Pärnu_Rannastaadion

Pärnu Rannastaadion

Pärnu Rannastaadion

Multi-purpose stadium in Pärnu, Estonia

Pärnu Rannastaadion (English: Pärnu Beach Stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium in Pärnu, Estonia. It is the home ground of football clubs Pärnu Vaprus and PJK. The stadium was opened after reconstruction in 2016 and seats 1,501. It is located next to the Pärnu Beach and approximately 200 metres from the sea.

Quick Facts Former names, Location ...

First opened in 1929, the stadium has had four different grandstands throughout its history and was completely reconstructed in 2015–2016. The address of the stadium is Ranna pst. 2, 80012 Pärnu.[2]

History

First sporting activities on Pärnu Rannastaadion's field date back to 1896, when a velodrome was opened by the association of German cyclists. The velodrome was destroyed in 1915 by Russian soldiers, who dug trenches on the sports field to repel a possible German landing.[3] After Estonia gained independence, a committee was established to make plans for a stadium.

Pärnu Stadium in 1929–1933

The stadium was officially opened on 14 July 1929. The wooden grandstand, which was also built to host singing festivals, was able to seat around 700 people and was labelled as the 'finest of the Baltic states' due to its neoclassical architecture.[4] However, the grandstand was set on fire on 9 February 1933 and the perpetrators were never caught.[3]

Pärnu Stadium from 1933 to 1981, considered as one of the best examples of wooden functionalism in Estonia

Five months later, on 9 July 1933, a new and larger grandstand was opened. Designed by architect Olev Siinmaa, the stadium building has later been considered as one of the best examples of 1930s wooden functionalism in Estonia.[5][6] The stadium survived World War II and hosted numerous post-war Pärnumaa Song Festivals, before the historic grandstand was demolished in 1981 and the stadium's ownership was transferred to Sports Association Kalev, who renamed the stadium as Pärnu Kalevi staadion and opened a new grandstand in 1987.

Kalev however struggled with the stadium's maintenance and the complex was soon left in particularly bad condition. In 2012, the City of Pärnu revoked Kalev's rights for the stadium[7] and held a design competition for a new grandstand, which was won by KAMP Arhitektid.[8] The stadium was renamed Pärnu Rannastaadion and the reconstruction began in July 2015.

The stadium after the 2015–2016 reconstruction

Pärnu Rannastaadion was reopened on 9 July 2016 after extensive renovation works. With a total cost of 5.62 million euros, the new stadium complex also facilitates a hostel, gym, seminar rooms and a restaurant. The stadium was awarded the 2016 Union of Estonian Architects award for its outstanding architecture.[9]

On 31 August 2016, Pärnu Rannastaadion hosted the Estonia national football team after a 17-year break, when they drew 1–1 with Malta in a friendly match. Since 2021, Pärnu has also hosted numerous UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying matches of Paide Linnameeskond.

Galleries

  • Pärnu Rannastaadion's facade through the years
  • 1929–1933
  • 1933–1981
  • 2016–present
  • 2016–present
  • Pärnu Rannastaadion's grandstand through the years
  • 1929–1933
  • 1933–1981
  • 1987–2015
  • 2016–present
  • The stadium after the 2015–2016 reconstruction

Estonia national team matches

Pärnu has hosted four Estonia national football team matches.[10]

More information Date, Result ...

Athletics records

Updated on 6 June 2021.[11][12]

Men

More information Event, Record ...

Women

More information Event, Record ...

References

  1. [1]
    "Rannastaadion läks maksma 5,62 miljonit eurot". Pärnu Postimees. 12 July 2016.
  2. [2]
    EOK Spordirajatised Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
  3. [3]
    Esna, Olaf (22 July 2016). "Kui Rannastaadioni avati". Pärnu Postimees.
  4. [4]
    "Balti riikide kauneim staadion". Eesti Spordileht. 20 July 1929.
  5. [5]
    Hint, Juhan (3 February 2017). "1930. aastate puitfunktsionalism". Sirp (in Estonian).
  6. [6]
    Lige, Carl-Dag (21 August 2017). "Modernism, wood and Estonian architecture in the 1930s". Tajumaailm.
  7. [7]
    "Pärnu linn võtab Kalevilt staadioni hoonestusõiguse". Pärnu Postimees (in Estonian). 3 April 2012.
  8. [8]
    "Pärnu Rannastaadion - KAMP Arhitektid". kamp.ee.
  9. [9]
    "Arhitektide Liidu aastapreemia sai Pärnu Rannastaadion". ERR (in Estonian). 10 December 2016.
  10. [10]
    "Mängud". jalgpall.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  11. [11]
    "Athletics records (updated in August 2020)" (PDF). spordikeskus.parnu.ee.
  12. [12]
    "Rannastaadion records" (PDF). ekjl.ee. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  13. [13]
    "2022 all results" (PDF). ekjl.ee. 3 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
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