quite unique at its time.[citation needed] The capacity of the stadium was expanded from 22,000 to 29,500 attendees over the years.
In 1965, the sitting stands across from the honorary stands were renamed to the "Reyenoldstribune" in honor of head coach
By the end of the eighties, the club's home ground had been outgrown. Considered a danger to the public, due to heightened vandalism during matches, circumstances forced the club to find a new home, with UEFA ruling that no more standing tribunes would be allowed, and the stadium regarded as too small to contain the hardcore supporters, with many expressing sorrow and pain for having to relocate once more.[9]
1930–1996: Olympisch Stadion
During the time at De Meer, the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam played an important role for the club as well. Initially serving as grounds for matches with an attendance of 20.000 or higher, it was also used when artificial lighting was necessary. Although the stadium was never in possession of the club, a multi-functional facility and not football specific grounds, many important matches were contested there.
In 1921, the city of Amsterdam were permitted to host the
Following competition in terms of capacity provided by the completion of De Kuip in Rotterdam in 1937, two additional concrete rings were added to expand the capacity of the stadium, raising its total capacity from 34.000 to 64.000 people. The two main reasons for Ajax to use the Stadium was for its capacity, as well as for lighting purposes. Booking the stadium would prove to be problematic for Ajax, with Blauw-Wit and DWS as permanent tenants.[10]
The most notable match held at the stadium for Ajax, is arguably the Round of 16 match of the
1996–Present: Johan Cruyff Arena (Amsterdam Arena)
In 1996, Ajax moved to a new home ground in the southeast of the city known as the Amsterdam Arena, since 2018 renamed as the Johan Cruyff Arena. The stadium was built by the Amsterdam city authority at a cost of $134 million. The Arena has a retractable roof and set a trend for other modern stadiums built in Europe in the following years. In the Netherlands, the Arena earned a reputation for a terrible grass pitch caused by the removable roof that, even when open, takes away too much sunlight and fresh air. During the 2008–2009 season groundstaff introduced an artificial lighting system that has finally reduced this problem considerably. The stadium has its own single rail train stop in the Halte Amsterdam ArenA.
The much-loved De Meer stadium was torn down and the land was sold to the city council. A residential neighbourhood now occupies the area. The letters AJAX, of the old stadium are nowadays in place on the façade of the entrance at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
From the start of the 2018-2019 season the stadium was renamed after the legendary player Johan Cruyff who died in 2016. The new name is the Johan Cruyff Arena. Nowadays the capacity is 55,865.
References
- ^ "Europe's Club of the Century". International Federation of Football History & Statistics. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
- ^ with Manchester United in 1999 and FC Barcelona in 2009.
- ^ UEFA sanctioned the UEFA Supercup for the first time in 1973. In 1972 was an unofficial edition and the I Centenary of Rangers (see History of the UEFA Supercup in uefa.com).
- UEFA Cup)
- ^ UEFA sanctioned the UEFA Intertoto Cup for the first time in 1995. In the 1960s, it was unofficial. See History of UEFA Intertoto Cup in uefa.com. Archived March 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Het veldje: 1893–1900". AFC Ajax. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
- ^ "Amsterdam-Noord: 1900–1907". AFC Ajax. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
- ^ "Het Houten Stadion: 1907–1934". AFC Ajax. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
- ^ "De Meer Stadion: 1934–1996". AFC Ajax. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
- ^ "Olympisch Stadion: 1934–1996". AFC Ajax. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
- ^ "Mistwedstrijd herleeft in Olympisch Stadion". NU.nl. Retrieved 2013-11-20.