Philips Stadion
Encyclopedia
Philips Stadion is the 35,000 seater stadium
of football club, PSV Eindhoven. It was first inaugurated on 31 August 1913. The stadium is located in the Philipsdorp ('Philips village') part of the Eindhoven borough
of Strijp, close to Eindhoven's city centre.
As late as 1933, its capacity was only 300, and remained that size until its expansion in 1941 to 18,000 spectators.
The final days of World War II
witnessed great destruction in the city of Eindhoven and also to the stadium itself. Repairs were duly made, culminating in the expansion of the stadium to 22,000 capacity in 1958. Further expansions of the North stand (1995) and the four quadrants (in 2000 and 2002) of the stadium led to its current capacity. The stadium can accommodate 35,119 people on match days. Plans to further expand the ground to 45,000 seats have been examined, but turned down after The Netherlands lost the 2018 FIFA World Cup bid. The average attendance for the season 2007/08 was 33,600.
To allow for enough airflow over the pitch, the seats in the four quadrants are placed in a ventilating position when no match is being played. This contributes to a better quality of the grass. Another measure is the use of grow light
s in between matches.
The stadium is sometimes used for matches of the Dutch national football team
, the first one being on November 17, 1971: a qualifying match for the 1972 UEFA European Championship against Luxembourg
(8–0). The stadium's official record attendance is 34,700, set on 23 October 2005 for the Eredivisie
match between PSV Eindhoven and AFC Ajax.
While not a large stadium by European standards, Philips Stadion was also one of the four Dutch venues during the Euro 2000 tournament co-hosted by Belgium
and the Netherlands
, and is rated a four-star stadium by UEFA
, which means that it can be used as the venue of a UEFA Cup
final. UEFA indeed chose to bring the UEFA Cup final to the facility in 2006 where Sevilla FC
beat Middlesbrough F.C.
4–0.
In the summer of 2005, the board
of the club decided to remove the tall fence
s around the pitch, replacing them with 35 inches (90 cm) high railings keeping the spectators off the grass. Unauthorized persons who do invade the pitch will receive a 15,000 euro penalty and a ten-year-ban from visiting the Philips Stadion.
):
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
of football club, PSV Eindhoven. It was first inaugurated on 31 August 1913. The stadium is located in the Philipsdorp ('Philips village') part of the Eindhoven borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of Strijp, close to Eindhoven's city centre.
As late as 1933, its capacity was only 300, and remained that size until its expansion in 1941 to 18,000 spectators.
The final days of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
witnessed great destruction in the city of Eindhoven and also to the stadium itself. Repairs were duly made, culminating in the expansion of the stadium to 22,000 capacity in 1958. Further expansions of the North stand (1995) and the four quadrants (in 2000 and 2002) of the stadium led to its current capacity. The stadium can accommodate 35,119 people on match days. Plans to further expand the ground to 45,000 seats have been examined, but turned down after The Netherlands lost the 2018 FIFA World Cup bid. The average attendance for the season 2007/08 was 33,600.
To allow for enough airflow over the pitch, the seats in the four quadrants are placed in a ventilating position when no match is being played. This contributes to a better quality of the grass. Another measure is the use of grow light
Grow light
A grow light or plant light is an artificial light source, generally an electric light, designed to stimulate plant growth by emitting an electromagnetic spectrum appropriate for photosynthesis. Grow lights are used in applications where there is either no naturally occurring light, or where...
s in between matches.
The stadium is sometimes used for matches of the Dutch national football team
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
, the first one being on November 17, 1971: a qualifying match for the 1972 UEFA European Championship against Luxembourg
Luxembourg national football team
The Luxembourg national football team is the national football team of Luxembourg, and is controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation. The team play most of their home matches at the Stade Josy Barthel, in Luxembourg.- History :...
(8–0). The stadium's official record attendance is 34,700, set on 23 October 2005 for the Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
match between PSV Eindhoven and AFC Ajax.
While not a large stadium by European standards, Philips Stadion was also one of the four Dutch venues during the Euro 2000 tournament co-hosted by Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and is rated a four-star stadium by UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
, which means that it can be used as the venue of a UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
final. UEFA indeed chose to bring the UEFA Cup final to the facility in 2006 where Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
beat Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
4–0.
In the summer of 2005, the board
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the club decided to remove the tall fence
Fence
A fence is a freestanding structure designed to restrict or prevent movement across a boundary. It is generally distinguished from a wall by the lightness of its construction: a wall is usually restricted to such barriers made from solid brick or concrete, blocking vision as well as passage .Fences...
s around the pitch, replacing them with 35 inches (90 cm) high railings keeping the spectators off the grass. Unauthorized persons who do invade the pitch will receive a 15,000 euro penalty and a ten-year-ban from visiting the Philips Stadion.
Average Attendances
(EredivisieEredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
):
- 2003–04: 32,852
- 2004–05: 31,688
- 2005–06: 33,164
- 2006–07: 33,650
- 2007–08: 33,512
Trivia
- One specific seat in the stadium — Section D, Row 22, Seat 43 — is kept permanently empty. This was the seat occupied by former Philips chairman Frits PhilipsFrits PhilipsFrederik Jacques "Frits" Philips was the fourth chairman of the board of directors of the Dutch electronics company Philips, which his uncle and father founded...
during the latter part of his life, as he chose not to use any of the stadium's hospitality facilities and instead took his place in the general crowd. After his death (at the age of 100) in 2005, the PSV administration chose to keep his seat empty as a tribute.