Stadion na Kantridi
Encyclopedia
Stadion Kantrida is a football stadium
in the Croatia
n city of Rijeka
. It is named after the Kantrida neighborhood in which it is located, in the western part of the city. It has served as home of the football club NK Rijeka
since 1946. The stadium has a distinctive appearance as it is situated between steep cliffs just north of the stadium and the shore of the Adriatic
on its south side. Since 1990 the venue is also occasionally used for Croatia national football team
's international friendlies. The stadium has a seated capacity of 10,600.
before the first football ground was created on the site in 1911 by HŠK Victoria, a football club based in Sušak (presently part of Rijeka; but at the time a separate town east of the city), and the first football match played at Kantrida was held in 1912, a friendly between Victoria and Građanski Zagreb.
Victoria continued to use the stadium until the end of World War I
and the collapse of Austria-Hungary
in 1918. The city of Rijeka was then first declared part of the Italian Regency of Carnaro
(1919–1920), then the Free State of Fiume
(1920–1924), before being formally annexed by Kingdom of Italy
in 1924, which remained unchanged until the end of World War II
. During this period between 1919 and 1945 Victoria's home town of Sušak was located on the other side of the border as it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
, so the club was unable to use the ground.
In 1925 the 8,000 capacity stands were built by the newly established local Italian club U.S. Fiumana
who went on to use the stadium between 1926 and 1945 while competing in the Italian league system. The stadium was at the time known as Stadio Comunale del Littorio.
After World War II the city of Rijeka and its surrounding area became part of SFR Yugoslavia and both Fiumana and Victoria were dissolved in 1945. A new club called NK Kvarner was established in 1946 to replace them and they immediately took over the stadium. The club continued to use it after they changed their name to NK Rijeka in 1954 and it served as their home ground until the present day.
The stadium was renovated twice, in 1951 and 1958. It formerly had a capacity of 25,000, but this was later reduced to around 10,000 (due to the gradual evolution of UEFA
safety standards) and floodlight
s were installed in 1975.
In addition to hosting NK Rijeka matches, the stadium is also used for the annual Kvarner Riviera international youth football tournament, first held in 1953.
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...
in the Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n city of Rijeka
Rijeka
Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...
. It is named after the Kantrida neighborhood in which it is located, in the western part of the city. It has served as home of the football club NK Rijeka
NK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
since 1946. The stadium has a distinctive appearance as it is situated between steep cliffs just north of the stadium and the shore of the Adriatic
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
on its south side. Since 1990 the venue is also occasionally used for Croatia national football team
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
's international friendlies. The stadium has a seated capacity of 10,600.
History
The location was used as a stone quarryQuarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
before the first football ground was created on the site in 1911 by HŠK Victoria, a football club based in Sušak (presently part of Rijeka; but at the time a separate town east of the city), and the first football match played at Kantrida was held in 1912, a friendly between Victoria and Građanski Zagreb.
Victoria continued to use the stadium until the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the collapse of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
in 1918. The city of Rijeka was then first declared part of the Italian Regency of Carnaro
Italian Regency of Carnaro
The Italian Regency of Carnaro was a self-proclaimed state in the city of Fiume led by Gabriele d'Annunzio between 1919 and 1920.-Impresa di Fiume:...
(1919–1920), then the Free State of Fiume
Free State of Fiume
The Free State of Fiume was an independent free state which existed between 1920 and 1924. Its territory of comprised the city of Fiume and rural areas to its north, with a corridor to its west connecting it to Italy.-History:Fiume gained autonomy for the first time in 1719 when it was proclaimed...
(1920–1924), before being formally annexed by Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
in 1924, which remained unchanged until the end 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...
. During this period between 1919 and 1945 Victoria's home town of Sušak was located on the other side of the border as it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
, so the club was unable to use the ground.
In 1925 the 8,000 capacity stands were built by the newly established local Italian club U.S. Fiumana
U.S. Fiumana
Unione Sportiva Fiumana or U.S. Fiumana was an Italian football club based in the present-day Croatian city of Rijeka. The club was active between 1926 and 1945, at the time when the city was part of Kingdom of Italy and was commonly referred to by its Italian name Fiume...
who went on to use the stadium between 1926 and 1945 while competing in the Italian league system. The stadium was at the time known as Stadio Comunale del Littorio.
After World War II the city of Rijeka and its surrounding area became part of SFR Yugoslavia and both Fiumana and Victoria were dissolved in 1945. A new club called NK Kvarner was established in 1946 to replace them and they immediately took over the stadium. The club continued to use it after they changed their name to NK Rijeka in 1954 and it served as their home ground until the present day.
The stadium was renovated twice, in 1951 and 1958. It formerly had a capacity of 25,000, but this was later reduced to around 10,000 (due to the gradual evolution of 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....
safety standards) and floodlight
Floodlights (sport)
Floodlights are broad-beamed, high-intensity artificial lights often used to illuminate outdoor playing fields while an outdoor sports event is being held during low-light conditions....
s were installed in 1975.
In addition to hosting NK Rijeka matches, the stadium is also used for the annual Kvarner Riviera international youth football tournament, first held in 1953.
External links
- Stadion Kantrida at RijekaSport.hr
- Stadion Kantrida at Nogometni leksikon
- Stadion Kantrida at the NK RijekaNK RijekaHNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
official website