About Swedbank Stadion Built at a cost of 580SEK (around £48m) the new 24,000 seater Malmo stadium will
proudly open and close the UEFA Under21's championships this summer. It looks
very similar to the new Gamla Ullevi in Goteborg which in turn took its
inspiration from the Brondby stadium across the water. However, the unique
feature is the single tier of terracing behind the north end where the Malmo
fans congregate. The concourses are wide and refreshments are available freely.
The old stadium is certainly unique. Two almost wave like stands opposite each other that rise at the halfway line before sweeping down behind the goals where they meet open terracing. The only downside is the presence of the athletics track that does give the feeling of isolation behind the goals. Terracing runs down the side of the pitch opposite the main stand. The stadium will only be in use for another couple of years as the construction of a brand new stadium has started already. The new stadium, located next to the current version is due to open in April 2009 with an all seated capacity of 28,000 and will be one of the host venues for the 2009 UEFA Under21’s Championship.
Who plays there? One of the most famous scenes of football in the 1970’s is Trevor Francis diving full length to head in the only goal in the 1979 European Cup Final in Munich. However, few people actually remember that the opponents that day in Germany were FF Mälmo in their biggest ever night of football. The Swedish FA recognised this feat by awarding the club medal of honour – the only Swedish club to have achieved this.
The club were formed in 1910, although it was a number of decades before they managed to reach the top division of Swedish football. Apart from a small blip in 1999, the club have played in this top division for the whole of that time. In recent years the club have struggled to break the hold on the top of the table that Djurgarden and Gothenburg have had – the 2004 championship is the only silverware the club have won in the past 18 years. Their golden period was during the 1970’s when the club won five Swedish Championships, five Swedish cups and of course the European Cup runners up spot. Interestly enough, Brian Clough declined FIFA’s invitation to play in the Intercontinental Cup in 1979, the annual match between the European and South American champions, and so FF Mälmo were invited to play against Olimpia Asuncion of Paraguay instead over a two legged match which they lost 3-1.
The club have been managed by a couple of British coaches over the years – Bob Houghton was in charge for the 1979 European Cup Final, whilst Roy Hodgson managed the club for 5 years during the 1980’s when the team enjoyed some domestic success. They were also managed by Tord Grip – Sven Goran Ericsson’s right hand man in the mid 1980’s. The current team are only too aware of the pressure to win some silverware. The most notable squad members this season are the Finnish legend Jari Litemanen and ex-Charlton Athletic midfielder Jonatan Johansson.
How to get there The new stadium is located behind the old one in the south of the city. Shuttle
buses run from the station from two hours before the game, and wait outside
after. Alternatively it is a 30 minute walk through the park to the stadium, or
Bus Line 3 which takes around 20 minutes. Or of course you could do what the
locals do and cycle!. A taxi from the central station will cost around 75Skr.
For a more detailed overview of who plays where in Malmo go to Footiemap.com.
Getting a ticket Tickets can be bought and printed at home fromTicnet which is the Swedish
arm of Ticketmaster. Ticket prices range from 80SEK (around £7) for a standing
place on the Falcon terrace, 180SEK (£15) for a seat in the lower tiers of the
PEAB and South stands to 250SEK (£21) for the best seat in the house in the
upper tiers. They can also be purchased on the day of the game from branches of
Swedbank in and around Malmo and the ticket office at the stadium. So far since
opening the club have averaged 16,000 with a sell out in their first ever game
here. Therefore tickets for the majority of games are available on the door.
The Old Stadium
Getting around The city centre is relatively small and it is easier to walk than wait for the local buses. Trains run to the outskirts of the city, and on to places such as Trelleborg and Helsingborg. A new railway tunnel is being constructed under the city centre at the moment that will alleviate some of the congestion in the city centre.
Despite being in a different country, Copenhagen’s main airport is the nearest airport, located around 15 miles to the west of Malmö across the Øresund Bridge. Easyjet are the main budget carrier to fly to Copenhagen. They fly here daily from London Stansted. BA and SAS also fly here from London Heathrow. Snowflake, SAS’s budget brand fly twice daily from London City. Sterlingare Denmark’s biggest Budget airline – they fly three times a day from London Gatwick.
To get to Malmö from Kastrup airport, catch one of the three trains per hour from the station under terminal 3. The journey time is 23 minutes. A single ticket costs around £8. A bus also runs from the airport costing 100DKr.
Other Airport – Malmö Sturup Airport (MMX) Telephone: +46 40 613 10 00 Website: http://www.lvf.se
Ryanair fly into Malmö’s small and compact Sturup airport. Despite the fact that the airport is located across the water in Sweden, the completion of the Øresund Bridge, means the two countries are now permanently linked. It is approximately 17 miles from the city centre. Buses link the airport to the city centre, taking around 40 minutes.
About Swedbank Stadion
