Ganja: President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the Ganja city stadium to inspect the progress of ongoing construction efforts. Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov provided a briefing on the project aimed at revitalizing the facility.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the Ganja city stadium, originally built between 1959 and 1963 and opened in 1964, had fallen into disrepair, with deteriorating spectator stands making parts of the facility unusable. In 2023, President Aliyev signed a decree allocating one million manat from the President’s Reserve Fund to kickstart the stadium’s reconstruction. The foundation for the renovation project was laid by the President on April 9 of the previous year.
Azerbaijan is set to host the 3rd Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Games from September 28 to October 8. With Ganja selected for the main ceremonies and competitions, construction at the city stadium has been expedited. The stadium’s complex now spans over 12 hectares, featuring auxiliary training fields and a Football Academy building.
The stadium is being constructed to meet UEFA’s Category 4 standards, with a seating capacity of 15,343. It will include designated areas for spectators with disabilities, media, and VIPs, alongside modern amenities such as dressing rooms, conference rooms, and medical facilities. Additional facilities like ticket offices, catering outlets, and parking areas are being established, all equipped with UEFA-compliant systems.
Extensive landscaping and greening efforts are also underway to enhance the stadium’s environment.