Nikos Goumas Stadium
Encyclopedia
Nikos Goumas Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium
in Nea Filadelfeia
("New Philadelphia"), a northwestern suburb of Athens
, Greece
. It was used mostly for football
matches and was the home stadium of AEK Athens FC
. It was named after a one-time club president, Nicholas Goumas, who contributed to its building and later upgrading. It was previously known as "Nea Filadelfeia
Stadium" or simply "AEK Stadium".
The stadium's capacity was 24,729, as built in 1930. Until 1979, it had a horseshoe
shape. It was then that the double-tiered south stand was built, making it the largest stadium in Athens at the time. This stand, and particularly its lower tier known as "Skepasti" ("roofed"), was the home of the AEK ultras. The capacity of the stadium was over 35,000 after construction of this new stand. In 1998, AEK Athens decided to install 27,729 seats, thereby reducing the stadium's capacity from 35,000 to 24,000 (not including the press and VIP stands).
It was demolished in June 2003 as the stadium was old and had serious earthquake damage. The club's initial plan was to build a modern arena on the same site, complete with underground parking and an innovative underground basketball court. This ambitious plan was halted after various objections were raised by local residents. After AEK FC came under its current ownership, the plan was abandoned from the football club and negotiations are under way to build a new football stadium further to the north, on the southern foothills of Mount Parnitha. The land of the former Nikos Goumas stadium is still owned by the amateur AEK Athletic club. Plans for building a new stadium in the Nikos Goumas area still exist.
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
in Nea Filadelfeia
Nea Filadelfeia
Nea Filadelfeia is a suburb in the northern part of Athens, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Filadelfeia-Chalkidona, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit....
("New Philadelphia"), a northwestern suburb of Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. It was used mostly for football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
matches and was the home stadium of AEK Athens FC
AEK Athens FC
AEK Athens F.C. , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. Outside Greece, the club is also known as AEK Athens, however, the word Athens is not part of the club's official title.Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees...
. It was named after a one-time club president, Nicholas Goumas, who contributed to its building and later upgrading. It was previously known as "Nea Filadelfeia
Nea Filadelfeia
Nea Filadelfeia is a suburb in the northern part of Athens, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Filadelfeia-Chalkidona, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit....
Stadium" or simply "AEK Stadium".
The stadium's capacity was 24,729, as built in 1930. Until 1979, it had a horseshoe
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
shape. It was then that the double-tiered south stand was built, making it the largest stadium in Athens at the time. This stand, and particularly its lower tier known as "Skepasti" ("roofed"), was the home of the AEK ultras. The capacity of the stadium was over 35,000 after construction of this new stand. In 1998, AEK Athens decided to install 27,729 seats, thereby reducing the stadium's capacity from 35,000 to 24,000 (not including the press and VIP stands).
It was demolished in June 2003 as the stadium was old and had serious earthquake damage. The club's initial plan was to build a modern arena on the same site, complete with underground parking and an innovative underground basketball court. This ambitious plan was halted after various objections were raised by local residents. After AEK FC came under its current ownership, the plan was abandoned from the football club and negotiations are under way to build a new football stadium further to the north, on the southern foothills of Mount Parnitha. The land of the former Nikos Goumas stadium is still owned by the amateur AEK Athletic club. Plans for building a new stadium in the Nikos Goumas area still exist.