Karlstad FotbollGround: Sola Arena Visits: 1 Date: 18th June 2023 Match: Karlstad Fotboll - Sandvikens IF 1-2 (Ettan Norra) Attendance: 715 The main game on this trip was the last one, Karlstad Fotboll v Sandvikens IF in Ettan Norra (Division 1 Norra). Karlstad Fotboll was founded in 2019 as a merger between Carlstad United and Karlstads BK and the aim is to have elite football in Karlstad. The club has played at Tingvalla IP, a ground I visited back in 2012 for a Karlstads BK game, but in September last year it was announced a new ground, Sola Arena, was to be inaugurated in Karlstad. From where I live it is tricky to travel by train to Karlstad and by car it takes just under six hours. That means a trip to Karlstad needs some planning and as you know by now this was a good weekend for my visit. It has been hot and dry in many parts of Sweden recently but on Sunday it would rain all day and the forecast turned out to be correct! With kick-off at Sola Areba being at 4pm and a few hours to kill with all the rain my options were limited. I took a stroll along the river and then ended up in the Värmlands Museum where I managed to kill almost two hours. After a short rest at my hotel I could then set off for the ground. Sola Arena is situated in the outskirts of Karlstad and there was plenty of parking available. With it raining I brought my umbrella but I had no problems bringing it inside the ground. The main stand at Sola Arena has 1,625 seats and is a huge improvement compared to Tingvalla IP. On the far side there is quite a relatively big open stand and in the north end/curve there is a small open stand as well. Sandvikens IF lost in the promotion play-off last season and being 3rd in the table I am sure they are aiming for promotion in 2023. Karlstad Fotboll were in the relegation zone but consecutive victories moved them up in the table. In today's game Sandviken scored early on and at half-time it was 0-1. They scored early on in the 2nd half as well, 0-2 in the 51st minute. Karlstad pulled a goal back though but in the end Sandviken deservedly took all three points. The attendance was given as 715 and at this level that is a decent number. My visit to Sola Arena meant I have once again re-completed Ettan Norra and thereby the top three divisions in Sweden! Rear of the East Stand Rear of the East Stand Entrance for officials and players South End West Stand West Stand North End North End East Stand East Stand East Stand East Stand, interior Players on their way Kick-off View of play East Stand East Stand Vocal home fans Pano
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