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Estádio Cidade de Coimbra

Estádio do Calhabé
Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
Former names	Estádio Municipal de Coimbra
Location	Coimbra, Portugal
Owner	Municipality of Coimbra
Operator	Académica de Coimbra
Capacity	29,622 50,000 for concerts
Field size	105mx70m
Surface	Grass
Construction
Opened	12 September 2003
Renovated	2001–2003
Expanded	2001–2003
Construction cost	€38 million
Architect	António Monteiro , PLARQ / KSS Design Group Partnership
Tenants
Académica de Coimbra

Estádio Cidade de Coimbra is a stadium in Coimbra, Portugal. This stadium belongs to the Municipality of Coimbra and is mainly used by the Académica de Coimbra's football team.

The stadium was rebuilt, expanded, and modernized to host some UEFA Euro 2004 matches. Far beyond the sports stadium itself, all the project, called Euro Stadium Project, included the possibility of organizing sports, culture, and commercial events, by the modernization of the entire Calhabé area in Coimbra.

On 29 October 2003, Académica de Coimbra played at home to Sport Lisboa e Benfica in the first official match in the remodelled stadium.

Features

Its design does not involve any historical or traditional references, as the idea was to create a new, contemporary image with glass façades and an aesthetic roof supported by elegant stands. The existing athletics track has been preserved for possible use as a multi-purpose facility in the future. The stadium was designed by the Portuguese architectural firm Plarq in association with KSS Design Group of London. The Plarq team was led by the architect António Monteiro.

The stadium has 29,622 seats, two-thirds of which are covered. The complex boasts a large press centre, a bar, kitchens, and a restaurant with a panoramic view of the pitch. The project of the stadium took advantage of old seats: of close to 15,000 (all seated), involved the planned remodelling of the tier which extends around the entire perimeter of the previous stands, and a second tier above that, in the form of a "U", opening onto the slopes of the city at the North end.

A multi-purpose pavilion, olympic swimming pools, healthclub, gym, offices and studio apartment residences were built in the surrounding area. The Alma Shopping, a shopping and leisure center built near the stadium, includes cinemas, underground car parking, restaurants, and several retail outlets.

Major events

UEFA Euro 2004

The stadium hosted two UEFA Euro 2004 Group B matches: England 3–0 Switzerland and Switzerland 1–3 France. Curiously in both matches, the record for the European Championship's youngest goalscorer was broken, first by Wayne Rooney, then by Johan Vonlanthen.

Date		Result		Round
17 June 2004	England	3–0	Switzerland	Group B
21 June 2004	Switzerland	1–3	France

Portugal national football team

The following national team matches were held in the stadium, both in its old and renovated shape.

#	Date	Score	Opponent	Competition
1.	13 April 1983	0–0	Hungary	Friendly
2.	8 June 1983	0–4	Brazil	Friendly
3.	9 June 1999	8–0	Liechtenstein	Euro 2000 qualifying
4.	28 April 2004	2–2	Sweden	Friendly
5.	12 November 2005	2–0	Croatia	Friendly
6.	15 November 2006	3–0	Kazakhstan	Euro 2008 qualifying
7.	3 March 2010	2–0	China	Friendly
8.	15 October 2013	3–0	Luxembourg	2014 World Cup qualification

Taça de Portugal final

The stadium also hosted the 2020 Taça de Portugal Final between both O Clássico rivals Benfica vs Porto also replacing Estádio Nacional that was supposed to be held but the original final match venue was unable to host the match due to security reasons and avoid the crowds of spectators to break the COVID-19 pandemic chain.

Taça da Liga final

Concerts

In addition to football, the stadium is often used for concerts of international artists with capacity up to 50,000 people.

The stadium was inaugurated with a Rolling Stones concert on 27 September 2003, attended by over 50,000 people.

George Michael played there in 2007 during the 25 Live, with 39,639 spectators.

In 2010, U2 played two sold-out shows in the stadium during their U2 360° Tour. Approximately 109,985 people attended the event.

On June 24, 2012, Madonna performed in front of 33,597 people as part of her MDNA Tour.

Coldplay performed at the stadium on 17, 18, 20, & 21 May 2023 as part of their Music of the Spheres World Tour.

Date	Country	Artist	Tour	Opening Act	Attendance	Revenue
27 September 2003	UK	The Rolling Stones	Licks Tour	—	50,000	—
12 May 2007	UK	George Michael	25 Live	—	39,639	$4,439,568
2 October 2010	Ireland	U2	U2 360° Tour	Interpol	109,985	$9,925,611
3 October 2010
24 June 2012	USA	Madonna	The MDNA Tour	Martin Solveig	33,597	$3,156,022
17 May 2023	UK	Coldplay	Music of the Spheres World Tour	Griff Bárbara Bandeira	208,284 / 208,284	$21,473,885
18 May 2023
20 May 2023
21 May 2023

References

1. Rodrigues, Aníbal (29 October 2003). "Coimbra mobilizada para estrear o novo estádio". publico.pt. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
2. "Estádio Cidade de Coimbra" [Stadium City of Coimbra]. AcadÉmica OAF (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
3. "Fact Check. Estádios de Leiria e Aveiro tiveram custo de 180 milhões para construção e custam 8 milhões a manter?". Observador (in Portuguese). 27 January 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
4. "Instalações – Associação Académica de Coimbra – O.A.F." Retrieved 2 September 2017.
5. "Académica 1-3 Benfica". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 July 2013.
6. "Rooney stars as England get back on track". UEFA.com. 18 June 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
7. "England challenge ignited by Rooney". UEFA.com. 22 June 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
8. "FPF anuncia suspensão das competições de futebol e futsal por tempo indeterminado". zerozero.pt (in Portuguese). ZOS. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
9. "António Costa já está reunido com os presidentes da FPF, Liga e 'três grandes'". desporto.sapo.pt (in Portuguese). SAPO Desporto. 28 April 2020. Archived from the original on 10 May 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
10. "Campeonato Português é suspenso indefinidamente devido a novo coronavírus". efe.com (in Portuguese). Agencia EFE. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
11. "Governo autoriza I Liga e Taça de Portugal à porta fechada. II Liga cancelada". publico.pt (in Portuguese). PÚBLICO Comunicação Social. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
12. "Final da Taça de Portugal joga-se em Coimbra". fpf.pt. Portuguese Football Federation. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
13. "The Rolling Stones Estádio Municipal Coimbra Coimbra, Portugal Saturday September 27, 2003". IORR. 27 September 2003. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
14. "George Michael em Portugal com pedido de desculpas" [George Michael in Portugal with apologies]. RTP (in Portuguese). 13 May 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
15. "U2 Setlist at Estadio Cidade Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal". Setlist.fm. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
16. "Madonna defendeu a coroa da pop em Coimbra". TVI Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-29.
17. "Coldplay despedem-se de Coimbra após quatro concertos de luz e cor". SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). 2023-05-21. Retrieved 2023-10-29.

External links

• Académica de Coimbra's official website Archived 2013-10-16 at the Wayback Machine
• Estádio Cidade de Coimbra at Stadiumguide.com
• Estádio Cidade de Coimbra at ZeroZero

40°12′12″N 8°24′28″W / 40.20333°N 8.40778°W / 40.20333; -8.40778

• Buildings and structures in Coimbra
• Sport in Coimbra
• Athletics (track and field) venues in Portugal
• Football venues in Portugal
• Sports venues completed in 2003