Hammarby

Ground: Tele2 Arena

Visits: 2 (1 for a Hammarby match)

Date: 20th July 2013

Match: Hammarby - Örgryte 0-0 (Superettan)

Attendance: 29 175

Hammarby have played at Söderstadion since 1966 but new ground rules (from 2014 onwards) meant they needed a new ground. After years of discussions it was finally decided Stockholm city council would build a new ground. The new stadium was built next to Globen in southern Stockholm. At first the ground was called Stockholmsarenan but since 2012 the official name has been Tele2 Arena. With Söderstadion being on the other side of Globen Hammarby fans nicknamed the new ground Nya Söderstadion. Tele2 Arena was supposed to be ready in time for the 2013 season but delays meant the first match was to be played 20th July 2013. Hammarby´s rivals Djurgården are also playing at Tele2 Arena and with their opening match taking place the day after the Hammarby match I decided to spend the full weekend in Stockholm.

I arrived in Stockholm around 2pm on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off this historic day was 8pm. 8pm on a Saturday is a very unusual kick-off time in Sweden but I guess it was for TV-reasons. As I arrived in Stockholm I was greeted at Stockholm C by my German colleague Dirk. After checking-in at my hotel we then decided to walk to Södermalm (Medborgarplatsen) where the Hammarby supporters were gathering. As we passed the royal castle I was yet again reminded why Stockholm, especially in the summer, is a very nice city. Plenty of boats, islands and people and some really great views of the city. Even Dirk was impressed! It was 3 km from my hotel to Medborgarplatsen and I was in desperate need of a drink. My Hammarby supporting friend Daniel (and his girlfriend) was at a bar in Medborgarplatssen and bought me a drink. We then, in company with other Hammarby supporters, spent the next 2 hours chatting, drinking and eating (Schnitzel!) before the march towards Tele2 Arena started. Dirk and I headed towards the front of the march where we could take some great pictures of Bajen fans on fire. Around 15 000 fans joined the march and it was an impressive spectacle.

Shortly after 6pm I was inside Tele2 Arena for the first time in my life. For Hammarby matches there are three standing areas. South Lower (away fans), North Lower and the northern half of West Lower. This mean Hammarby have two sections for their most vocal fans. In total the capacity at Tele2 Arena is 31 500. Every seat is padded and when it comes to being a new moderns stadium Tele2 Arena ticks every box. At Sweden´s new national stadium (Friends Arena in Solna) songs and chants die down and it is difficult to create a good atmosphere. With this in mind it was interesting to hear what the atmosphere was going to be like at Tele2 Arena. The answer was positive. It is possible to generate a great atmosphere at Tele2 Arena and it was a privilege experiencing such an atmosphere in Sweden. On the pitch Hammarby are not doing as well as they are in the stands. Before this match Hammarby were in 6th place and nine points from a promotion place. Against Örgryte they played quite well but it was impossible for them to score. They hit the bar, inside of the post, had some great chances but the match ended 0-0. Örgryte were backed by an impressive 500 fans this evening and it was those fans who celebrated after the match. The rest of the crowd, an impressive 29 175, left the ground disappointed though. 29 175 was a new record attendance for Superettan and it will be interesting to see what kind of attendances Hammarby will have for their remaining matches.

Between 1966 and (June) 2013 Hammarby played at Söderstadion

medborgarplatsen3