Key facts
| Address | close to the interchange E40-E17 and UZ Gent, Ghent |
| Capacity | 20,000 seats |
| Build Date | 2013 |
Description
The Ghelamco Arena (also referred to as Arteveldestadion) is a stadium located in Ghent, Belgium. It is the permanent home ground of football club K.A.A. Gent. The stadium was opened in the summer of 2013, which made it the first new Belgian football stadium constructed since 1974. The total capacity of this all-seater and multi-purpose stadium is 20,000 people. The Ghelamco Arena replaced the former Gent’s home the Jules Ottenstadion, which became the permanent home ground of the team in 1920. In 2013, the first game played in the ground was between Gent and KV Mechelen, which ended with a score of 2-1.
In 2003, it was announced that a new stadium would be built for 2006-2007 seasons, but due to a range of problems and difficulties, the foundation stone could be laid only in 2008. It soon became known that there was a range of other problems related to financing project, but all of them were sorted out, and construction works were renewed in 2010. It was planned to be opened for the 2012–2013 Belgian Pro League, but the works were delayed for another year. Several months before the opening, it was announced that the stadium would be named after the constructor Ghelamco Arena.
FAQ
Ghelamco Arena was officially opened on July 17, 2013. It hosted its first match on July 20, 2013, when KAA Gent played VfB Stuttgart in a friendly game.
The stadium is named after its main sponsor and developer, Ghelamco Group, a Belgian real estate company. Ghelamco was responsible for the construction of the arena and secured naming rights as part of the development agreement.
Ghelamco Arena has a seating capacity of 20,000 spectators for football matches. This makes it one of the larger football stadiums in Belgium.
KAA Gent, also known as De Buffalo’s, uses Ghelamco Arena as their home stadium. The club moved to this new venue from their previous home, Jules Ottenstadion, which they had used since 1920.
Ghelamco Arena is known for its modern design and excellent facilities. It features a distinctive exterior with a white and light blue color scheme, reflecting KAA Gent’s team colors. The stadium also includes various amenities such as VIP areas, conference rooms, and hospitality suites, making it suitable for both sporting events and business functions.
While primarily used for football, Ghelamco Arena has also hosted concerts and other sporting events. It has been used as a venue for international matches of the Belgian national football team as well.
