Skopje City Stadium
Encyclopedia
Philip II of Macedonia Arena is a multi-purpose stadium
in Skopje
, Republic of Macedonia
. It is currently used mostly for football
matches, but sometimes also for music concerts or other events. It is the home stadium of FK Vardar
and FK Rabotnički
from Skopje
, both of which compete in the Macedonian First League
, as well as the home ground of the Macedonia national football team on almost all occasions (the other venues rarely chosen being the Goce Delčev Stadium
in Prilep
, or SRC Biljanini Izvori
in Ohrid
).
Construction of the south stand took two years to finish.
The reconstruction and expansion started after a long delay in project implementation in January 2008. The construction of a new north stand was finished in August 2009 and was put in use on 2 August 2009, the Macedonian national holiday
"Ilinden
". Ten days later, on 12 August, the Macedonia national football team played a friendly match against the current World Champions Spain
, as part of the 100-year anniversary of football in Macedonia.
The reconstruction of the southern stand started in 2009, which was put into operation on 30 July last year for the match between FK Rabotnicki
and FC Liverpool.
Soon after, the construction of the new western and eastern stands started. The total capacity is now 136,400.
Arena, at the beginning of 2009, the stadium was known as the Skopje City Stadium (Macedonian: Градски стадион Скопје, Gradski stadion Skopje). The former nickname "Gradski" is still often used even after the change of the stadium's name.
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 Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
, Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. It is currently 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, but sometimes also for music concerts or other events. It is the home stadium of FK Vardar
FK Vardar
FK Vardar Skopje is a Macedonian football club based in the capital city of Skopje. FK Vardar is currently a member of the 1-MFL. FK Vardar is the most popular and renowned Macedonian football club both domestically and abroad, having won 6 national championships and 6 national cups...
and FK Rabotnički
FK Rabotnicki
FK Rabotnički is a football club that plays at the Philip II Arena in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. They currently compete in the Macedonian First League.-History:...
from Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
, both of which compete in the Macedonian First League
Macedonian First League
The First Macedonian Football League is the highest professional football competition in the Republic of Macedonia.The league consists of 12 teams. The teams play against each other 3 times...
, as well as the home ground of the Macedonia national football team on almost all occasions (the other venues rarely chosen being the Goce Delčev Stadium
Goce Delcev Stadium
The Goce Delčev Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Prilep, Republic of Macedonia. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of FK Pobeda and FK 11 Oktomvri....
in Prilep
Prilep
Prilep is the fourth largest city in the Republic of Macedonia. It has a population of 66,246 citizens. Prilep is known as "the city under Marko's Towers" because of its proximity to the towers of Prince Marko.-Name:...
, or SRC Biljanini Izvori
SRC Biljanini Izvori
SRC Biljanini Izvori is a multi-purpose stadium in Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia. Its capacity is 3,000 and it is the home ground of FK Ohrid. It has also been used by the Republic of Macedonia national football team for training....
in Ohrid
Ohrid
Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...
).
Reconstruction and expansion
Construction of the Skopje City Stadium (Macedonian: Градски стадион Скопје, Gradski stadion Skopje) in present form began in the 1978, (it was renamed to Philip II Arena in 2008).Construction of the south stand took two years to finish.
The reconstruction and expansion started after a long delay in project implementation in January 2008. The construction of a new north stand was finished in August 2009 and was put in use on 2 August 2009, the Macedonian national holiday
Public holidays in the Republic of Macedonia
Public holidays are observed in the Republic of Macedonia for a number of reasons, including for religious religious and national significance. They are generally accompanied by celebrations....
"Ilinden
Ilinden
-Events:* Day of the Republic in the Republic of Macedonia, celebrated on 2 August each year.-Geographic locations:* In Bulgaria:** Ilinden, Blagoevgrad Province, a village** Ilinden, Sofia, an urban municipality* In Macedonia:** Ilinden municipality...
". Ten days later, on 12 August, the Macedonia national football team played a friendly match against the current World Champions Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, as part of the 100-year anniversary of football in Macedonia.
The reconstruction of the southern stand started in 2009, which was put into operation on 30 July last year for the match between FK Rabotnicki
FK Rabotnicki
FK Rabotnički is a football club that plays at the Philip II Arena in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. They currently compete in the Macedonian First League.-History:...
and FC Liverpool.
Soon after, the construction of the new western and eastern stands started. The total capacity is now 136,400.
Construction cost
Since 2008, the stadium is invested about two billion denars, or 32 million euros.The next phase is planned reconstruction of the football field and athletic track, while by 2013 should be fully build. The construction cost of all actions related to the Arena in the period 2008 - 2013 is estimated to reach 50 to 60 million.Name
Before the name change to Philip IIPhilip II of Macedon
Philip II of Macedon "friend" + ἵππος "horse" — transliterated ; 382 – 336 BC), was a king of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination in 336 BC. He was the father of Alexander the Great and Philip III.-Biography:...
Arena, at the beginning of 2009, the stadium was known as the Skopje City Stadium (Macedonian: Градски стадион Скопје, Gradski stadion Skopje). The former nickname "Gradski" is still often used even after the change of the stadium's name.