Ta'Qali Stadium
Encyclopedia
Ta' Qali National Stadium is the national stadium
of Malta
, and is the home stadium of the Malta national football team
. It stages most Maltese Premier League
and cup matches, as well as international matches. The stadium seats 17,797 people, and is the largest stadium in Malta.
stadium replacing the Empire Stadium
, Gżira
.
The almost 20,000 all-seater stadium with a top of the order floodlighting system, has an excellent and durable natural turf pitch, which has had its surroundings along the perimeter embellished only recently. The main stand of the stadium is the 5,000 seater Millennium Stand, which also houses 22 executive boxes. The stadium is the main-centre of football on the island, with all that goes with it, including a modern scoreboard, and new red and white seats, as well as all the facilities for the Press.
The Malta FA’s Headquarters were moved to the Millennium Stand from Valletta in 2007, while the National Team Quarters, which cater for the physical well-being of the players, are recent additions to this complex. The living quarters, comprising a restaurant and leisure areas, the Conference/Lecture Hall, the Physiotherapy and the Technical Centre beneath the West Stand, the Fitness Centre and the indoor swimming pool under the East Stand, make the place a comprehensive location for footballers and athletes of every genre.
This football complex not only attracts thousands of spectators every week for domestic and international matches, but also innumerable football administrators as well as coaches, referees and of course, the players themselves.
The extensive grounds adjacent to the Centenary Stadium have a grass surface and are thus very convenient as a warm-up and training area. These grounds can be utilised throughout the year and also serve as the main base for teams visiting Malta for training camps. In recent years well-known clubs, including Juventus and Milan, as well as various national teams have had a taste of the stadium in Malta and were all praise for the excellent facilities and ideal climate they found.
National stadium
Many countries have a national football stadium, which typically serves as the primary or exclusive home for one or more of a country's national representative sports teams. The term is most often used in reference to an association football stadium. Usually, a national stadium will be in or very...
of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, and is the home stadium of the Malta national football team
Malta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
. It stages most Maltese Premier League
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
and cup matches, as well as international matches. The stadium seats 17,797 people, and is the largest stadium in Malta.
History
The Ta' Qali National Stadium was built in 1980 and in 1981 it became Malta's national footballMalta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
stadium replacing the Empire Stadium
Empire Stadium, Gzira
Empire Stadium later known as The Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Gżira, Malta.It was used mostly for football matches and hosted the home matches of the Maltese national football team, including the very first international match for Malta in 1957 against Austria. In addition, it also...
, Gżira
Gzira
Gżira is a town in the north-eastern coast of Malta between Msida & Sliema, and bordering on Ta' Xbiex, with its famed yacht marina and Embassy Row. The population is approximately 7,100 . The word Gżira means "island" in Maltese, and the town is named after Manoel Island which lies just adjacent...
.
Facilities
There is a garage underneath, two gymnasiums, an indoor pool, two squash courts, a shooting range, training rooms, bars, restaurants, catering areas and many parking spaces around the stadium. All facilities at the stadium are easily accessible by means of several entrances.The almost 20,000 all-seater stadium with a top of the order floodlighting system, has an excellent and durable natural turf pitch, which has had its surroundings along the perimeter embellished only recently. The main stand of the stadium is the 5,000 seater Millennium Stand, which also houses 22 executive boxes. The stadium is the main-centre of football on the island, with all that goes with it, including a modern scoreboard, and new red and white seats, as well as all the facilities for the Press.
The Malta FA’s Headquarters were moved to the Millennium Stand from Valletta in 2007, while the National Team Quarters, which cater for the physical well-being of the players, are recent additions to this complex. The living quarters, comprising a restaurant and leisure areas, the Conference/Lecture Hall, the Physiotherapy and the Technical Centre beneath the West Stand, the Fitness Centre and the indoor swimming pool under the East Stand, make the place a comprehensive location for footballers and athletes of every genre.
This football complex not only attracts thousands of spectators every week for domestic and international matches, but also innumerable football administrators as well as coaches, referees and of course, the players themselves.
Ta' Qali Centenary Stadium and Training Grounds
The Centenary Stadium, barely 200 metres away from National Stadium, is an important addition to the complex, with its all-weather FIFA-approved artificial turf, and the enhanced pitch and dressing room amenities adding to the quality of the place. The stadium building also houses a conference hall where the association’s council meetings, seminars and routine press conferences are held. A mini-pitch situated alongside the Centenary Stadium is another useful facility for the use of the youngsters.The extensive grounds adjacent to the Centenary Stadium have a grass surface and are thus very convenient as a warm-up and training area. These grounds can be utilised throughout the year and also serve as the main base for teams visiting Malta for training camps. In recent years well-known clubs, including Juventus and Milan, as well as various national teams have had a taste of the stadium in Malta and were all praise for the excellent facilities and ideal climate they found.