The New Gamla Ullevi - Capacity: 19,500 All seater
THE NYA ULLEVI STADION - CAPACITY: 43,400 ALL SEATER
About The Nya Ullevi Stadion The “new” Ullevi stadium is currently the biggest stadium in Sweden. It was originally opened in time for the 1958 World Cup Finals, and has since hosted a number of high profile matches, detailed below. The stadium is similar in design to newer stadiums built in Mälmo and San Sebastian with two sweeping side stands, flowing down to two smaller end stands.
The stadium has an athletics track, and has been used for the 1995 Athletics World Championships, as well as last year’s European Athletics Championships. It is also used for major concerts such as the record-attended Bruce Springsteen concert in June 1985 which nearly caused one of the stands to collapse due to the crowd’s dancing.
The stadium played host to a number of games in the 1958 World Cup Finals, including Brazil versus England, and a first round play off between Russia and England which the Soviets won 1-0. It was also the scene of Wales last ever World Cup match when they lost 1-0 in the quarter finals to eventual winners Brazil. However, the record attendance didn’t come during the tournament but a year later when IFK Göteborg hosted city rivals Örgryte in front of over 52,000.
The stadium has hosted the European Cup Winners Cup final in 1983 when Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen beat Real Madrid after extra time in their greatest ever game, and again in 1990 when Sampdoria beat Anderlecht. In 2004 the stadium was used again as a major European final when Valencia beat Marseille in the UEFA Cup final.
In 1992 the stadium was chosen not only as one of the four host venues for the European Championships but was selected as the final venue. The whole of Scandinavia preyed for a Sweden versus Denmark final at the Nya Ullevi but it was not to be as Germany beat the home nation 3-2 in the Semi-Finals, before losing to Denmark 2-0 in front of 37,800 in the Final.
Today the stadium is being used again on a regular basis as the new stadiums is being constructed next door. Views are good, especially from the upper tier of the side stands.
Who plays there? For many seasons the stadium hardly ever hosted domestic football matches, as the local clubs IFK Göteborg, Örgryte and GAIS preferred to use the more intimate Gamla Ullevi next door. However, as this stadium is currently being reconstructed, both IFK and Örgryte have taken up residence again. The stadium is also used frequently by the National team, the last occasion being against Liechtenstein in September 2006.
IFK are one of the most successful teams in Sweden, and are the only club to have won European honours when they won the UEFA Cup in 1982 and 1987. Despite a successful start to their history in 1908 when they were champions, it wasn’t until young Swedish coach Sven Goran Eriksson took over the team in 1979 that they began to forge a real pedigree both at home and abroad. In his first season the club won the Swedish Cup for the first time, beating Atvidabergs FF. Over the next few season the club won two more Swedish Cups as well the League Championship between 1982 and 1984. In that glorious year of 1982 they not only won the domestic double but also the UEFA Cup, beating Sturm Graz, Dinamo Bucharest, Valencia and Kaiserslautern before Hamburg over two legs in the final.
The following season they continued this fine form again with another domestic double. In 1986 the team reached the semi-finals of the European cup, losing on penalties to Barcelona. However the following season they returned to European triumph by beating Dundee United over two legs to win the UEFA Cup again.
Whilst the club has since won a few honours, including a run of six titles in seven year between 1989 and 1996, they have failed to win any honours since. Champions League football has arrived a few times during the 1990’s but that is as far as the good times have gone. Last season’s 8th place finish was considered an embarrassment that must not be repeated.
IFK Göteborg’s city rivals are Örgryte IS who are one of the oldest teams in Sweden, tracing their origins back to 1892. Despite their dominance of the game in the early years, they have been without success for a long time. The club went unbeaten for more than four years in the final years of the 19th century, winning ten championships in just thirteen seasons up until 1909. Since then a further championship in 1913 was their last honour until the championship returned in 1985. In 2000 the team beat AIK in the final of the Swedish Cup final with Marcus Allbäck scoring on the way to a 2-1 victory. Today the club languish back in the 2nd division after relegation in 2006. They play at the Valhalla stadium which is located behind the Ullevi and holds 4,000. Recently Allback has returned to the club, and in his first game against Jonkopings in July 2008 they had their first 4,000 sell out for over a decade. Tickets normally cost 90SEk for a place on the large terrace or 150SEK for a seat. In the summer months the sun makes it a problem watching the game on the open terrace. The pitch is synthetic but it does play well and even a small crowd of 2,000 create a good atmosphere.
