Neftçi Arena

Neftçi Arena
Interior view of the stadium
Map
Interactive map of Neftçi Arena
Former names8 km Stadionu (2012–2013)
Bakcell Arena (2013–2023)
Location8th Kilometer, Nizami raion, Baku, Azerbaijan
Coordinates40°24′01″N 49°56′38″E / 40.4002°N 49.9440°E / 40.4002; 49.9440
Public transitBaku Metro Neftchilar, Halglar Dostlugu
OwnerNeftçi
Capacity11,000
Record attendance11,000 (Gabala vs Panathinaikos 1–2, 3 August 2017)
11,000 (Neftçi vs Beşiktaş 1–3, 10 August 2023)
SurfaceNatural grass
Construction
Broke groundApril 30, 2010
BuiltApril 2010 – August 2012
Opened14 September 2012 (2012-09-14)
Tenants
Neftçi
Azerbaijan national football team (occasional)

Neftçi Arena, formerly known as Bakcell Arena, is a football-specific stadium located in the 8th Kilometer district of Nizami raion, Baku, Azerbaijan.[1] The stadium has a capacity of 11,000 spectators and serves as the home ground of Azerbaijan Premier League club Neftçi PFK.[2] It also serves as an occasional venue for the Azerbaijan national football team.[3] The stadium was nominated for StadiumDB's Stadium of the Year award in 2012.[4]

Construction and opening

Construction began on 30 April 2010 in the 8th Kilometer district, a residential area east of Baku's old town, from which the stadium took its original name, 8 km Stadionu.[5] The stadium was built on a compact plot situated between two local schools, which constrained the overall footprint of the venue.[5] Despite its modest size, the stadium includes 17 skyboxes occupying much of the upper tier, 200 dedicated press seats, and 300 parking bays.[5] Construction was completed in August 2012, and the stadium was officially opened on 14 September 2012 by President Ilham Aliyev, one week before it hosted its first international tournament.[5][6]

Naming history

The stadium originally opened as 8 km Stadionu (8th Kilometer Stadium). In January 2013, it was renamed Bakcell Arena under a sponsorship agreement with Bakcell, an Azerbaijani mobile telephone operator.[7] The Bakcell sponsorship ran for a decade, and when it concluded in August 2023, the stadium reverted to Neftçi Arena.[2] In 2025, a new naming-rights agreement was reached with Palms Sports, and the stadium became known as Palms Sports Arena.

Events

Shortly after its opening, the stadium served as a venue for the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, hosted by Azerbaijan from 22 September to 13 October 2012, including quarter-final and semi-final matches.[6][5]

Neftçi PFK has played all of its home Azerbaijan Premier League and Azerbaijan Cup matches at the stadium since the 2012–13 season. The Azerbaijan national football team has also used the venue as an alternative home ground for World Cup qualifiers and friendlies after the stadium met UEFA stadium criteria.[3]

The stadium has twice reached its full capacity of 11,000. The first occasion was a UEFA Europa League third qualifying round match between Gabala and Panathinaikos on 3 August 2017, which Panathinaikos won 2–1. The second was a UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round match between Neftçi and Beşiktaş on 10 August 2023, which Beşiktaş won 3–1.

See also

References

  1. ^ ""8 km stadionu" "Neftçi Arena" olur". Apasport.az. p. Azerbaijani. Archived from the original on 13 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Neftçi PFK official website". neftchi.az.
  3. ^ a b "Bakcell Arena". Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Stadium of the Year Nominee: 8 km Stadionu". StadiumDB. 5 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Bakcell Arena (8 km Stadionu)". StadiumDB. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  6. ^ a b "В Баку будут построены новые стадионы - ФОТО". 28 February 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  7. ^ "Стадион "8-й километр" получил новое название". 1news.az (in Russian). 11 January 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neft%C3%A7i_Arena