SöderstadionGround: Söderstadion Visits: 1 Date: 7th July 2008 Match: Hammarby - IFK Norrköping 4-3 (Allsvenskan) Attendance: 11 128
Söderstadion was opened in 1966 and replaced the on the same site already existing Johanneshovs IP in southern Stockholm. Apart from football Söderstadion also hosted the Swedish championship final in bandy between 1967 and 1989. Since its opening in 1966 Söderstadion has been the home of Hammarby IF (or Bajen as the locals call the club). In recent years the capacity of Söderstadion was 12 500 and despite poor results and relegation to Superettan Hammarby still averaged around 8 000 which is very good for second division football in Sweden. Hammarby and their supporter really loved Söderstadion but it was obvious the ground was becoming ran-down and planning for a new ground started. After years of discussions it was finally decided a new ground in southern Stockholm was to be built on the other side of Globen and building works started in September 2010. Stockholmsarenan (later renamed Tele2 Arena) was to be opened in December 2012 but delays meant it was not ready until July 2013. Hammarby played their last match at Söderstadion 23rd June 2013. The match against Ängelholm ended 1-1 with crowd favourite Kennedy Bakircioglü scoring the last ever goal at Söderstadion. After the 2013 season Söderstadion will be demolished.
Report (Hammarby - IFK Norrköping): After visiting Sundsvall and Norrporten Arena the previous day I had ONE ground left to visit in Allsvenskan, Söderstadion, the home of Hammarby and the most passionate and vocal fans in Sweden. I had actually planned to visit Söderstadion twice last season but due to late changes in the fixture list both trips were cancelled. Söderstadion, next to the impressive Globe Arena in southern Stockholm, is tucked in with block of offices and the capacity has been reduced to 12,500 and with that in mind it is not difficult to understand why Hammarby hope to have a new stadium in five years time. With Hammarby leading 3-0 at half time the atmosphere was terrific and the chanting and singing was more impressive than at most other grounds I have visited abroad. For some strange reason Hammarby stopped playing in the second half and Norrköping, bottom of the table, almost pulled off the great escape. The match ended 4-3 and as I walked back to Globen station after the match my friend Håkan and I agreed this was a worthy match to finish off the Allsvenskan grounds with!
View of Söderstadion
Rear of the North Stand
Rear of the East Stand
West Stand
North Stand
East Stand
West Stand
Bajen fans
Bajen fans
North Stand
Kick-off
East Stand
Norrköping fans
Pano |