Kalmar FF

Ground: Guldfågeln Arena

Visits: 1

Date: 1st May 2011

Match: Kalmar FF - Syrianska 2-0 (Allsvenskan)

Attendance: 6 315

After years of discussions, planning and appeals Kalmar FF could in December 2009 finally start building works on their new ground. The new ground, initially called Kalmar Arena, has a capacity of 12 100 (10 600 seats). The first ever match at Guldfågeln Arena, as the ground is called nowdays, was played on 11th April 2011 when Kalmar FF entertained Djurgården. Originally I had planned to visit Guldfågeln Arena for the opening match but different circumstances meant I had to wait until the third match, Kalmar FF vs Syrianska, at the new ground. I travelled to Kalmar on Sunday afternoon and as the new ground is next to the motorway I had no problems finding it. Where to park was not that easy to find out though. I tried the official car park but was denied entry. You can park over there was their answer when I asked where I could park. I am still not clear about where "over there" was but I eventually found a place to park. I later found a huge car park on the other side of a road but I couldn´t see any traffic signs showing motorists where to go. Anyway, I walked around the ground taking some pictures before entering about 90 minutes before kick-off. Even if the sun was out there was a bitterly cold wind from the sea (east) but fortunately my seat was in the East Stand meaning no wind (but sunshine!) in my face. My first impression of the ground was positive. It is a two-tiered bowl and the new ground is a huge improvement compared to Fredriksskans IP which only had 3 500 covered seats and a total capacity of just under 9 000.

When the match finally started not much happened. Apart from the referee reversing a penalty decision nothing exciting happened in the first half. The second hlaf was slightly better and with 8 minutes to go Kalmar took the lead and in stoppage time they scored another goal to win by 2-0. This was a crap match though but at least I can now, yet again, say I have visited every ground in Allsvenskan and Superettan.

Pictures from Kalmar FF´s old ground can be found at the Fredriksskans IP page.

guldfågeln arena2