Hiiu Stadium (Estonian: Hiiu staadion) is a football stadium in Tallinn, Estonia. Opened in 1936, it is the home ground of Nõmme Kalju FC.[2][3] The stadium is located about 8 km southwest of the city centre, in the district of Nõmme. The address of the stadium is Pidu tänav 11, Tallinn.
 | |
 | |
| Location | Hiiu, Nõmme, Tallinn, Estonia |
|---|---|
| Owner | City of Tallinn |
| Operator | Nõmme Kalju FC |
| Capacity | 650[1] |
| Record attendance | 2,730 (Nõmme Kalju vs FC Flora, 10 September 2011) |
| Field size | 103 × 66 m |
| Surface | Artificial turf |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1936 |
| Renovated | 2002, 2006, 2013, 2023–2024 |
| Tenants | |
| Nõmme Kalju FC (1936–1944, 1997–2011, 2015–2020, 2024–present) | |
Hiiu Stadium has been Nõmme Kalju's home since its opening in 1936 until the club's dissolution in 1944 due to Soviet occupation of Estonia, and again since the club's re-establishment in 1997. The stadium has undergone several renovation periods, most recently in 2023–2024.
On 10 September 2011, the highest recorded attendance was set, when 2,730 people watched a football match between hosts JK Nõmme Kalju and FC Flora Tallinn.[4][5]
History
editEarly years
editThe construction of the Hiiu Stadium began in 1930,[6] after Nõmme Kalju, who had previously been playing on a field between Tähe and Rahu streets (where today lies the Nõmme Tennis Center), were in a need for a larger sports ground.[7] The construction was initiated by Kalju's chairman Hugo Sepp and was carried out largely by the footballers themselves.[7][8] The stadium was opened in 1936.[9][10]
Hiiu Stadium after the re-establishment of Nõmme Kalju
editAfter Estonia regained its independence in 1991, Nõmme Kalju was re-established and the club moved back to Hiiu Stadium.
The stadium was completely renovated in 2002 and cost 8 million Estonian kroon.[11] In 2006, the old artificial turf was replaced by a 3rd generation turf and an administration building with a stand for 300 people was erected.[12]
Nõmme Kalju were promoted to Meistriliiga for the 2008 season. On 10 September 2011, the highest recorded attendance was set, when 2,730 people watched a football match between hosts Nõmme Kalju and FC Flora Tallinn.[4] After four seasons of top-flight football at Hiiu Stadium, the club moved to Kadriorg Stadium in 2012, but returned to Hiiu again in 2015 after it had undergone another renovation.
2023–2024 renovation
editNõmme Kalju were again forced to move away from Hiiu after the 2020 season, as the stadium's artificial turf was declared unfit to host top-flight football.[13] The renovation works were supposed to start in 2021, but the project was delayed nearly three years for numerous reasons.[14] The construction began in the autumn of 2023, during which the location of the main ground was moved towards west in order to construct an additional 75 × 45 m training field on the side of Pidu tänav street. This resulted in the removal of the 400 m running track, which caused great resentment among Nõmme's athletics community.[15]
The first stage of the renovation is planned to be completed by the start of the 2024 Meistriliiga season. The second stage will see the construction of a new administrative building and a 1,500-seat grandstand.[16]
Gallery
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References
edit- ^ "Hiiu kunstmurustaadion". Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- ^ "Hiiu Staadion". Spordikoolituse ja -teabe sihtasutus (in Estonian). Eesti spordiregister. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ "Hiiu Staadioni staadionihoone". Spordikoolituse ja -teabe sihtasutus (in Estonian). Eesti spordiregister. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Kalju purustas jalgpallifestivalil 2730 inimese ees Flora ja tõusis Meistriliiga ainuliidriks!" (in Estonian). JK Nõmme Kalju. 10 August 2012. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013.
- ^ EJL WEB TV: JK Kalju - FC Flora 3:0, retrieved 18 February 2023
- ^ "Nõmme hakkab staadioni ehitama. – Waba Maa 1930". dea.digar.ee. Waba Maa. 7 March 1930. p. 9. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ a b Tuulemäe, Heldur (20 April 1998). "Nõmme spordiselts Kalju 75". dea.digar.ee. Spordileht. p. 2.
- ^ "Staadionil keeb ehitustöö. N.S.S "Kalju" ehitab omale spordiplatsi". dea.digar.ee. Nõmme Sõna. 10 August 1935.
- ^ Silm Peale: Nõmme Kalju ajalugu, retrieved 18 February 2023
- ^ "Staadion tahetakse walmis ehitada". dea.digar.ee. Uus Eesti. 26 July 1936.
- ^ "Sada miljonit liikumisvõimalusteks" (in Estonian). Pealinnaleht. 11 July 2002. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013.
- ^ "Hiiu staadion on jalgpalluritele taas avatud" (in Estonian). E24.ee. 20 July 2006. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013.
- ^ Järvela, Ott (13 January 2021). "Nõmme Kalju kolib Hiiult minema, aga tahab sinna esimesel võimalusel naasta". Soccernet.ee - Jalgpall luubi all!. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ "Piinlik ehitussaaga, millel lõppu ei paista: kolm aastat katteta lubadusi". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). 15 August 2023.
- ^ "„See on kergejõustiklaste mõnitamine." Tallinna linna JOKK-skeem jalgpalliliiduga ajas spordirahva marru". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). 21 November 2023.
- ^ "Hiiu staadioni projekteerimistingimuste eelnõu ja lisamaterjalid". Tallinn (in Estonian). Retrieved 18 February 2023.
External links
edit
- Stadium entry at Estonian Sports Directory (in Estonian)
- Hiiu Stadium at Nõmme Sports Centre (in Estonian)
59°23′7.64″N 24°39′34.57″E / 59.3854556°N 24.6596028°E