INTO THE ARENA
CHAMPIONS
LEAGUE
Ajax were hoping to keep it quiet. But
the secret is out. The inaugural game
in the marvellous Amsterdam Arena
will be a repeat of last season's
UEFA Champions League final
between Ajax and AC Milan.
The grand occasion is scheduled for
August 14 and the fans won't have to
keep their fingers crossed for fine
weather. Even a summer storm will
just be an excuse to see if the roof
really can be closed in twenty minutes!
A far cry from the Olympic Stadium,
wher bad weather forced the Super
Cup game against Real Zaragoza to
be postponed.
The match will be the first of many full
houses in the brand - new stadium
wher the City of Amsterdam is the
main shareholder and Ajax have a
10% stake. The capacity of the Arena
is approximately 51,500 and during
the two-month application period last
summer, no fewer than 67,000 fans
put their names down for season
tickets, with a very healthy percentage
of them requesting the top-class
business seats. If we hadn't set a
deadline for applications», says the
Ajax chief executive, Bod-Jan Hillen,
«I can't begin to imagine how many
requests we would have received».
Apart from the areas reserved for
supporters of visiting teams, the
Arena is completely sold out for every
Ajax match during the 1996-97
season!
But, of course, the start of a bright new
A draft of the Amsterdam Arena, the future
home of Ajax
era spells the end for both the Olympic
Stadium, Ajax's home for their UEFA
Champions League fixtures, and the
De Meer stadium which the club has
simply outgrown. Prior to the match
against Milan in August, there will be a
whole week of festivities at the De
Meer stadium wher as many former
Ajax players as possible will gather
together to say a sentimental goodbye
to the stage which has seen so many
grand performances. Then it's into the
Arena!
