The Azadi Stadium (Persian: ورزشگاه آزادی) originally known as “Aryamehr Stadium” (Persian: ورزشگاه آریامهر) is football stadium in outskirt of Tehran, Iran. It was purpose built for the Tehran Asian Games 1974 and inaugurated on 18 October 1971. Azadi stadium is the home stadium of Team Melli (Iran national football team). It has a current capacity of 95,225 spectators, although the stadium can accommodate up to 120,000. The stadium is part of the much larger Azadi Sport Complex, and is surrounded by a rowing river, football training pitches, a weightlifting complex, swimming facilities and indoor volleyball and futsal courts, among many other amenities.
Design & History
Though a simple bowl concrete structure, the stadium is a breathtaking sight. Situated west of the capital, an arching, slightly raised outer shell appears to give way as sweeping stands sink down to pitch side, as if the ground collapsed during building. The stadium was the focus point in 1977 of the Tehran bid for the 1984 Olympic Games, in which it would have only required slight moderation to become the main Olympic Stadium, if Tehran had won the 1984 bid. Eventually political issues saw Tehran drop its bid for 1984, leaving the eventual host, Los Angeles, the only city left bidding.
In 2002, the lower level of the stadium had seats installed, the pitch was replanted along with the installation of an underground heating system. Stadium management also plans to later install seats in the upper level of the stadium. The renovations were completed in 2003, stadium was refurnished with 35,000 seats. Despite its reduced capacity, Azadi Stadium has been filled over capacity at times such as the Iran-Japan World Cup 2006 qualification match in March 2005 which resulted in the deaths of seven people. In 2004 a large jumbotron television was added, replacing the original scoreboard. This giant screen with a total area of about 300 square meters and screen area of 104 square meters (20m by 7.5m) is one of the biggest in the world. The stadium hosted two West Asian Football Federation Championship in 2004 and 2008. In 2008, AFC forced Sepahan to play the home matches in AFC Champions League in this stadium after their home stadium Naghsh-e-Jahan Stadium was closed for renovation. The stadium also is the regular host for Iran U-23 for the Olympics football qualifying.
Building & facilities
The architect of the stadium was Abdolaziz Farmanfarmaian. At the beginning, the stadium had a maximum capacity of 100,000 visitors but was decreased to near 84,000 after renovations in 2003. It will be also decreased to near 75,000 which stadium is set to have another round of renovations in summer 2013. On the big occasions the crowd swells well beyond that. The design of the stadium amplifies the noise across the pitch. Opposing teams often find it difficult to play their best game, when the stadium is full, as the noise level becomes very high. According to Goal.com, Azadi Stadium was voted most intimidating in Asia.
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How to get there
By Car from Tehran.
From Azadi Square (Meydoon Azadi) , it is a 7km drive to Azadi stadium via Lashkari Expressway and Tehran Karaj Freeway
1. Head west 220 m
2. Exit the roundabout onto Lashkari Expy 350 m
3. Slight right 1.2 km
4. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit 550 m
5. Slight right to merge onto Tehran Karaj Fwy Destination will be on the right 4.6 km
By Metro
Azadi has a metro station on line 5 .
