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Arcushallen (Luleå)

Ground: Arcushallen

Visits: 2

Date: 18th February 2023

Match: Notviken - Kiruna FF  3-3  (Friendly)

Attendance: 80 (free entrance)

Date: 19th February 2023

Match: IFK Luleå - Degerfors  0-2  (Svenska Cupen)

Attendance: 472

When the draw for the Swedish cup was made I realized I had the opportunity to visit Luleå. My previous five visits have been in the summer but with IFK Luleå making it, for the first time ever, to the group stage of the cup I decided to book the trip to northern Sweden. There was an orange weather warning for a storm in southern Sweden on Friday evening but my flight, from Malmö to Stockholm, just about made it before the strong winds arrived. From Arlanda I then had a flight to Luleå and 20.25 I landed at Kallax airport in Luleå. My friend Leif had sent his friend Rolf to pick me up and Rolf then dropped me off at my hotel in central Luleå, a very nice welcome for me!

For Saturday I had both football and ice-hockey to look forward to. Prior to the football I went out for a walk in a snowy Luleå. It actually snowed from late Friday evening to Sunday morning but the snow plows were out in full force and the weather didn't cause any problems at all. Shortly after noon Leif picked me up at my hotel and 20 minutes later we arrived at Arcushallen, the venue for both my football games this weekend. First up was the friendly between Notviken and Kiruna FF. Both teams will play in Division 2 Norrland this season and their friendly today ended 3-3. At the game I met a few players from Ohtana/Pajala who I have met on previous trips to this part of Sweden.

After the match at Arcushallen we headed towards COOP Norrbotten Arena where Luleå Hockey were hosting Tappara (from Tampere, Finland) in the ice-hockey Champions League final. Leif had arranged a ticket for me and 6,150 spectators packed the arena and a tense game ended 3-2 to Tappara, much to the delight of the 600 away fans. I don't watch that much ice-hockey but it was fun to attend a CL-final. The day was then finished off at a nice Chinese restaurant.

The main match on this trip to Luleå was of course the cup game between IFK Luleå and Degerfors. Kick-off at Arcushallen was at 13.00 and as it was unreserved seating we were at the arena 11.30 when the entrances opened. IFK Luleå play in Division 2 Norrland (level 4) and Degerfors in Allsvenskan. With IFK Luleå also hosting Malmö FF in the group stage the club wanted to cash in and set a price of 300 SEK (€28) for each game. That is three times the normal fee and in the end less than 500 (capacity is 1,700) was at Arcushallen today. I am sure the arena will be fuller next week for the visit of Malmö FF but surely tha club messed up with the ticketing. Anyway, we found a good seat and as was the case yesterday I met several members of the local football family. On the pitch Degerfors dominated but at half-time it was still 0-0. Two early goals in the 2nd half made sure Degerfors could win this cup game and promotion from this group will be between Malmö FF and Degerfors. Degerfors had around 25 fans in Luleå which is quite good considering the distance involved.

After the game Leif dropped me off at the airport and via Stockholm Arlanda I was at Malmö airport at 22.30. I am, once again, very grateful to Leif for his help and door to door service this weekend!

Sightseeing pictures from a wintry Luleå

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Luleå domkyrka

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Norra fjärden

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View of the city (standing on the ice)

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Luleå

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Ice road

Arcushallen

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Arcushallen

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Arcushallen

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West Stand

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North End

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East Stand

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East Stand

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South End

Notviken v Kiruna FF

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Kick-off

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West Stand

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View of play

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East Stand

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Pano

IFK Luleå v Degerfors

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Kick-off

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View of play

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West Stand

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West Stand

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East Stand

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East Stand

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Degerfors fans

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After the match