Teddy Kollek Memorial Stadium
Encyclopedia
Teddy Stadium is a football stadium
in Jerusalem, Israel
.
Two football teams currently use the stadium - Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Jerusalem.
It is named for long-time Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek
who was in office during the time of its construction and was one of its prominent advocates.
For Beitar, the stadium was a blessing after years of playing at the YMCA Stadium
, which was also nicknamed "The Sandbox". In the first stage, only the west and east sides of the stadium were built giving it a capacity of 13,000. In 1999 work was finished on a north side that was perfectly connected to the west and east stands putting capacity at 21,600.
The stadium itself is one of the newest in Israel and one of the few that is close to meeting all European standards. It is accessible
to the disabled, has modern bathrooms, and has ample concession stands, a combination that is very difficult to find in many Israeli stadiums. The stadium has 5,000 parking spots on premises, and is connected to the Malha Mall and its parking facilities by a pedestrian bridge.
The stadium is located at the terminus of the Begin Expressway
and just past the Malha Train Station, which ensures convenient road and rail access to the rest of the country.
Because of its beauty and atmosphere (stands are close to the pitch and the acoustics are excellent), Teddy Stadium also hosted several Israel national football team
matches as well as the Maccabiah Games
opening ceremony and other public events.
Jerusalem municipality decided to increase the stadium's capacity to 31,600 seats until 2013 for hosting UEFA European Under-21 Championship
and the Maccabiah Olympic Games
- the constructions are happening at these days and planned to be finished until March 2013.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Jerusalem, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Two football teams currently use the stadium - Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Jerusalem.
It is named for long-time Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek
Teddy Kollek
Theodor "Teddy" Kollek was mayor of Jerusalem from 1965 to 1993, and founder of the Jerusalem Foundation. Kollek was re-elected five times, in 1969, 1973, 1978, 1983 and 1989...
who was in office during the time of its construction and was one of its prominent advocates.
For Beitar, the stadium was a blessing after years of playing at the YMCA Stadium
YMCA Stadium
The cornerstone for the Jerusalem YMCA was laid in 1928 by Lord Plumer, the British High Commissioner for Palestine, on a plot of land in the West Nikephoria section of Jerusalem purchased from the Greek Orthodox Church Patriarchate. When the building opened on April 18, 1933, the event was...
, which was also nicknamed "The Sandbox". In the first stage, only the west and east sides of the stadium were built giving it a capacity of 13,000. In 1999 work was finished on a north side that was perfectly connected to the west and east stands putting capacity at 21,600.
The stadium itself is one of the newest in Israel and one of the few that is close to meeting all European standards. It is accessible
Accessibility
Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
to the disabled, has modern bathrooms, and has ample concession stands, a combination that is very difficult to find in many Israeli stadiums. The stadium has 5,000 parking spots on premises, and is connected to the Malha Mall and its parking facilities by a pedestrian bridge.
The stadium is located at the terminus of the Begin Expressway
Begin Expressway
Route 404, usually referred to as Menachem Begin Expressway is an urban freeway in western Jerusalem named after sixth Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. Local Jerusalemites simply refer to it as 'Begin'...
and just past the Malha Train Station, which ensures convenient road and rail access to the rest of the country.
Because of its beauty and atmosphere (stands are close to the pitch and the acoustics are excellent), Teddy Stadium also hosted several Israel national football team
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
matches as well as the Maccabiah Games
Maccabiah Games
The Maccabiah is an international Jewish athletic event similar to the Olympics held in Israel every four years under the auspices of the Maccabi Federation, affiliated with the Maccabi World Union. The Maccabiah Games is the third largest international sports competition in the world...
opening ceremony and other public events.
Jerusalem municipality decided to increase the stadium's capacity to 31,600 seats until 2013 for hosting UEFA European Under-21 Championship
2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2013 UEFA U-21 Championship will be the 19th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship. The final tournament will be hosted by Israel between the 15–28 June 2013...
and the Maccabiah Olympic Games
Maccabiah Games
The Maccabiah is an international Jewish athletic event similar to the Olympics held in Israel every four years under the auspices of the Maccabi Federation, affiliated with the Maccabi World Union. The Maccabiah Games is the third largest international sports competition in the world...
- the constructions are happening at these days and planned to be finished until March 2013.