BodenGround: Boden Arena Visits: 1 Date: 9th June 2019 Match: Boden - Vasalund 1-1 (Division 1 Norra) Attendance: 381 Boden Arena was opened in 2008 and is the home of several local football teams. Being just south of the Arctic Circle the pitch is artificial but this far north I can understand why clubs don´t play on natural grass. The south end is open but apart from that Boden Arena is a proper football ground with an all-seated capacity of 5,000. As I understand it the ground can be used for Europa League football but I don´t think that will happen anytime soon. The north stand of Boden Arena has a VIP-restaurant as well as a regular cafeteria. These facilities are shared with the indoor arena which is situated in the same building complex. In recent years Boden have been playing in Division 2 Norrland but with the club being back in Division 1 Norra I needed to visit Boden Arena in order to have the top three divisions in Sweden complete. I stayed the night in Luleå and at 10am my friend Leif Pekkari picked me up at my hotel. Christian and Magnus eventually showed up and joined us as we were heading towards Boden. On the way we stopped by Tunavallen, the home of Notviken, before arriving at Boden Arena around 10.30. There was actually a women´s game, Trångfors v Malmberget in Division 2 Norra Norrland Nord, at Boden Arena and we entered the ground to have a look at. The weather was really nice and it was a women´s match with plenty of goals to look at as well. It ended 6-0 and Leif then brought us to Björknäsvallen, the former home of Bodens BK, before having lunch at a local restaurant. I ordered reindeer pizza and I have to say it was very tasty! Kick-off between Boden and Vasalund was at 2pm and by now the weather had changed to cloudy and some rain. Boden have started the season poorly and only 381 spectators were inside Boden Arena for this match. Vasalund are managed by former AIK legend Nebojsa Novakovic and in 2005, when in Superettan, Boden actually beat AIK 5-1. When asked by the speaker before kick-off Nebosja said he was not involved in that game though. In today´s game Boden started the better team and at half-time they were deservedly 1-0 up. Vasalund had more and more of the possession though and with 5 minutes to go they managed to equalize. A huge blow for Boden´s survival hopes but probably a fair result. After the final whistle we headed towards the car and Leif then drove us to Liko Arena for Alvik v Öjebyn in Division 4. A bonus match for visiting groundhoppers and by now the sun was back out! Björknäsvallen, the former of home of Bodens BK Björknäsvallen Boden Arena Boden Arena East Stand South End West Stand West Stand North Stand Café Players and officials entering Nebojsa Novakovic Kick-off East Stand ![]() Boden fans View of play ![]() View of Boden Arena ![]() View of play View of play North Stand Pano Pano Pano |