Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion (1947)

Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion was a stadium in Budapest, Hungary.[1][2] The stadium was opened on 1947 and it served as the home for the MTK Budapest FC until 2014. In 2015 the stadium was demolished, and a completely new arena was built between 2015 and 2016, named Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion.

Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion
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Full nameHidegkuti Nándor Stadion
LocationBudapest, Hungary
Coordinates47°29′27.31″N 19°6′24.21″E / 47.4909194°N 19.1067250°E / 47.4909194; 19.1067250
OwnerMTK Budapest
OperatorMTK Budapest
Capacity12,700
Field size105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft)
SurfaceGrass
Field
Construction
Broke ground1946
Built1946-47
Opened1947
Closed2014
Demolished2015
Tenants
MTK Budapest

History

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Construction

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During the World War II the original MTK stadium was damaged, therefore a new stadium had to be built. Between 1945 and 1947 MTK played their home matches at their rivals' stadiums, namely Ferencváros and Újpest. In 1953 a concrete edge was built around the running tracks.

Demolition

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On 6 November 2014, the demolition of the stadium started. First the floodlights system was uninstalled and then the seats were removed.[3][4]

In May 2015 the demolition of the main stand started.[5]

Milestone matches

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31 May 2014 MTK Budapest FC   2–0   Kaposvári Rákóczi FC 2013–14 Nemzeti Bajnokság I
Last match
Bese   34',   43' (Report) Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Pintér

Other uses

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Concerts

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Metallica playing at the MTK stadium in 1988

In the 80es and 90es the stadium has become an important venue for international artists and band of the rock and metal genre, among them Santana, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Alice Cooper, Scorpions, Iron Maiden and Metallica. The latter one began their Damaged Justice tour at the stadium on September 11, 1988, while Scorpions played on 27 August 1986 its very first show in the Eastern Bloc.

Film location

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The stadium was used in the 1981 football film Escape to Victory directed by John Huston, about Allied prisoners of war interned in a German prison camp during World War II who play an exhibition match against a German team.[6][7]

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References

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  1. ^ "Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion". Stadium Database. 10 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Hungária körúti stadion". Magyar Futball. 10 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Megkezdődött a Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion Bontása". MTK Budapest's Official Website. 6 December 2014. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  4. ^ "NB I: megkezdődött az MTK-stadion bontása - képek". Nemzeti Sport. 6 November 2014.
  5. ^ "New construction: The art of demolition in Budapest". StadiumDB. 11 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Victory". IMDb. 12 December 2014.
  7. ^ "The Escape to Victory Website". Escapetovictory.spodrum.co.uk. 12 December 2014.
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