Finally, GAIS can be found playing at the Ullevi. The initials stand for the Gothenburg Athletics & Sports Association, and the club were one of the founding members of the Allsvenskan – in fact they actually won the first ever championship in 1925. Since their Allsvenskan championship win in 1954 they have not won a single honour, although they did lose in the 1987 Cup Final to Kalmar FF. Last season they narrowly escaped relegation and so this season will be about damage limitation rather than a quest for honours.
In 2009 they will be joined for the first time in along while by BK Hacken who finished runners up in the 2008 Superettan. The club has a tie up with a Greek 2nd division team and last season fielded 9 Greek players during the season. The nearest they have ever come to a trophy was runners up in the Svenska Cup in 1989-90.
How to get there The stadium is located no more than a five minute walk away from the central station and so public transport is really not needed. From the station turn left onto Drottningtorget, then right once you get into the one way system. When this road crosses Ullevigaten turn left and the stadium is 200metres on the right hand side. You will pass the construction site of the new Ullevi stadium on the way. If you are heading for the Valhalla, simply walk past the Ullevi and carry on until you see the Indoor arena - turn left here and the stadium in 100 yards on the left, with the ticket office and turnstiles straight in front.
For an overview of who plays where in the city go to Footiemap.com to access their Swedish Football map.
Getting a ticket With over 43,000 places available for each game, the chances of a sell out are very rare indeed in Swedish football. Last season IFK averaged just over 10,000 per game, and Örgryte just 5,000. Virtually all games played here (including the national team’s games) are pay on the door. However, you can purchase tickets in advance from http://www.ticnet.se. Tickets range in price from 90 SKR in the areas behind the goal to 125 SKR in the upper tiers along the side of the pitch.
Getting around Göteborg has one of Europe’s best Tram networks with 13 lines that cover the majority of the city. The main hub is Well Park (Brunnsparken) where trams radiate out to every corner of the city. Buses also run around the city from the Nils Ericsson bus terminal. The Göteborgs Passet covers all public transport and attraction entry for 225 SKR per day. The card is available from ticket machines at major stops and the Tourist Information Office at Kungsportsplatsen 2.
The main airport serving Göteborg is located around 20km east of the city in the small town of Landvetter. It served over 5million passengers in 2006 making it Sweden’s second biggest airport. The airport is well served by UK airlines including City Airline from Birmingham and Manchester, SAS from London Heathrow as well as British Airways. To reach the city centre from the airport catch one of the regular Flygbussarna buses that take 30 minutes to reach Göteborg Central Station. A single ticket costs 80 SEK.
Göteborg’s second airport is actually more central – located just 14km north west of the city centre. Thanks to the arrival of Ryanair in 2005, passenger numbers rose from 10,000 to over 500,000 in one year. The Irish carrier currently flies here daily from Dublin, London Stansted and Glasgow Prestwick. A bus service meets every inbound flight and takes passengers to the main train station in 20 minutes. Tickets cost 50SEK one way
Above - The Valhalla Stadium, with the Ullevia at the top of the picture
About The Nya Ullevi Stadion
IFK Göteborg’s city rivals are Örgryte IS who are one of the oldest teams in Sweden, tracing their origins back to 1892. Despite their dominance of the game in the early years, they have been without success for a long time. The club went unbeaten for more than four years in the final years of the 19th century, winning ten championships in just thirteen seasons up until 1909. Since then a further championship in 1913 was their last honour until the championship returned in 1985. In 2000 the team beat AIK in the final of the Swedish Cup final with Marcus Allbäck scoring on the way to a 2-1 victory. Today the club languish back in the 2nd division after relegation in 2006. They play at the Valhalla stadium which is located behind the Ullevi and holds 4,000. Recently Allback has returned to the club, and in his first game against Jonkopings in July 2008 they had their first 4,000 sell out for over a decade. Tickets normally cost 90SEk for a place on the large terrace or 150SEK for a seat. In the summer months the sun makes it a problem watching the game on the open terrace. The pitch is synthetic but it does play well and even a small crowd of 2,000 create a good atmosphere.
